National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-28
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WORDS OF SOBER SENSE.
Nothing 10 he Gained by Change OF
Adn,in!stratio OF Hearty APP
prOynI of the President.


NeiU York Commercial Advertiser.
We do not see what advantages the repub-
can party is TO gain by change of admins
tration for the next four years.
There is certainly no fundamental princi-
pie at stake which should lead it to cast
about for new representatives, or to run the
hazard of untried experiments, always more
or less to be dreaded. If the present gov
eminent had shown itself VIGOROUSLY unfit
or inefficient; IL it had committed serious
blunders eyincing its incapaeity or render
ing 1t unpopular not only with its own
supporters but with the people at large,
there would be a justification for dropping it
from its place.
But such has not been tho case. Mr..
Arthur came into powor under tho most
trying circumstances, such as might we'll
havo appalled, tho stoutest heart, and ho has
confronted them with dgnitied aud con-
scientious sense Of his responsibilities and, as
It seems 10 us, with remarkable irmpess and
sObriety Of Judgment His earlier associa-
tions and methods as politician were
widely regarded rs not likely to be creditablc
To him in his more elevated position, but
from these he worked himself away gradually
| but effectively, and regardless of all sinister
influences no has devoted him time thought
| fully aud impartially to the discharge Of his
duties.
In one respect, indeed, tho administration
has been unusually successful, and that is In
| securing the confidence of the business inter
| ,estS of the nation. Mr.. Arthur, as an old
| New Yorker, thoroughly converssnt with
| the needs and usages of trade, is perfectly
sound on all questions of finance on which SO
much depends and he may be trusted TO see
TO 1t that no Improper tamperings with the
| currency and no wild schemes of interference
with the proverbially cautious policies of
commerce, shall be permitted. On the heels
| of recent decision of the supreme court,
| which has opened the way TO any sort of
| paper money madness in congress, aud whom
| there is 30 surprising an Indifference in that
| body TO the possible effects Of the silver
coinage, it is well to have at the helm one
who cherishes no delusiops on these subjects,
Mr., Arthur has shown, moreover, by his
| timely and able veto of the river and harbor
appropriation bill in the face of strong con-
gressional sentiment, that no is a determined
enemy Of extravagapce and courageous
enough to rebuke it, even when his political
friends are accomplices in the wrong. How
important this consideration Is, when the
federal treasury IL overlooking with surplus
| revenue, we need scarcely remark. Every
day new schemes for the depletion of it are
sprung upon the legislative hOdy--the one
only more foolish and wasteful than the
other-which require the presence Of an ey-
eputive WHOSE eyes are open to the evil, and
whose will is strong enough to interpose al
effective resistance. ..'' 'r
But whatever tho merits or dement's OF
different candidates, is it not frontal prip'
eiple of that reform Of the civil service IL
which we are looking forward with reason
able hopes Of triumph, that good and Gill
ciept officer is not to be discharged, except
for cause? Are we not told that so long a.
he proves capacity and honesty, no Is to b.
allowed within the tenure prescribed by law
to 90 on in his work? But why Is not this
principle as valid for a president as 1t is for
clerk or tide waiter? No one pratends thai
the President has failed in his task--no one
pretonds that he has boon in any degree un
faithful to the general aims of his party--nC
one pretends that he has not acquitted himsel
in tho most honorable manner in all his pub
lie conduct, and no one pretends that chang
Is domanded by the condition of affairs Or by
anything more than tho desire of ambition
leaders TO supplant him, which is scarcely
good reason for upsetting a settled order,
giving satisfaction almost universal, for some
thing else, Wo know not what. II seem
clear to us that, as Mr.. Arthur has deporte,
himself so we'll in his place, it is incumben
on his party not to reprehend him for IL by
dismissal bat TO reward him for it by heart
and unanimous approval. ...