National Republican., 1884-04-05
Not snHielently AEgrsssivc.

The only charge brought against the ad-
mnistration of President Arthur is that it
has not been sufficiently positive. We arc
told by the supporters of other candidates
that the present incumbent of the presden-
tial Office has failedl because he has not had o
want an aggressive president-one who has
au American policy, one who will give tho
country brilliant" administration,
and make the American flag re-
spectcd and feared on the seas
and on tho land in tho remotest
part of the earth. 1t Is not denied that
President Arthur has given the country a
safe, conservative, clean, and honest admin
istration, but he has not been sufficiently
aggressive. 1t is admitted that his appoint
monts havo been of the best kind but he has
lacked policy. His critics concedc that tho
laws have been faithfully executed, and tho
general affairs ofthe government administered
with efficiency and success but the admin
istration has not been brilliant" enough
Friendly relations have been maintained and
strengthened with foreign nations, but they
have not been made to fear the United States
government as much az they ought to, or
might have been made to, by president with
decided American policy. The country
has prospcred in as great q degree as it ever
prospered before, every material interest has
been advanced, and the public welfare has
been promoted, but we have not achieved
glory enough. This is the substance Of the
criticisms made upon upon President Arthur's
administration by the supporters Of other
candidates for the presidency.
President Arthur is to be congratulated
that no other charge can be brought against
him, and sensible people will find in this
fact very solid tribute to his administra-
tion. Without assuming to speak for the
President, we feel safe in saying that he
would admit the charge His administration
has not been aggressive nor brilliant, and he
has had no policy except to uphold the con.
stitution and enforce the laws.
This leads to the inquiry, do the people
want brilliant and aggressive sdministra-
tiou? Do they want president with a
policy" of his own to enforce? Ia it neces.
sary that pretext should be sought or far
fetched questions raised in order to make the
American fsg feared in all parts Of the earth,
or indeed anywhere? Is it desirable that a
president should engage in that.kind of work
and do the people want that kind Of presi
dent and administration? If they do, we
suspect that President Arthur's best friends
would be forced to admit that he would not
fill the bill. We believe he has no policy,
either continental or trasncontinental, beyond
that which pertains to tho duties of his Office.
Perhaps he has not given enough attention to
the patriotic duty of making the American
flag feared. He does not seem to have any
fixed plan for establishing an United States
protectorate over the Central American
states, or even for forming political alliance
between those Of North and South
America. He has not even suggested the
enforcement of the Monroe doctrine at the
point of the bayonet, and does not seem tt
have realizing sense Of the awful danger
which lurk in the digging of De Lesseps'
canal across the isthmus. He has not showl
much enterprise in tho way of picking
QUAR- els with foreign nations and seems t.
have entirely forgotten to carry a chip on hi'
shoulder for somebody to knock OFF WI
honestly think that if the people want
president with pronounced policy, WHIT
will give the country brilliant and aggres
, sive administration, President Arthur i
not the man.