The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-06-04
The Cleveland ana Arthur M 9TH =
DDS.

The Cleveland and Arthur Meth
| DDS.
The very capable correspondent OF
the Christian Union gives this inter-
esting picture of Mr.. Arthur's White
House methods:
The other morning | sat for some
| moments in the Presidents private
office, where he receives his visitors.
Ahead of me were several Indiana
politicians, urging him with reference
to some kind of patronage. While
they talked he sat looking over the
broad lawn to the Potomac, but in the
course of the interview he said nothing
nor show ed in any way how he felt OH
the matter. He listened courteously
That was all. Then he came over In
where we stood, i'll his unaffected way
remarkipg how pleasant it is to sre
occasionally men who want nothing,
II expects to get no vacation this year
until we'll OH toward 4 Autumn, as he
thinks the pressure for Office will keep
up, and he prefers to stay here and
keep abreast of his work until he has
it so well in hand that it will not suf-
fer any from his absence. Mr.. Arthur
had the quite different habit of taking
his pleasure first and leaving other
things to be attended to on his return.
Mr.. Arthur's idea was to get through
as easily as he could, without ruff1ing
feathers Until the last, when he had
paid off his friends with offices, he
trimmed his sails pretty closely ac-
cording to the advice of his newspaper
frienGs in New York, and left all the
routine to his Cabinet. His indiffer-
ence is the only excuse that can be
given for some of his acts. Thus he
approved the attempted infamous rob-
berry from the Winnebago Indians of
their reservation in Dakota, in the
very last days of his term. That step
absolutely stole from these civilized
Indians their homes and farms, leav
ing them all the prey of the first white
man who cared TO pre-empt them. To
make it worse, the grabbers for whose
benefit this was done were informed
In advance, and camped on the edge
of the reservation to be ready to cross
as soon as the word came from Wash
ington. The plan worked we'll. The
Indians protested in yaip. Luckily,
the enormity of the thing attracted
instant attention. The Indians'friends
urged the Department to revoke Tell
er's action. Under the law it can be
done, not for gross fraud, but only
when the act is shown to be plainly
in violation of law. This has been
done. Teller's order was directly con-
trary to the solemn treaty we made
with these Indians in 1865 Mr.. Ar
thur disclaims all responsibility, be-
cause he indorsed it not knowing what
it was. This was undoubtedly so. But
it is sort of comfort to have in the
White House man who will know
what he does, and not shield himself
behind the irresponsibility of sub
ordinate, even though in this case he
happened to be Secretary of the Inte-
rior,
Mr.. Arthur was a great way from
being bad man, but he was careless,
Indifferent, and negligent. Extrava-
gance and idleness hourished about
him. Petty favoritism ruled the White
House. Some mes it seems as If the
negligence ought to be made an ofense
in the conduct of public office, as well
as in driving on the highwa But
Mr.. Arthur is gone. De n,ortuis nil nist
topuS