The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-09-21
THE DEAD PRESIDENT.

doleful news that was flashed over Inc WlresG
of the world Monday night, awakening theI
s~incerest sorrow OF all nations and peoples
After so long and 80 brave d struggle DEATH
won the contest and claims the chief magls-l
trate, the pride of his people, as its own.
The bullet of the assassin has bereft the|
people of their chosen ruler and poignant
Sorrow has her abiding place wherever the|
wires have carried the sad news. 1t il nearly
three months since the mad deed of Guiteaul
was lone and during that time hope and fear
as to the result have chased each other ln|
quick succession; but the end, the dreaded
end, has come at length, and the nation isl
TODAY in mourning for her chief magistrate
For once the strife Of party and faction has)
been hushed and there are none within the
broad boundaries of our country who navel
not q word of sympathy for the dead Chief.
During the brief term as President, James
A. Garfield endeared himself to the people.
While he gained the animosity Of 8 faction OF
his party, the great majority of the people
accorded him the mead Of praise for con
Quoting the affairs Of his administration as'
he and they believed right. Ii he made
errors, thereby precipitating a stormy admin
i%stration, they were errors Of judgment and
not Of the heart. He sought to do what was
right, to do his duty, and if the Ruler of all
nations had spared his life we believe his adj
ministration would have been exceptionally
clean, q bright spot in the history of our
country.
Indirectly the bitter contest between the|
Stalwart and the administration wings of thel
party led to the assassination OF President
Garfield. He has been literally sacrificed toI
the god of Spells, and the lesson is one that
should leave a lasting impression on theI
minds Of the American people. If it checks
the blind folly of partisans, the sacrifice, great
as it is, will not have been made in vain. Wei
do not assert that any one other than Guiteau|
sought the death of The President, but thel
glaring fact can not be avoided that the con-
test waged with such intense bitterness madeI
it possible and easy for fanaticism to assert
its power.
Garfield is the second President Of theE
United States that has fallen by the red HANDY
of the assassin and he will be given q michel
in history close beside the martyred Lincoln.l
Like the latter he won the affections Of theH
common people. It is a sad reflection uponz
our popular form Of government that withinR
seventeen years two Presidents should fall byH
the hands of the assassin. Let US hope theree
will be no more black pages Of this character
in the history of our government.
By Garield's death Arthur becomes Presi-
dent. We can not regard the change as al
propjtious one. Arthur belongs to the mosts
partisan school of partisans and unless bel
bellies his record thus far made his admins
tration will be quite different from that OIL
the dead President. It will be a Stalwart adj
ministration, which is another name for thet
bitterly partisan. IF Conkling has the eff
frontery to come forth from his retirementk
he will be the Premier, the President all bull
the name. His friends will be rewarded and
his enemies rebuked. To never forget al
friend or forgive an enemy is one Of the chieffFI
tenets in Conkling's political creed. IL is bull
q fond delusion to think that the presently
great calamity will deter these men fromH
carving out their wishes. The gloom willll1
soon pass away and the politicians at Wash !.
ington will be at their old tricks. For theRl
remainder of the administration Grant Willa
be an important factor, and the re'nrn OF JheE
ex-President to power and favor does not
bode any great good. But let US hope forE
the best. If Arthur turns out Il berter Presi-k
dent than our horoscope shows, the RIVER
Press will not be slow to give him credit forEE
it. B
The Democratic party has now a good OPP
~portunity Of winning golden opinions fromk
the people. An extra session OF CongressK
will doubtless be called, and to show thalH
party strife has lost some of its bitterness atbH
least, the Democratic Senators, in accordance
with Senator Beck's proposition, should uniteEI
with the Republicans in electing a Republi- 4
can President pro tenn. Of the Senate to theS
end that no excuse may remain to raise theSS
fanatics hand against the life Of Presidency
Arthur. AT such times as these party shoulds
be lost sight of and patriotism come to thesl
front. The Democrats Of The Senate haVeEs
the power to elect the President OF that bOdyh
(who would be President Of the United statesIl
in case of Arthur's death) but they shouldh
Weld the right like patriots at such . time ash
this. u
The country is in mourning over the dead
President. The telegraph reports i%nhicate
that the sorrow is wide spread and sincere. 1
III. -~ !. ]. aur.nn - IL l. a, q az and tho uillanazI