The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-21

gent. Applause and laughtert. We
other prominent " gentleman whose name anne
has been mentioned, nor to make threats that If
choice is not nominated, we won't play.
Laughter We express our wishes, and then
the minority submits to the majority. Who is
Chester.A. Arthur He is a man who has proved
himself, under trying circumstances one of the
most able presiding officers this nation ever had.
That he has been the subject of little criti-
ciSm is marvel The bitterness of one man
fwhese name should be inveieh instead of Mac
Yeag,ll displayed toward Arthur is nothing com
pared 70 the invective heaped upon Washington,
and the same remark applies to Jackson,
tlraut and Lincoln, up to Hayes;
and when Hayes took the presidency the coun-
try was almost scerched with tho fires of
When. elected Vice president Mr.. Arthur had
been ardent New York politician, loyal to
party and to his friends. carrying himself per-
haps beyond the line of prudence, but honor
'mao whose iInpruaenee-. springs from the integ-
rity and loyalty of his heart. [Appause1 When,
by q terrible deed of insane man. he became
President he forgot the things he remembered
mcr,ty as politician of New York and turned
with greater trust and with wider
horizon to confront the duties before
him: and when it was necessary
he should sacrifice his bosom friends rather than
involve the country in he old troubles aud bit.
;ernes's again he gave up his friends. Now, as
10 civil scrvice | think an investigation will
show that President Arthur was the first to in
stitnte civil service reform. He began it when
be WIS in the custom house, and ne still contin
ues IT, do not believe in tho nonsense of no
third term. l hold. ifa man proves competent,
h. should be put On for 3; third, or a fourth or
even fifth term. If by hs.acts any man ever
earned a reorganization Mr. Arthur deserves
his. | don't say the non-election of
Mr. Arthur is going to ruin the country The
country viii prosper whoever is president But
it certainly the case thatits prosperity is as
surcl torso far as it can beassuredby the action
Of ANY one man. if wa put back into his place
that. man who ha4 to the admiration of his
i-o nd e "a
nistS. conducted this government so we'll. We
must be very rich in good and great men, that
We can afford to throw away Mr.. Arthur. He
can ;tf0ld to return private life betrer than we
can afford to do without him. take an INTEREST
in and .m an observer Of public affairs and have
the advantage that have party interests to
sutscHe look at events from moral stand
noint | look at what will be best for the party,
and the remarks that ! mako, therefore, a
ciinn-aS a moral teacher of the ctizens-I
leave with yor, saying simply this: know not
hov you do better; know that this country
doesn't need to have any better President than
Chester y. Arthur. Long continued applause.l
HON. BESJAMrN H. BRIsTow,
cx-Secretary of the Treasury, was then intro
fucud and was most cordially received. Mr..
Bristow began his address by sketching briefly
the distress and discomfort which prevailed in
the Republican ranks at the accession of Presi=
dent Arthur discomfort which, he said, cul
minated in the overwhelming defeat of Repub
lean candidate for Governor, against whom,
personally, nothing could be urged. Even the
most sanguine Republicans would then hardly
hive dared to claim that a Republican President
couhtbe eIectedin 1884. Hereferred to the wonder
full change in the election i'll New York last year,
in the election of Republican Legislature and
tire remarkable accessions in the ranks OF Re
publican presidential candidates. This change
tho speaker attributed in great part to the
moderation, wisdom and quiet dignity of
President Arthurs administration. By refus-
no., Of h fftp fha
interest of factions lie has promoted harmony
in the party ranks. On reform in the civil
service Nj. Bristow said: 1.-The civil service
commissioners selected by President Arthur,
pursuant to the statutes, were and we'll
known for their zeal and intelligence in the
cause of civiservice reform apd
they have united in testifying to
the correctness and perfect good
faith of the President in carrying out the law in
letter and spirit" The, OK Secretary declared
the business men of this city and country care
very little for political acts, but they had an
opinion and dared express it. that the general
course of President Arthurs administration was
good and would on the whole, be fur the best
interest of the country. The orator closed with
the following reference to the letter of Mr. Mac
Veagh. published this morning.
''If the condition of our postal service IS such
that it becomes, necessary to transmit letters of
friendly advice and admonition through the
public press, there is grievous cause for COM
plaant | commend this matter to the attention
of our Postmasterge general, who, | hope will
be able to correct the abuse without the employ
ment of largo number of lawyers, eminent
and otherwise, at great expense and
friend who has been put to the inconvenience of
rushing inte print to give points for speech
docs not seem to have quite understood that this
meeting was called for free and independent
voters, who have a habit of thinking for them
selves upon all matters Of public concern and
who have no other end in view than the public
good l must decline his invitation to go into
the work Of personal defamation He invites
to consider various "reminiscences with
which have no concern, and as to
which have not enjoyed equal means of knowl
edge with himself. Incidents of President
Hayes's administration, fortunately are no
longer living topics, and we are not here to lift
the veil of oblivion. The called alliance with
Malone in Virginia is matter which came down
to the present administration from the past. 1t
to have had the approval of a preced-
ing administration, of which my valued
friend was an honorable and conspicuous member.
/ regret, and shall pass over without comment.
those slurs and insinuations, so unworthy their
author, which Mr. MacVeagh permits himself to
make touching the circumstances under which
Gen. Arthur had imposed on him the copstitn-
tional duty of taking the office of President
know not what secret bitterness be-
trayed my friepd into expressions which,
ordinarily his good taste and fine feeling
would be the first to condemn. If President
Arthur has always been the unworthy person
my friend describes, l leave him to justify or
excuse his act in supporting him for the vice
presidency and taking the Office of first legal add
wiser to an administration in which General
Arthur stood second by the peoples choice
Mr. Bristow retired amid cheers, ard after
few other speeches, the meeting adjourned.
A committee of one hundred will be appointed
TO go to Chicago
Action of Chicago Business Men.
CHICAGO May pa telegram signed by the
presidents of the First and Commercial National
" M.