National Republican., 1883-06-11
Anrnuws GROWING srRENeru
Admitted by Two Hitherto UnfrlcndIy
Journals.
PRESIDENT OR PoLITICGAN2
~ Y Tribune (gdiurdryl.

PRESIDENT OR PoLIT1CGAN2
W. Y. Tribune (Sr'urd1y).
To some persons IL seems q litc unreasonable
to expect from Chester A. Arthur, tho Presi-
dent, different conduct from that of Mr.
Arthur the politician. And yet tho country
gives to him, and he and his friends expect
that tho country will give to him, very
different measure of consideration and
respect. 1t is held just that he should be
credited with elevated, honorable, and patri-
otic motives because of the high sense of
responsibility which his station should bring
Lifted to u position of greater honor and
greater power than any other person on
earth, he ought to be raised above all the mo-
tives, influences and associations incident to
period of activity as Ia party manager. Tho
country assumes that man who was in any
respect fitted for high station will be thus
raised above his former self; whatever he
may have been as private citizen, IL assumes
that he will be something higher and better
under the sense of vast responsibility. This
Is tho logical foundation of the respect which
tho country pays to its chief magistrates,
Men who opposed the election of president
feel that it is duty to give him respect, con-
sideration, and fair opportunity TO show that
he is worthy of tho great trust which the
people have given HIM.
III this is the duty of honorable and pa
triotic citizens, IL Is the correlative duty of
tho President to be worthy of his great re-
sponsibiity. Whether individuals forget their
duty or not he cannot afford TO forget sta
ton which lifts him above them in honor,
and therefore should lift him above them in
motives and acts. 10 him it is disgrace TO
fall back to the lovol of the mere politician.
Tho people expect better things, and thoy
have right to expect better things, from tho
general who has been intrusted with the fate
of an army than from the private soldier who
has yet to win honor and trust.
President Arthur has done some things that
show n clear sense of his high responsibility.
The country has seen these things with great
satisfaction. In other actions IL has been dis
appointed in him, and has felt that he foil
short Of the requirements of his high station;
but 1t has been gratifying to SEQ that he
seems, with experience and the lapse of
time, to grow more and more able TO appre-
ciate the exalted trust to which he has been
called, and to rise above the motives and
methods which nero politicians continually
press upon him. Hence his course Is observed
with increasing interest Iand hopefulnoss by
those citizens who care little for indi-
yiduals or factions, but very much for the
honor and prosperity OF the country. They
deem it their duty to extend confidence to
j
that he is worthy of it. Many of them criti-
cised his conduct strongly in tho political
contests of the past who would yet be re-
ioced to find in the President greater worth
and higher conception of public duties and
interests than his course us politician had
led them to expect. 1t does not seem to any
reasonable and patriotic citizen that Presi-
dent Arthur ought to bo irrevocably CON
demncd because, when first thrown into q
position of unexpected responsibility, he wa.
not ablo for time to meet its extraordinary
difficulties in every respect
Half of the Presidents term of Office has
now expired, however Public opinion viii
presently cease to expect much change IN
him. Within n short time it will be felt thai
the general record of his administration is moi
likely to be materially different from its rec.
ord in the past. If tho President consider
the elections of last fall, he realizes that his
course up to that time had not been in all re
spects successful. He has power TO max,
very great advances in public estimation, ant
there are some indications that he wishes
to do so and sees the way. Undoubtedly hi
position in the public estimation has beer
improved already, since the events of las
year, but he can do very much moro IL
that direction if he will. The countr,
wishes to see in him, not tho instrument o.
any spoils hunting senator or other politician
| but faithful chief magistrate, who execute
the laws with justice aud impartiality.
| wishes to SEQ, not the leader of u faction bu
q republican president 1t treats him will
considerate patience, because it feel
that it has q right to expect tina
he will rise to the level of tho hig
station that no occupies. But event
must take place and decisions be made befor,
long which, in spite of any later efforts, vii
go Tar to fix the character Of the administra
tion to the end. 1t Is therefore the earnes
desire of all good citizens, and especially
all sincere republicans, that tho Presiden
may prove fully equal to his responsibility