American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-20
Guitcau's Inspiration.

1t is to be regretted that Republi-
can newspaper, usually so sensible rs
| the Providence Journal, should show
signs of a disposition to put obstacles
in the WHY of an utter humiliation OF
the spoils system. These signs, to be
sure, are not conclusive as to the ten
dency of our esteemed contemporary,
but they are noteworthy nevertheless.
Tho journal argues that the chief mo-
tive which impelled Guiteau to his
crime was a desire to be talked about
and that the existing spols system did
not lead Guiteau into temptation. This
theory of Guiteau's motive leaves out of
the account altogether Guiteau's ad-
mittcd Indignation because the Presi-
dent did not include his name in the
list of new Consular appointments. 1t
also leaves out of the account the testi-
mony concerning Guiteau's participa-
ton in the CANVASS of 1880 as friend
of Garfield and an enemy of Hancock;
concerning his applications for a diplo-
matte or Il Consular appointments; con-
corning his appeals for aid to prominent
Republicans at the East, who answered
him that rs he hailed from Illinois he
must rely on Western backing; con-
corning his call Upon Mr.. Jewell, the
Chairman of the Republican National
Committee: and it especially leaves out
of the account the letters prepared by
Guiteau to be published alter his
crime was committed. In those docu-
ments Guiteau clearly says that his
strongest wish was to make Mr.. Arthur
President. WhyP Because Garfield
was half-brecd and Arthur was
stalwart. Can any one reason intelli-
gently or safely about the motive or the
impulse behind the shooting of the
President who takes no account of all
these fatal facts! Guiteau was an Of
fice-seeker, inspired by the average
purposes of tho average American of
fice-scekcr, which are to get the pecu-
MARY emolument which attaches to an
Office and to secure the qualification of
his personal vanity. Garfield and
Blaine had rejected his claims. Did
not Guiteau reason as logically and as
correctly as majority of the stalwart
workers do when he said to himself:
''lf the stalwart leaders can be put in
power there will be general removal
of the half-breeds from the of1ices"p
Do not a majority of the stalwart lead
crs intend that such removals shall be |
made if Mr.. Arthur becomes President |
by the death, or Acting President by |
the '.inability'', of General Garfield? |
What beyond this do the brutal and |
selfish stalwart and half-breed political
trampS see in the piteous condition of
the illustriOus sufferer? If the Provi-
dencc journal means to be quite candid
with its readers it will tell them that, if
MIR. Arthur is President, the precedence
Of the ''spoils SYSTEM will encourage
md impeI and even Justify him in
he removal of every half-breed
official ut home or abroad. What sig
liiicance had the contention between
he stalwarts and half-brecds in the
Chicago Convention of 1880 but the
8 spoils"? Guiteau was and is Il child
If the "spoils SYSTEM" because he
ooked to n change in the office of Pres
dent and in the heads of the seven
Washington Departments simply us
general removals from Office
or party reasons, and therefore rs {
vacancy and an appoint 5
nent for him self. How can any man
loubt or deny tbs? Abraham Lincoln