The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-24

The precarious condition in which
the President is lying has naturally
revived some political discussion in
regard to the political consequences
which might be expected to attend
his death. But in its tone the de-
bate now going on is essentially diff
ferent from that which so suddenly
and unanimously sprang up on the
memorable day OF the attempted as
sassination. Not many people re-
tain their presence of mind through
all the excitement caused by news
SO dreadful and so utterly unfor-
seen. BY far the greater majority
gave themselves up to apprehen-
sions which were none the less dis
ouieting because they were SO vague
and unsubstantial. They feared
they knew not what. and they scarce
knew why. Panic was in the air,
and sober sense which is usually a
salient characteristic of the Ameri-
can citizen was whirled away in o
storm of wild alarm.
We had supposed that an Ameri-
can President, placed in office by
the public will, and welding his
powers for the public beneft-a
man neither enjoying or claiming
any personal privileges, who for a
little while had been raised up from
among the people for the general
good. and who in little while
would descend from the height to
which he had been raised and be
one of the people again--we had
thought that such ruler was safe
from the dangers which bcset the
hereditary and despotic sovereign,
and it was a staggering shock when
Guiteau's pistol opened our eyes to
the truth that in a republic as in an
empire the man who in his person
represents authority is not safe from
the malevolence which authority III
spires. 1t seemed as though the
crime at Washington pointed to the
failure of republican principals and
institutions, and the gloom Of this
suggestion did much to adarkcn the
/ future. The bitterness provoked by
the contest in New York State was
another element of apprehension,
and the unwarranted attacks which
had been made on the Vice Presi-
dent were n powerful factor in agi-
tating the public mind. Happily
/ that agitation has now subsided.
People have entirely recovered from
the panic by which at first their
Judgment was obscured. Guiteau's
crime is now understood to have no
political significance whatever to
have had no more connection with
the success or stability of our insti-
tutions than any vulgar murder
prompted by cupidity or revenge.
/ The phantom of political revolu-
ton to follow the Presidents death
by which many were affrighted has
also disappeared.
For every reason Mr.. Garfield's
recovery is most earnestly and pray
erfuiiy to be desired. Any great
political change has a disturbing
and therefore a prejudicial effect
upon the business OF the country,
and on account of that, if nothing
else, the necessity for the Vice Pres
ident's succession would be most
unfortunate. And there are other
reasons to the same tenor. Mr..
Garfield has gained in an extraor-
dinary and quite exceptional meas
ure the confidence of his fellow-citi-
zens. If he RECEIVERS, he will have
greater influence than anv American
President before him was ever able
to command. His capacity for sue
cessful action in public affairs will,
humanity speaking, be well nigh un-
bounded, and that he will use it to
the public good no one can doubt.
Merely from political point of
view, his life is therefore of inestin-
able value to the country, and that
he viii be spared must be the heart
/ felt prayer of every good citizen.
But whatever happens, there are no
rocks ahead which need occasion
alarm. Should General Arthur be
called to take supreme control, the
jar of the transition will be quickly
over, and in y few days everything
will be running along as smoothly
as though nothing had happened
Phda. North 1merican.