Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-07-03
THE AUGMENTATION OF THE
PRESIDENT.

the assassination of President Garfield
by a semi-insane office seeker at Wash
ington yesterday morning. The full par
t~iculars of the terrible affair will be
found in u Geographic columns. The
assassin was Charles Gltteau, a half-de-
mented shyster Chicago lawyer. lie had
been a persistent applicant for Office at
the hands oil tn, President. He fired
two shots, both of which took effect. At
first the President was thought not to be
fatally wounded, but advices up to 8
o'clock last evening leave no room to
hope for his recovery. AT that hint the
physicians stated that he could not pos
sibly survive more than two hours. We
regard it as almost certain that the Presi-
dent is dead as we write.
This is a dreadful thing in any possible
view of the case. Happily for the credit
of the Nation no political party can be
held responsible for the deed. 1t was
the act of an individual, and we doubt II
any other person in the United States
cognizant OF the intention OF the
desperate ~lunatic. Indirectly and re-
motley, however, it was the outgrowth
OF Conklingism; that is to say, it was
the elimination Of the fierce struggle 60
ing on between the opposing factions OF
the Republican party for a distribution
of the spoils. The fight began at the
Chicago Convention last Fall. The dead
lock in the Senate last Winter, the pres
emit deadlock at Albany, and, finally, the
assassination Of the President, are all
traceable directly to the spoils system.
Garfield has fallen a victim to Federal
patronage. Lincoln lost his life through
the passion Of a desperate partisan.
We would not intimate that either
Conkling or Arthur knew anything of
the intended assassination. But the fact
remains that if Conkling had not re-
resigned his seat in the Senate, in all hui
man probability this attempt would never
have been made on the life Of the Presi-
dent. am a Stalwart, aud Arthur is
now President" were the first utterances
of the assassin. This shows how the con-
test in the Republican party had fastened
itself upon tho diseased mind Of Gitteau.
He had brooded over the situation until
no doubt he concluded that in the killing
of the President he would be doing a
praiseworthy act.
Conkling and Arthur must be sensible,
sensitive men. Their situation is a most
deplorable me-. Ii they fully realize their
position, 10 two men in America should
experience more sincere sorrow over this
sad affair than these two New York
leaders. The sudden and violent taking
off of the President, all of the circum-
stances considered, would seem to be SC
much to the advantage of these men as
to render it extremely difficult for the
country to wholly separate them from
the results of the terrible deed. And
yet we are sanguine that both Conkling
and Arthur are as innocent as any two
men in the Nation. directly speaking.
But, as above stated, their position is an
unenviable one There is but one rational
course left open to them. If not schemers,
they will renounce politics at once and
forever. Conkling should withdraw his
name at Albany without a moments
delay. Arthur cannot hold Gartield's
seat without the faint of blood adhering
to his armor. His course should be to
convene the Senate, have a President
protempore elected and then resign and
retire from public life. Edmunds is the
man for the place and the man who
would restore confidence to the country.
None of US desire Arthur for Presi.
dent. He represents all that is bad in
machine politics. He was voted for by the
better class of Republicans UNDER pro.
test. They would have defeated him
II there had been any way under our
system of defeating the Vice President
and at the same time electing the presi.
dent. The Democrats have no faith in
Arthur. They were satisfied with Gar.
heid n will feel more keenly his death,
as a rule. than Republicans will. They
VIII be won't in advance to regard Ar.
thurs Administration as a revival of
Grantism and bayonet rule in the South.
Garfield gave promise OF making a
wise and conservative President, He
had beer in power less than four
months. All of his official acts were
characterized by moderation and an an.
parent desire to subserve the best inter.
ests OF the country and all of the people
thereof without special regard to party.
AZ Is a sad thing for him to have been
thus u Off in the prime of vigorous
manhood n in the very beginning Of
his Presidential term. The consequences
to the country also cannot fail to be very
grave. How the general prosperity NAV
De aneeted remains to be seen. but We
rear that serious results are to be appre.
hended. App'o'
While there is life there is hope. saw,
the Old adage. The President was still
breathing at last accounts. Let n.
.fervently hope that the wires this morn'
ing may lash the welcome intelligence
tnat ne has rallied during the night and
tnat there is still hope Of his recovery.
CAN SELL TO WHOM HE pI.sAsrs
Judge Adams Of 81. Iap;s b.. ao.;l..