Omaha daily bee., 1885-03-12
Arthur rs President,
Springfield Republican.

Springfield Republican.
Chester A. Arthur affords a striklp,
example Of the possible Christening ant
transforming influence of a tremendou
shock. When he was nominated fo.
vice-pres dent, the country knew that h,
represented the corrupt elements of thu
republican party, and that he was the
worthy and thorough representative Of
the dominance of the ''machine' oper,
ating through the civil service to control
elections. Moreover, the best repub-
ltcans felt the gravest apprehensions il
any chance should throw him into the
presidency. His speech after election at
the Dorsey banquet placed him in the
attitude of the bosstful champion of I'M
scrupulous methods. Nor did hts con-
duct after he became vice-presidsnt re.
lieve these apprehsnsions. When Pras.-
dent Garfield was met with that most
baseless, ridiculous and malignant of
political quarrels which arose out of his
nomination for the New York col
lectorship, Mr.. Arthur was recognized
as a partizan of the menwho were making
the quarrel distinctly on the spoils issue,
and he disgracsd himself and his ofics
by going to Albany, there to lobby for
the vindlcatipg reelection of the spoils
senators, Conkltpg and Platt. Until the
pistol shot of Guitesu startled the coun-
try and the world, Mr.. Arthur was moth
ing but a politician of the baser sort, to
all appearances without ideals of duty,
without elevation of soul; and he had
arrived at a period of life when the world
ceases to expect any radical change In a
mamie was 81 years old.
That fateful shot, sealing the gospel
of civil service reform with the blood
of Its martyr, the president, con-
verified the vice-president, while it
walked the whole people to the need of
that gospel. How through the Inn mediate
effect on him was none save MIR. Arthur
could tell, but the singular dignity, sobri-
ETY. and tact with which he bore himself
from the very moment of Garfeld's disa-
blltty indicated something more than a
passing impression. 1t Is certain that
when Arthur the president emerged from
these months of trial, he was q very diff.
ferent man from the lobbyist for Conkling.
He had taken the terrible warning against
PARTY spirit to heart, and whatever he
has done, he has not been the president
of a faction, or of a party, or of a section,
hut he has been president of the country.
The wrong, the wicked wrong of the
stalwarts, as they had nickpamed them
selves, had wounded him with the same
bullet that killed Garfield, and while they
went on with the same petty malice and
all uncharitab leness which speeded
that bullet, the president was a changed
man.. The advocates and enginee rs of
civil -service reform have testified heartily
to the genuine, ready and cheerful ser.
vice he has given that cause, even though
he alienated still more the politicians of
his party aud undoubtedly prevented all
chance of his nomination to bs his own
successor. Many reproaches were heaped
upon him because he exercised no active
influences in behalf of Mr.. Blaine in the
late campaign. 1t Is probable that Mr..
Arthur learned to regard such influence
as no part of the duty of the president of
the United States.
Mr.. Arthur will not pass into history
as a great man, but he has earned a