New-York tribune., 1882-02-07

| ilBIiCAS PARTY.
| lFRoM STAFF COR EsPoNDENT or THE TRIhUNEI
| Washington. Feb. G-The political situation in
Washington Is peculiar President Arthur has
| been IN Office five months during two of which
Congress has been session, and yet the general
policy OF his Administration seems ~ he with many
Republicans matter of conjecture. This is perhaps
largely due 10 the Presidents me hods of transact ng
public business especially with regard to appoint
| mentS He hears all who to him. but says
little, and moves with such caution and deibera-
tion that good many of the olice-sceters are
growing inpatient. lie so little, in fact, that
sOnc of Es friends assert, and even seem DIS
posed to com7lala, that they do not know what hIs
plans or even hs thoughts are. He is saif also to
have habit of sudden decision ait,r perhaps long
| deliberations Iog example, friend of Mr.. Howe
called at the White House morning to urg' his
appointment as Postmaster General. The fIeSi-
dent sald IL had not yet made up his mind with
regard to that place. Later in the day the lr'si
dent learned that something which he had wished
| 10 see accomplished before he nominated Post
! master General had been done. and dictated to his
secretary the nomination of Mr.. Howe. In less
than half an hour the telephone announced its con-
| tirmaton.
1t is another regularity of the situation that the
President IS not surrounded here by the chefs OF
that wiag of the party with which he has always
!
ally believed to he devoted. The men whom he has
brought into his Cabinet have not been his intimate
friends and counselors in times past, though they
all belong to his section of the party. Some OF
them are men whose Republican constituencies have
ira relied beyond them and left them behind. They
are recognized to-day leaders in their states.
If some party emergency shcnld arise they would
not be looked to by the Republican masses as
leaders. TINS fact seems to intensity what may he
called the isolated position OF President Arthur. He
seems to tc carving out his p0!lct-whatever 1t IS
alone keeping his counsel and having little
apparent communication with the men who are
recognized the managers vi the Stalwart wing
of the party.
Add to these facts those already mentioned re-
carding the Presidents reserve and caution, and the
further fact that he has not had occasion to
pass upon very many important appointments,
and il will be seen that there Is a margin for specu
latiou a. to the future course OF bis Administration.
One can find in Washington an interesting variety
of views upon tnis subject, with feeling upon the
part Of some that the situation is still underlined,
aud may so for some time of Others that an
uncompromsIng policy of Stalwartlsm is inevitable
THE VIEW OF TIfE PR sGDENTs FRIENDS.
Tho VCw OF the Presidents known friends cannot
I've more fairy stated than in the talk of a proni
nent Official who in close sympathy with his Adj
minlstratIon. This gentleman said President
Arthurs policy in spite of the fears of many to the
contrary. has not been one of prescription. His
action with regard to his Cabinet which has been
moro criticised than any other, shows it. Post
na5tcr-t encral Howe is. of course, Il pronounced
ctalwarI That is admitted. But neither Attorney
General Brewster nor Secretary FoIger was dentl-
fed with the controversy of last summer III any
way ! don't believe the President has ever had
any conversation with Mr. Brewster upon the subject
of his standing within the party or has any knowledge
OF il to-day judge FVger has been identified with
the branch OF the party to which General Arthur
belongs, but lie has been on tine bench tor the past
twelve years, and has had no active connection
with potics-certainly none with the controversy
OF last summer. lie has not been on very friendly
terms with Mr.. COnkling and his appointment was
neither asked nor desired by the friends of Mr..
Coutlmg Mr. Frenghuysen also while friend
ana supporter OF General Grant. has not been con
nccted with any recent difficulties in the party.
The fact is That nearly one half of the Cabinet places
today are allied by General Garfield advisers while
in the other four, appointments were made neceS
sarv by the withdrawal of the incumbcnts.
Thee has been no special criticism upon General
Arthur's appointments outside of the Cabinet.
They SEEM as a rule to have given satisfaction in
their localities as the Cincinnati appointments did,
for example, which were commended by both the
Republican papers in that city. There has not been
.hc degree of delay with regard to appointments
which has apparently been supposed. Probably
fwo-thirds OF the appointments have been made.
In all of thr this general rule has been followed
by the Prcsldcut-to ascertain first, the wishes OF
the representative of the District. II upon inquiry
the candidate urged ny him is found to be worthy
and | know that the President has given very
careful scrutiny 10 all his observation-disclosures
1i,. fnl BTp.Itlput bplleyes
that he has good reason for dSregarding them.
Il know that the President doesn't desire or pro-
pose that men shall be appointed TO office wholly
from his SIDE of the party; and on the other hand
ne does not propose, as understand it, thar Repre-
scntatiycs shall Use HIN to make all the appoint
mcntS in their Districts from the otncr side. He is
determined that the breach in the party shall be
closed up, especially in the state of New York, and
he will use every effort 10 that end. He believes
that must he closed up if the party to he saved
But if, while he is taking care to sec that mother
faction of the party obtains an undue advantage
over the other. he finds that Representatives are not
following his example, and that they endeavOr-
ing to punish this man that man, and are per-
uetuating divisions by recommending to office only
Chose men who are their side Ct the party he
Will be likely TO resume his uudOubted right of in
divdual choice, and he has the last say.
"A good many people expected revolutionary
policy the part Of President Arthur. and am
ready to admit that a good many Stalwars wanted
IT, They wanted TO ser general turning out OF
one set and general putting IN of another set.
That has not been Gonc, and do not believe 1t Will
bc done On the contrary, two out OF three. or
even three ont of four. OF the appointments he has
made have been from the Garfield wing of the
party
"Then You include in that the nominations left
over at the time of President Garield's death, which
President Arthur sent to the Senate ~ said the cor