The New York herald., 1877-02-16
Tho Attempted Assassin attoa OF Gov
ern0r Packard.

The startling intelligence from New Or
leans which we publish this morning may
not, perhaps. have much political signif-
canoe, and yet it is calculated to arouse
the country and produce bad state of
feeling. Packard is one Of the rival claim
ants to the Governorship of Louisiana.
He is hated and detested by large
proportion of the citizens of that excited
State. OF course his embittered and pas
sionate political enemies did not wish to
have him murdered but the attempt to
murder him yesterday, in which they had
no direct completely, is very unfortunate
occurrence in this political exigency, tend
ing, as it does, to awaken old prejudices and
infame political passions
Toward noon yesterday well dressed and
respectable looking young man gained en-
trance to the private room of Governor
Packard, in the State Capitol, where he was
seated in consultation with q number Of
friends, and when the assassin had ap-
preached close to him he pulled out
pistol and aimed it at Mr.. Packard's
breast. The latter, with prompt presence
ant and changed the direction of the
pistol, which was discharged into his leg
just above the knee, inficting only a flesh
wound, which is not dangerous. Half q.
score Of pistols were Immediately drawn on
the assassin, who received two wounds. But
Mr. Packard, with magnanimity which his
worst enemies must applaud, threw himself
between the uplifted weapons and his fallen
assailant and saved the young mans life.
The would-be assassin was not very we'll
identified, but it is at least certain that he
is not an inhabitant either of New Orleans
or the State. What motive had this young
stranger in attempting to commit foul and
disgraceful murder? Governor Nichols
thinks that he was either drunk or a
lunatic but Nichols and the democrats have
an obvious interest in wishing to extenuate
his crime. 1t is against their interest to
have it supposed that the motive was politi-
cal or that the crime was instigated by the
local enemies of Packard. We do not believe
at all that the democrats of New Orleans in
stigated this crime, but have quite as little
doubt that it was prompted by political
passion
This unfortunate affair in New Orleans
conveys an impressive lesson which the
whole country should heed. 1t exhibits the
danger OF carrying feelings of political
hostility to high and heated pitch. Had
it not been for the saving influence Of the
Electoral Commission the whole country
would have been brought into state re-
sembling that which has so long prevailed
in New Orleans, where, in spite of earnest
attempts to keep the peace, the chief of one
of the political parties has barely escaped as
sassination. This sort of murderers expect
indulgence if not sympathy. The young man
who attempted to take Governor Packards
life probably imagined that if he succeeded
and was brought to trial Louisiana jury
would not convict him. The foundation
has already been laid for letting him
off on plea of insanity, the plea on which
SO many murderers escape in other commu-
mites, and which he may have thought
would be readily accepted when he had rid
the community of a hated man, denounced
as a political usurper We trust that q
prompt trial and severe sentence will prove
that this was q mistaken calculation.
|