Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-08
THE NATIONAL TRAGEDY.
CONKLING ON THE CRIME.


1FOS0cut0 fA6&A8Slu.
The following correspondence has passed
between ex-senator Conkling and Attor-
merry General MacVeash:
FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL New FORK, June
), 1SS1.-IMy Dear Sir: In the adherence
with which all decent men alike. .shudder at
the attempt to murder the president,
which your attention may or may
not have turned. Our criminal code
treats p-emeditated homicides in all
cases alike, irrespective Of the victim.
Murder being visited by the greatest
penalty, perhaps no distinction between
one case and another could be founded on
the public relations held by the person
slain, but in case of attempt to murder
broad distinction can be made between
assailing the life of an individual and an
attempt to take life of special value to
the whole people. The shocking occur
renee of Saturday, think, demands that
the definition and punishment OF as
saults aimed at high executive Off
GERS, whether successful or not, should
be made thoroughly rigorous. The
man who attempts the life of the
president, if morally responsible, COM
mits an oflense which the nation ought to
guard against and punish by the eXertion
of all the power a civilized nation may
| employ. | suggest this as deservin. OF
consideration. My profound sympathies
are with all of you every hour. The con-
flict of reports keeps hope and fear strong
with each other, with nothing stable ex-
cept faith, and trust that the worst is
over and passed. l wish you would cx
press to the president my deepest SYM
pathy in this hour, which should hush all
discords, and enlist all prayers for his safe
deliverancc. Please also give to Mrs.
Garfield my most respectful coincidence.
Trusting that all will be well,
Cordially yours,
Roscoe CONKLING.
Tho Answer.
WAsHINGTON, July To Hon. Roscoe
Conksing, Fifth Aoenue Hotel N. y
Thanks for your letter of the fifth, which
has just reached me. Its suggestions will
be carefully considered, and its kind mes
sages of sympathy will be conveyed to the
president and Mrs. Garfield at the earliest
opportunity.
WAYNE MACVEAGH.
For Mrs. Garfield.
Elk Senator Conkling sent the following
telegram to Vice President Arthur yester-
day afternoon ''Piease say to Mrs. Gar
field, for me, to-day's reports are most
welcome, and We rejoice for the happiness
they give to her." To this dispatch Post.
master General James sent the following
reply: "The vice president has placed
your telegram in my hands for delivery to
Mrs. Garfield. have complied with his
request and Mrs. Garfield desires me to
return her thanks for your kindly sympa-
thies.''
\ Magnificent Gift.
Postmaster General James has received
a telegram from George Wilson. secretary
of the New York Chamber Of Commerce,
in which the latter requests the postmas-
ter general to say to Mrs. Garfield that the
members of the New York Chamber OF
Commerce have subscribed two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars to be presented
to her, both as token Of their sincere es-
TEEN and sympathy. and as Z means of
relieving the mind of the president entire
ly from anxiety with regard to the future
of his family. To this telegram POstmas-
ter General James has sent the following
reply:
Your dispatch has been delivered to
Mrs. Garfield. On the receipt of it she
remarked There is so much that was
touching and beautiful i'll the sympathy
Of the people of the whole country that
she did not dare to trust herself to think
of it. y