The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-11-01
Sadly Derelict.

'.Mr Arthur" said Samuel j. Ram
dali in speech at Cleveland on Satur-
day night to q very large audience, sis
nice Civil Service reformer. What
would you think of jefferson or Madison
leaving the seat of Government to catch
black bass in the West or play euchre
on railroad trainp"
Now the fact that a man catches fish
and plays euchre on railroad train is
not very bad of itself. Some very good
men have done both and are doing
them every day. That, however, the
President of the United States should
give up two-thirds of his time to such
small business is rather serious thing.
The bulk of the people of this country
the rich as well as the poor, work, and
work hard, too. Their fishing and their
card-playing come only at intervals,
and are the exception rather than the
rule. A good workman will always find
work to do, whatever situation he may
occupy; and though Congress is not in
session the continual absence of the
President and his Cabinet from Wash
ington shows unquestionably that the
business of the country is not well taken
care of, at the same time that it en-
courages habits of idleness on the part
of the people at large. General Grant
gave himself up to a good deal of recrea-
ton, but he always managed to keep
within reasonable distance of the Capt..
tai His luxurious leisure was never
dreamed of by former Presidents, but
nobody complained of it to any great;
| extent. The existing President has
gone away beyond Grant in his junket-
ings, and the suggestion is irresistible
that the Grant example has inspired
Grants successor with the idea that he
| is President, as men are kings, merely
that he may exhibit h ;msef to the pub
lie; that he may hunt and fish; that he
may go hither and yon for the pur-
pose of attracting admiration; that he
may wear his dress coat and give due
attention to his ladies and his dinners,
and that in every way he may show that
he is the identical individual of blue
blood, the hem of whose garment may
blacksmith, and the other "peasantS
who give him his position and pay him
his salary. 1t is just possible thai
President Arthur has not accepted this
foolish and utterly erroneous idea,
though it certainly is the idea of men
like Mr.. Childs and other Republican
millionaires who have proposed to buy
the election of the President and then
to keep him in Office possibly until his
eldest son reached the age necessary to
succeed him; but he might, at least,
consider the dignity of the position
sufficiently to fill it somewhat accord
ing to the desire of the people and not
altogether for the qualification of his
personal laziness, his affection for dis
play, and his disposition in behalf of
travel and black bass. Few men have
the funds necessary to hunt and fish
) and talk small things all the while;
and what would have been thought of
the great Presidents if they had junket-
ed to Florida and back again, and to
the Yellowstone and back again, fishing
and playing euchre, through two-thirds
of their termp
Possibly the General Government
; can get along after a fashion II its
chief men are absent all the while,
: but that is not what is called "busi-
ness no successful business man
, does business in that way; and it is q
, , good deal more than likely that the
people of this country will next yeal
call for an old-fashioned President in 9
tone of voice that can not be misun.
i derstood.-N Y Graphic.