Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-07-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, july IL, 1851

last letter Vas Written III would he
imr oSsibIe 10 write Of anything
else at this line, though there Is
little to be said that Tic telegraph
has not already told YOU. II
would Tot he correct TO describe
the feeling that has existed III
Washington ~ excitement, for
there has been Iit,le OF ihat. but
it is seldom Ia any country, thaE
such deep, quiet sndne,s per.
vades IL whole community. The
first intelligence of the deed Was
a terrible shock, which has been
followed by intense .orrow and
anxiety. There seems to be q
sense of personal afiiicticn upon
the mind Of every resident Of the
Capital and the puosic pulse went
up or down with that OF the Pies
dent, until bis symptoms gave pos
tive recovery. Probably such q
quiet 4ih Of July has not been
known in this country during the
one hundred and five years Of its
Independence, anu right here il
the Capital Of he Nation, W hose
anniversary it was. not Z gun was
fred and scarcely q fire crack er
was heard. Year after year the
police have made the most streuu-
Gus efforts TO suppress in some de-
gree the destracting noise Of fire.
works on that day; yet public SEN
timcnt and public feeling, in the
face Of a great sorrow, accomplish
ed what fifty thousand police
could not have done.
This tragedy has served TO
prove the oneness of the Ameri-
can people, after all. There is no
North, no South, no faction and
no party in the expressions of
sorrow and sympathy that have
poured fourth. Il was the peo-
Plies President who was shot
down, and the blow was felt by
every citizen. 1t was a blow at
the Nation and the whole people
stood up to resenti it. The event
has shown, too, in what high es-
TEEN President CART Id has come
to be held by he country. His
administration has encountered
trials but there is no doubt that
through all he has had the hearts
of the people. His own fairness
and Justice and consideration have
assured him that, and there is few
men to-day, ofail parties who ITO
not believe in the righteousness
and lOftines5 of his Intentions and
purposes. There are few who do
rot recognize that his removal
from the scene at this time would
be peculiarly unfortunate for the
country The probable admins
tration that would succeed him is
not considered promising. AID
ii seems too bad that miserable,
worthless scoundrel like Gui'eau,
too mean TO live, should have the
power &c iuflict such suffering up
on the head Of Nation apt such
affection upon lis iemi'y aud
country
The favorable prospect Of rtcuv-
ery which tine President has at
this writing is due In \ great de-
gree to his own splendid nerve
and @iil POKER. lie has thor
oCghlY displayed the bravery Of a
soldier on the 0loody feld. When
told 10y his doctors, in reply 70 his
inquiry ahou' the wouud, That he
had barely one chance in seventy,
hi- prompt reply was "We Will
take ,hat one chance, Wout we
dlc.0r - Nine Gcu cut Gf 'eu
Wou.d thea have given W the
battle, but his c9urag s&Yed hllu,
During that fatal SATURDAY wheu
he bulletins issufd every hour,
eX,iuguished every hope il tne
heal;s 0t ihc anxious crJ%ds, &e
~a7 Cheerful taough sia&iQg rtp-
idl-. His great anxiety seemed
TO L for the arrival Of Mes Gar
fa!i ,ard every little while hp
would .k for the time. The
pnN tci,n> thought the best they
yJa.ltu WoJ!d ne 10 Keep him mp
u.t.ls cam", but when sr
ar'r. Z ne greeted hcf cheeriully
aua esid: Never mind, sweet
ieart III pull through ALI righ y
Ills geaidl patience and af}ec' iou-
ate nature bus shown Itself from
fret 20 last, coupled with q cour-
age taal II Tie Animation Of the
Nlt'ou
'phere t,po significance attached
to lhis attempt upon the Presi-
dents lie beyond the lesson it
teaches. TAo deed was that Of q
shiftIeSs, >cheeming fellow, half
crazy at times, hut more vicious
than iu~uEe. UuGouhteGly he
alone il responsive for the deed !,
ana il is Il great ily that the law
does Mt permit such punishment
70 be tneted our to him rs he de-
serves. 4 Ire had million lives
VI ey could not atone for what he
. n So { a. l. -,