Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-11
Ecpi0ndti0n.

For Inc nrSC Time IN many months, Tie
issue of the GLOBE OF Monday last appeared
without it's horse department From the inter-
est manifested in this department We
are justified IN the belief that under ordin-
airy circumstances this omission would have
been severe disappointment to large pro-
portion of the GLOBE readers. But the issue
of Monday last was made under circumstances
without parallel in our history. The coun-
try was in the enjoyment of an unusual degree
of prosperity-trade and manufactures active
and crop prospects goodwill no great pO-
litical question pending to excite party divi-
sions and strife. With plenty IN the land, an
era of good feeling prevailing such as had
not been felt since 1861, and friendly relations
with all the world, the people were looking
forward to the recurrence of the anniversary
of our national birth, with the most pleasant
anticipatlons and general feeling of thank
fulness that their lots had been cast in Amer
lea, "the land of the free and the home OF
the brave
In the midst of this scene two pistol shots
are fired in the National Capitol, the dctona-
ton of which was hard, not only In all parts
of the American Union, but all over Christen-
dom. The pistol was in the hands of a hood
lum-an eXcrescence of on our body polite
thing born into the world but half made up,
small of brain and lacking in moral
sensibilities, and what little of good
there was in him, If not destroyed,
perverted by his teachings and aasociations-a
thing whose death would not have caused a
ripple on the great sea OF national life, and
scarcely pang in any quarter. The victim
was the President of the United States-the
chosen chief executive of the republic
chosen by one of the divisions of our party
politics, but accepted as such by all Sur
people.
The hoodlum, pqued by fancied slight,
not at the hands OF the President, but of some
of his subordinates, deliberately conceived
the idea of killing the President. Coollv and
| determedly he armed himself for the purpose,
| and when he met his victim, on his way to join
his invalid wife, he shot to kill, and so well did
| his desperate resolve nerve his arm and speed
| the bullets on their fateful mission, that for
| eight days since the occurrence, though hav-
| ing the very best of medical care and attend
ance, and followed by the prayers of all the
people for his recovery, his life has hung
! trembling in the balance, and even now all
| danger is not passed.
! The circumstances surrounding this bastard
| ly attempt upon the life of ohr President were
such as to appeal to all the better, nobler feel
| ings of our nature, and for days all thought
was conferred in the probable fate of the Presi-
dent Business was partially paralyzed fes-
tivities arranged for the natal day were
abandoned, the people instead holding meet
| ines of supplcation and invocation. 1t was
under these circumstances that our Monday
department was omitted. The omission, in
| reality, needs no apology.
| AS we write this, the prospects for the
Presidents recovery are excellent. The crlti-
| cal period in such cases has been passed, and
| nothing unfavorable occurring, be will proba
| bly, survive Guiteau's bullet But what of
| Guiteau? He cannot be hungif the President
| f,,y
would have been had the President died, the
| insanity plea interposing. But Guiteau has
| committed great crime, and he should
| be made an example of, not so much to
punish him personally, as to warn other
| hoodums that hunting for Presidents, or 9TH
er chosen or appointed officials, is not a
| healthy following in this country. The horse
department of the GLOBE BELIEVES that grave
mistake was made when Guiteau's neck failed
elevation, Immediately after the shoot
ing. If it could have been
arranged it would have been better to let the
carcass hang two or three days in some public
place. While thus hanging the question of
insanity might have been inquired into, and
while it might have done Guiteau no good,
there is no doubt the pro-
beneficial effect in keeping other hoodlums
sane. But it is too late for this mode of pun
ishment. The time has passed, and SO we
are forced to look for some
other punishment, and in the emergency this
department unhesitatingly accepts the sugges-
ton of patriotic, law abiding and educated
gentleman, one of the well-known breeders of
the State, that the word ASSASSIN" be
stamped across Guiteaus forehead, and that
for the balance of his life he be compelled, &C.
companied by guard, to walk in public at
some designated spot in the city of
Washington, during certain hours each day,
except the Sabbath and national holidays.
law will have to be passed as an extra judi
cial measure to inflict this mode of punish
ment, or any other commensurate with the
crime. But this can be done and should be
done. The people choose their rulers in this
country, and when once chosen their lives
must be protected. This suggestion may
be little horsey, but horse sense Is usually
sound and safe to follow.