Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-02-26
AN OLIGARCHY.

Tribune. From q partisan standpoint,
nothing could be more gratifying to
Democrats than the bursting OF this
bomb in the camp Of the enemy. If
there was any hope entertained OF recon-
ciliatio1 between the factions OF the
Republican party, that hope can be en-
tertained no longer. There will be no
hand-shaking over this bloody chasm.
President Arthur's accession to the Chief
Maeistracy was accidental. His nomi'
nation as Vice. President was a political
necessity, in which the great body OF the
Republican party acquiesced, but to
which they have never become recon-
ciled. The lf-breeds tolerated him on
their ticket, oil which Garfield was the
head and spirit, for the sole reason that
they did not dare to antagonize and
ALLEVIATE the stalwarts, whom they had
overcome and made sore by defeat IN
conventions. The majority of the Re-
publican party, and, as we think, a ma
iority OF the best citizens among them,
had determined TO shake off the yoke
which Grant, Logan and Conkling had
riveted about their necks. They had set
their faces as flint against this ring.
The bitter and valiant fight made by the
better element of the Republican party
in their last National Convention against
this coterie and their machine went far
To r~e.establish them in the confidence of
their constituency. Had they gone
further and dared to cast out entirely
from their ranks these notorious leaders,
whose names are but other terms for
unpatriotism. jobs and corruption, they
would have been defeated at the
last election, but they would have had a
splendid nucleus about which to rally
for honorable future battles. For the
sake of immediate success, however,
they degraded their standard and Rugged
to their bosoms with maudlin affection
a representative Of the filth in their poll
tics, of which they professed to be 20
anxious to clean themselves. Despite
their knowledge Of Mr.. Arthur's un-
savory career as a ward politician OF New
York City. despite the imputation under
which he labored in the administration
Of the affairs of the Custom-house OF
that city. they gave him the second place
on their ticket. True, it was but a bare
possibility that he would ever become
President Of the United States; but it
was q possibility. When it came down
TO q question Of success with him on their
ticket. or defeat without him, and a
turning over OF the Government to the
hated Democrats, they accepted him.
with ell the possibilities Of the incon.
sisssnoy and shame that his elevation to
the Presidency would involve.
The assassination Of Garfield has
proved . greater calamity than even the
Republican party feared. It vas urged
and believed by many in that wing Of
the party Of which Mr.. Arthur 10 not a
member. tina. he would display great
qualities and be no longer the small
politician when be felt the tremendous
responsibility resting upon him as Chief
Magistrate Of the whole country.
Whether he appreciated the fortuitous
aud melancholy circumstances to which
his elevation was due. whether or not he
thought his accession to the Presidency
was what the people had legitimately
commissioned him for, that he would, in
view Of what he knew Of the public sen.
timent, turn aside from the unscrupulou,
manipulators Of the stalwart ring. was
confidently predicted by many. These,
the mass Of the Republican party. to say
nothing of the Democrats, have
branded as unworthy Of popular
trust. They are dreaded a. pub
lc funotionaries, for they ~personify
those vices which, If our Government is
ever to be destroyed, will accomplish its
ruin. A few men, Grant. Conkling and
. coterie Of their ilk, men whom the PEG.
pie know to be selfish. wasteful and un-
ssrupulous, are to be put in possession Of
the Government il Mr.. Arthur can in
stall them. This IL the worst that was
to be feared under HE administration.
Conklins and Sargent are not such rep.
rssentativss ~ the people want on the
Supreme Bench and at the Court of Ger.
many, They are personally objectiona-
BILE, but the still more serious feature of
the case is that these are two Of the
oligarchy into whose hands we are to be
given over il Mr.. Arthur can enjoy his
partisan and machine rule without
check. As was said, this BODIES destruc.
tion to the Republican party without
any prospect Of immediate good to the
country at large.