New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-19
CHENTER A. JRTHUh.

place by a great army OF citizens ana soldiers
| lived to receive donors throughout the civilized
world such as other man has received in his
life time. The President whose name is now
added to this hOn0red roll has an especial dis
function in this; he was the first Vice-Presl-
dent in the history of the Republic who, having
succeeded to the Presidency, did not disappoint
those by whom he was elected. The exceeding
difficulties and disadvantages Of a Presidency
| by inheritance must have been greater to him
than TO any other Vice-President so promoted,
and like every other he failed to secure an cleo
ton by the people to the office he had filled,
but the trials and distI usts, the anxieties and
dsappOntments of his position, failed to
swerve him from his principles. In this was
shown the characteristic for which he will be
most honored; he was faithful to trusts, to
friends, and to duty. Made President in the
midst of most bitter fight of factions, he tried
to be and to remarkable extent he was the
President of no faction. Accident gave him
rank, but not the honorable reputa ion which
he fairly won. As an executive officer, he had
been tried and found worthy in military service
and IN this city, and he was found worthy in
the Presidency. AS a leader of party or of
public opinion he would have failed even if his
circumstances had been less trying and Grip
ping.
Under President Arthur the public service
reached degree of purity which it was doubt
less impossible to attain during or soon after
the war. The progress Of public opinion toward
freedom from partisan ship in the discharge of
public duties was honestly reflected and aided
by him, to degree which few expected who
had known his activity and zeal in party man
agement. The general moderation. stead ness
and sobriety of his course were the more to be
commended because, with an inevitable and
honorable desire for popular approval and cleo
ton, there were strong Temptations to more
striking policy. But the Efforts which Presi-
dent AIthnr did make to mark out policy of
his Own, al Ike in foreign affairs and in a change
In methods of taxation, failed to secure public
approval.
1t was President Arthui's misfortune that his
previous political career had been such as to
famliarize his mind, not with the power of |
great principles over the thoughts of men, not |
with the discussion of broad questions of ma
tOnal policy, but with the details of party
management and official administration. He
understood how to enforce law far better than
he understood why one law rather than another
should be enacted. Given great body of
citizens animated by common convictions on
public questions, he knew how to organize the
force and make it most effective, and yet he had
but a faint conception of the ideas which do
bring aud bind great parties together, knew but
little how to make party stronger by the de-
velOpment of its convictions and tendencies
and had not much faith in the power of ideas
He knew how to negotiate victory out OF the
strife of Democratic factions. Had. he been
quick to read public opinion, even as party
manager, he would never have consented to
Mr.. FOiger's nomination for Governor. 1t was
not by him, but mainly in spite of him. that
ideas and issues were so presented as to divide
the Democratic party on questions OF principle.
Thus his tendencies as a politician led him
naturally to participation in the fierce Sena-
torial contest at Albany, part of his career
which his best friends would most willingly
forget. And his imperfect comprehension of
principles which make the Republican party
what it is led him to mark out, as the dis
tnctive policy of his administration, an effort
to change the tariff by treaties which few of his
own party were willing to support.
Thus President Arthur, while he gave the
country clean and wholesome Administration,
and faithfully performed his duty according to
his knowledge, failed TO command the full con-
iidence of his party as candidate for re-elec-
ton, because he had been found not broad
enough in mental equipment for the duties of
the highest station. He had failed to compre-
bend that his proposals respecting the tariff
we're hostile to the convictions of his party. 1t
was not that he was hostile to those convictions
But his ideas on the tariff question were mainly
those of importing merchants with whom he ,
had been in close and friendly association the
nature of the protective system and the
economic reasons for it he had not thoroughly
studied. Had the President been wiser :
as a statesman, he would have refused :
10 sacrifice to Spain the prosperity of {
American iron miners he would have made =
Mr.. Baine's foreign policy his own; and he (
would not have thought it possible that Civil I
Service reform could sustain q severer blow |
han by the election of Democratic President
n 1884. Z
No training in public life had prepared Presi- I
lent Arthur to deal with such questions. But G
% the full extent of his knowledge and ability '
le strove to uphold Republican principles and f
o adm mister the Government with fidelity. A e
rained statesman In his place would more than |
nee have sacrificed details to attain large re- e
ults. A Lincoln would have held it
most sacred duty to make efforts for the princi-
les Of his party which President Arthur did
ct judge il right to make in 1884, and there is n
eason to doubt whether President Arthur II
7ould have been quite as scrupulOus if he had is
cen the candidate. But the mind that is never e
ID to err in Judgment by personal interest OF n
ceiling is more than human. No mistake need
g overlooked in order to award to President -
rthur the honor of having served his country =
18th rare fidelity, and with hearty public ap- =,
rual In al Of afnaf
ificulty. a,
ADULIERATiON
DR.. Edison SAYS that the Health Denartment | -