National Republican., 1883-09-05
The National Scandal Monger.


Tho School for Scandal" ought to be re-
written in order that the New York Times
might be introduced as new character. Sir
Benjamin Backbite would pale his Intellectual
fires in the presence of tho genius for spite
and false suggestion which animates that
malovolent sheet. Calumny of the common
sort becomes culogy when compared with the
best efforts it makes toward truth
Tho President has been invited by
many representative men of all parties in that
great city of the west to stop over at Chicago,
and has accepted the well meant offer of hos.
pitality. That he would or could make this
the occasion of pushing any political scheme
is too silly to be talked about The reception
to be given him this evening at the Grand
Pacific hotel only emphasizes the fact that he
is the President of the United States. But
the New York Times had dispatch concern
ing it yesterday, purporting to come from
Chicago, which shows all tho possibilities of
mcanness, and has all the hues which slander
can put on.
1t is a model of injurious innuendo and ly-
ing defense. 1t contradicts assertions never
made, and distills venom out of the nasty
mess which itself generates. Here are por-
tions of it:
There is general understanding that the ro-
ception will take on more or less OF political
character, and for that reason local politicians
look at the result with much interest. The peo-
pie at large are invited, and the intention is said
to be TO get up popular demonstration as the in
itial movement of an Arthur boom in the north
west The story is that the President. by his per-
sonal presence and shaking the hands of a few
thousand people, can command a powerful fac
tor in influencing the next convention. II is
stated that several of the Logan managers have
foreseen this, and have been quietly dscouraging
the reception for fear of the injury that might
ensue to the senator's chances.
On the other hand some of the friends of the
President announce that they will not in any
way interfere with solid Logan delegation from
Illinois, and that they merely want to assure
friendly second choice feeling for Mr.. Arthur.
The fact that Collector Spalding was put in charge
OF the arrangements by n telegram from Secretary
Lincoln is cited as an important consideration by
those who believe that the reception Is to be man
aged as a purely political scheme. 1t should be
stated however that the President Is understood
| to have said before leaving here that on no ac-
count would he consent to q public reception
which had the slightest suspicion Of politics in It,
and it is quite probable that tho political scheme
is being engineered by over Jealous friends, who
may possibly be rebuked for their exertions.
"The theory is' that the President only
shakes hands in order to make national dele
gates. "The Logan managers" fearing this,
are trying TO keep people away. "on the
other hand others of the Presidents friends
only want "a friendly second choice feeling
for Mr. Arthur" "a purely political scheme"
say "those," &c.
At last the scandal monger declares that the
President had said he would have no po.
litical reception, and that therefore tho gem
tlemen who tender it will likely be "re-
buked." Was ever such a litter of lies
whelped at one birth? They would do credit
as the progeny of the Father of Lies himself
But the roputed dispatch from Chicago is not
enough to satiato the Times's appetite for
nastiness. 1t returns to its vomit, and gives
forth the following on its editorial page:
Our Chicago dispatches report n disposition in
that city among some Of its politicians TO regard
the reception of President Arthur as having politi.
cal significance. This view is puerile. The Pres.
iuent may very properly be offered and accept u
public reception from city like Chicago. and he
is the last man who would discredit his posi-
tIon by trying 10 make little cheap "capital "
from such natural and becoming demonstration.
The day, moreover, when the honor OF shaking
hands with the President of the United States
would determine the vote of a considerable mum.
Der of citizens has happily gone by-if, indeed,
1t ever existed.
And so the Times rolls over in its own mud
and denounces as "puerile" its own nven-
tion, all for the sake of having the pleasure
of seeing it in two departments of the same
issue. The Times but stings itself.