Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-05-11
The Purpose Of the Administration.

Mr.. Arthur has now occupied the
Executive chair seven months. and
though none of his acts during this
period are of any great importance, he
has done enough 10 indicate pretty
clearly the manner of man he IS and the
principles and purpose of his Admins
tration. While it is quite evident that
he is not a man who could have reached
the Presidency without the aid OF an I'M
fortunate dispensation of Providence, it
is equally evident that he possesses very
considerable ability of a certain sort.
Indeed, without such ability he could
never have PLAYED the prominent part
he did in New York politics, never have
been the trusted friend and lieutenant
of Conkling. never have received
through his influence one of the most
important offices in the gift of the Gov
eminent and the Vice Presidential nomi-
nation at Chicago. He has that mixture
of shrewdness and tact which belongs to
the trained politician and cultured man
of the world. He knows when to talk
and when to keep silent, and he does
very little talking. He is as reticent as
Grant used to be, but for a different
reason and in a different way. He has
decided opinions and a strong viii,
partially concealed under dignifed
and graceful demeanor. The gloved
hand has grip of its own, and there
are some indications of claws. The
still water runs much deeper than many
suspect. From the day Garfield was
shot until he died, Mr.. Arthur be-
hayed with admirable taste and dis
one, but he was fully equal to it. He
pHblic gaze, and neither by word nor
deed, hint or suggestion, interfered in
the least with the management of affairs
he was soon to control. He did moth
ing, said nothing, allowed nothing to
be said or done for him. to which the
most unfriendly critic could object. His
conduct was absolutely faultless, and,
consequently, when the time came for
him to step to the highest place, even
those who most bitterly regretted the
change of rulers had no just ground for
complaint He had effectually spiked
the guns which otherwise would have
opened tire on him at once. This free
dom from immediate attack secured him
the necessary leisure and mental equa-
nimity to mature his plans for future op-
Grafton.
That President Arthur is, and always
has been, a representative Stalwart, ev-
cry body knows. That at the time of
the Assassination of Garfield open war
had broken out between the two wings
OF the Republican party, and the Adj
was at swords points with
Grant. Conkling & Co., is equally well
known. That the new President fully
sympathized with his friends. and, pre-
vlous TO his accession, had lent them all
possible aid and comfort, is also well
known Consequently the temptation
10 immediate and pronounced espousaI OF
their cause must have been very great;
but he had sufficient wisdom 10 resist it,
to patiently watch and wait, and make
haste slowly" He maintained mas
terly inactivity until the first burst OF
popular grief was over, and paid
touching tribute to that grief in :. Gus
tomary suit of solemn black mourning
cards and note paper of the most ap-
proved style, and by refraining from all
festivities until the proper interval had
elapsed. Then he laid aside his official
woe and quietly proceeded to business
Of his predecessor Cabinet, but one
after another they were politely invited
down and out, until only a single indi-
vidual Of the original members now re-
mains, that individual being Secretary
of War Lincoln, who is a Stalwart Grant
and owes his place to the
persistent demands of Senator Logan
whom Garfield could not conveniently
IL
Arthur views and intentions. it would
be completely removed by the latest
Cabinet appointment, that of William
Z. Chandler to the naval Secrctaryship.
Chandler is deserter from Blaine.
whose confidential tool he recently was.
and this is the reward of his desertion,
as well as compliment to his skill as
an INSCRIPTIONS political trickster. He
is friend of John Roach, and there
fore presumably in close utilization with
the naval ring of which that renowned
contractor and lobbyist is the head cen
ter. Such changes in minor Offices as
have been made up to the present time
are adj, or nearly all, in the Stalwart in
terest, and those foreshadowed will be
in the same direction The ostentatious
given to Grant at the
w hlte House indicated Enthusiastically
that the old alliance between the two
was strengthened rather than weakened
by the elevation of the junior partner to
the Chief Magistracy, while the
offer of a seat on the Supreme Bench to
Conklng, though declined, shows that
the ex-senator and his former subordi-
nate are still in full accord. In short,
President Arthur is doing Sialwart work
as thoroughly and expeditiously as cir
cumstances permit, and there is. every
reason to believe his wing Of the party
will have cause to be satisfied with the
quantity and quality of that work dur
ing the remainder of his term. II the
Stalwarts are not made s.solid'' beyond
all danger of shaking, and if the next
nomination for the Presi-
dency is not put into their hands, then
it will not be the fault of the man who
owes SO much to Guiteau's bullet. 1t
is by no means impossible, and not very
that Arthur may have as
pirations for that honor himself. His
shrewdness and tact, and the immense
he has for using them, may
enable him to fix the Presidential slate;
If NOT for hinSaf then for his faya-ite.