The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-03-11
that time included the election of

shat time included the election o.
General Arthur to the United States
J Senate in 1881. In 1880 this wing
: favored the nomination OF General
Grant for President. When. after a
. sharp contest, General Garfield was
Nominated, his friends, anxious 20
coneiliate the supporters of Grant
besought General Arthur to accep;
lthe second place upon the ticket
4 His most intimate friend, Senator
lConkiing, advised him against it, fer
the reason that the election of the
ticket was extremely doubtful, and,
iIf elected. the place was an unIm
portant one, with four years ten
ure, while, on the other hand, there
was reasonable certainty of his cleo
ton as United States Senator by the
next Legislature, with six years
term aud probable continuance in
office. General Arthur fully com
pretended the situation. 1t was In
the spirit of Sacrifices that he accept
ed, and Immediately put heart and
band into the work of electing the
ticket.
The harmonious conditions he had
been 20 largely instrumental In bring
ing about were suddenly interrupt
ed, in the first month of the new All
ministration, by the changes OF the
Federal offices in this city. The two
Senators resigned, and went TO the
Legislature for reelection. The dom
Inant party was plunged into faction
al strife, and the President aud Vice
President were no longer in accord.
Pre- entity, in these conditions, the
assasein's pistol rang another sharp
aud sudden change. From that
moment the Vice President put be
hind him all causes of difference (;
every other feeling was absorbed In
his horror Of the crime and his sym
pathv with the stricken victim. 1t
was an occasion that must unavold-
ably reveal the depths OF a mans
character. At time when faction
was in the ascendant, when parti-
sanship was intense aud bitter, when
popular passion was REINFORCED by
public grief, and the atmosphere was
surcharged with consciousness and
Iuncharity, the Vice President borv
himself with dignity OF demeanor
and sense OF e>ponsibilitS, that chai-
lenged the pect Of his opponents.
while the manifest sincerity with
which he united in the general
mourning at the nation = bereave-
ment, commanded sympathetic re-
gard
No President ever entered office
under such tremendous disadvanta-
ges as President Arthur encountered
upon his accession. Gravely and
seriously, not as leader of a faction,
or survivor OF controversy, but as
one entrusted with great power and
conscious of vast responsibilities, he
addressed himself to his new duties.
Forgetting faction and divesting him
self Of partisanShip, without desert
ing his friends or sacrificing prlnci-
pie, he made it his chief endeavor to
restore harmony and confidence to
the country. The careful student OF
the history OF his time will accord
Ihim the distinction OF having
achieved this object in the face of
obs .acies that seemed insurmounta-
ble. At the close Of his term be re
tires from Office enjoying the conf
dence and esteem of men of all parties
to an extent attained by few of his
predecessors. His personal demean-
or in office has been marked by
modesty Joined with dignity, by
Iaffabilitv and courtesy that won
confidence without encouraging fa-
niliarity. and by such patience and
composure under misrepresentation
as entitle him to the highest praise
In his administration of public at-
fairs he has always listened to ad-
vice and carefully weighed testimo-
nv, but in the end has relied upon
his own clear judgment always de-
liberate in action, he has never been
slack in an emergency preferring
conservatism and safety to dash and
glitter, he has pursued a policy un-
der which the country has enjoyed
in a high degree the inestimabie
blessings of tranquility and peace.
But perhaps the highert distinction
ot all is that. under circumstances
that would tempt the ambition of
the most uuseltish patriot, he has
maintained the dignity of his office,
and kept his own fame unsullied by
anv intrigue for the continuance OF
bower Harper Weekly,