2o6
��Roland Wortlmigton.
��column early and secure the defeat of Mr. Blaine, whose candidacy it plainly intimated would, in its belief, be per- ilous to the party at the polls. Over and over again it warned the Massachu- setts delegation that the Edmunds movement was farcical, because it had no chance of success, and recorded its opin- ion that, if it was persisted in, Mr. Blaine's nomination would be secured on the second or third ballot at the latest. In all these forecasts the Traveller proved to be absolutely correct. The Ed- munds movement proved to be utterly barren of result, Mr. Blaine was nomi- nated on the second ballot as the direct result of the action of Massachusetts, and in the end, as it had feared, Mr. Blaine and the party suffered national defeat. This is a remark- able record of politcal far-sightedness, and the credit of it belongs to Mr. Worthington, who has, at all the turn- ing-points of affairs, laid down its course, and inspired its utterance. A keen and close observer of the current of public affairs, with a strong faculty for perceiving the practical points in a political situation, his judgment has given the paper this singular pre-emi- nence as a sound and safe political guide. Although writing but little himself he is a very ready and cor- rect critic of good writing, and has al- ways drawn around him, by an in- stinctive appreciation of literary talent, an editorial corps of capable and ac- complished writers. Always a warm ad- mirer of Honorable Chester A. Arthur, he sturdily championed him against the hostile criticism of the so-called half- breed presses, at the time of his nomi- nation for the Vice-Presidency. When
��President Garfield's death was an- nounced Mr. Worthington promptly undertook to correct the prejudice created against the new President in the public mind by the same presses, and the Traveller s predictions of a conserv- ative, capable, and patriotic administra- tion by Mr. Arthur were abundantly re- alized in the three years which followed. Without solicitation President Arthur tendered to Mr. Worthington the office of Collector of the Port, in April, 1882. A bitter opposition was made to his confirmation by Senator Hoar, purely on political grounds, but the appoint- ment was confirmed by a very large ma- jority, and even those who then op- posed it now concede that he has proved a most efficient Collector, has conducted the business of the office with an eye single to the service of the government and the business commun- ity which has to do with the Custom House, and has never allowed partisan considerations to interfere with the managment of the large force of em- ployes under his orders. It is doubt- ful, indeed, if true civil -service reform has been carried out more perfectly in any government office in the country than at the Boston Custom House un- der Collector Worthhigton. His term expires in May, 1886. When he retires the United States government will lose an excellent officer, but the Boston Traveller will have to be congratulated on regaining the full benefit of the un- divided energies and attention of the man who laid the basis of its prosperity so securely, and who has given it the masterly managment which has made it what it is.
�� �
