The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-28
TlE:'.L.EGR.AEs.P!ElH1C. E !. 7
SOME COMPARISONS.
A Noted Special" Compares George
Washington and Arthur;
ind Concludes That 4 ney Are Alike
"aRut Not Suited to the Present
American Idea-A Plea
for Blaine.

CINCINNATI, May 2S.-"Gath" in his spe-
cial to the Enquirer comments as follows
upon the presidency: A few days ago it
seemed to me that President Arthur had
perhaps the best chance to be nominated.
Now l am in doubt. find his friends ap-
prehensive, and the slaughter of the subor-
dinate candidates has on the whole been
profitable TO Blaine
We are now changing our view of epresi-
Dental office. For good while the idea has
been kept afloat that the president OF the
United States must be some kind of an inn
maculate virgin. As the country grows older
in experience it has learned to put its faith
more in human nature, and even in human
in6rmities. The most difficult reputation to
maintain in the United States is that OF Cen
Washington. We do not find in him any
of the points we are accustomed to look
| for in our worldly heroes. His extreme pas
sion for duty, his want of slips and omis-
| sions and commissions have separated him
| from the public sympathy. We all feel that
| he was true and great man, yet he lived at a
| time when we were, to some extent, imitators
of the Englishman. The national character
had rot been truly formed in Washington's
| time.
As we come down the scale of presidents
and strike Gen. Arthur we feel that he has
been man of submissive and gentle sort
| He has not resented harsh words. He has be-
| haved in his great Office somewhat like
| Washington himself, as if he feared the
tremendous public opinion, which was, in
many respects, superior to his own Judgment
"Gath" then sketches the several,vice presi-
dents who have become president, and says:
| Now we come to Gen. Arthur, another acci-
dental president. At times l am almost
disposed to applaud him. When Judgment
| returns | see that it would be consideration
thrown away. He is a decent man, about
| whom after he has ceased to be a candidate,
many good things can be said His be
havior in the office has not been
had The magnificent qualities of this
nation adduce from its magistrate COM
posture and discretion. He has done well il
his office. but this ought to be the last of his
term. What guarantee have we got from
such man that if we re-elect him he will
not develop meaner qualities than he has
hitherto shown!
Now we come to Blaine, the most formida
BILE opponent of President Arthur. My re
lations with him have never been intimate
although 1 know him pretty well. Il
we were to consult our courage
We would give Blaine the supreme
chance. We all know that he is a man o.
remarkably ability. Look at his ability, ant
see the extensive stage on which he has beer
displayedl In the first place he was gooC
congressman His appearance on the flool
of congress was always eventful. He nevel
threw himself away on little matters, bn
appeared only on large occasions, and hardly
ever without large results.
Let US take up Blaine as presiding Officer
of congress That is an important and re
ponsible position. He was speaker Their
three times, | think Have we suffered an,
evils in nation from his having been the Gus
todian of the popular legislative branch9
know that certain ground-moles with donbl
spectacles have been trying to make out of {
letter or two Of Blaine's some rascalty of in
tention Our letters would in many cases in
jure us if they were printed. | have neve
kept copy in my life of private letter writ
ten by myself Some of my letters, if the,
were presented to me, | would hardly believ
! had written A mans general character
to he put in opposition to some private lette
printed by scamp.
: Possessing no interest whatever in thu mex
PRESIDENTIAL election, not satisfied that it
important for the Republican party to elec
lis candidate, l do want to put myself il
with the majority of the people with tb
warm and more impulsive elements Of tn
Republican party, and say that the sins c
Blaine compared to those of public men i
general are not worth remembering.