CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 201 



it was the first audited and allowed in Washington, and with- 

 out the deduction of a dollar, while the Quartermaster's 

 accounts from other States were reduced from §10,000,000 to 

 §1,000,000. When Mr. Arthur became Quartermaster-General 

 he was poor. When his term expired he was poorer still. 



He had opportunities to make millions unquestioned. His 

 own words in regard to this matter amply illustrate his 

 character. " If I had misappropriated five cents, and on 

 walking down town saw two men talking on the corner to- 

 gether, I would imagine they were talking of my dishonesty, 

 and the very thought would drive me mad." 



At the expiration of Governor Morgan's term, Mr. Arthur 

 returned to his law practise, and the firm of Arthur and 

 Gardiner prospered exceedingly. Gradually he was drawn 

 into the arena of politics. He nominated, and, by his efforts, 

 elected the Hon. Thomas Murphy a State Senator. When 

 the latter resigned the collectorship of the Port of New York, 

 November 20th, 1871, President Grant nominated General 

 Arthur to the vacant position, and four years later when his 

 term expired re-nominated him, an honour that had never 

 been shown to any previous collector in the history of the 

 Port. 



When James A. Garfield was elected President of the 

 United States, in 1880, General Arthur was unanimously 

 elected Vice-President. On the 4th of March, 188 1, he 

 delivered a brief but eloquent. inaugural address and assumed 

 his place as the second officer of the Republic. 



Immediately after the death of President Garfield, 

 General Arthur took the oath of office as President of the 

 United States. The administration of the oath was followed 

 by the President's brief inaugural address. 



During Arthur's term, efforts were made to strengthen 

 the relations of the United States with the other American 

 nationalities. Representations were made by the Administra- 

 tion with a view to bringing to a close the war between Chili 

 and the allied States of Peru and Bolivia. 



President Arthur advised the establishment of a monetary 

 union of the American' countries to secure the adoption of a 

 uniform currency basis. Provision for increased and improved 

 consular representation in the Central American States was 

 made. Negotiations were conducted with Colombia for the 

 purpose of renewing and strengthening the obligations of the 

 United States as the sole guarantor of the integrity of 

 Columbian territory, and of the neutrality of any interoceanic 

 canal to be constructed across the Isthmus of Panama. 



