The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-08-11
President and People.

every home circle in the land, received
further and forcible illustration a few
days ago. The people had been for a
week rejoicing over his rapid progress
toward recovery, when they were met
by the startling announcement that he
was so much worse as to throw his ply
sicians and immediate attendants into q
sort of q panic. The effect of this an
nouncement was like reproof and re-
buke to the over-sensitivep people. There
was not only sorrow, but a littleremorse
pictured on each countenance, 1t was
asthough the people said pitifully: ave
were glad too soon. We rejoiced over
the Presidents recovery before the cri-
sis had come; we had ventured to be-
lieve that he was better even than his
physicians represented; we had taken.
pride in the thought that, with a man
of Garfeld's pluck and courage, the
people could Judge as well, or better,
Than the best surgeons; we had begun.
to joke about the bullet that had eyad-
ed and mystified the doctors; we had
gone so far as to intimate that Bliss and
Barnes were unnecessarily nervous and
anxious as to the Presidents condition;
we even listened patiently to fiippant
remarks to the effect that the doctors,
anxious to keep their names before the
public, were not unwilling to prolong
the Presidents illness; and now, God
help us, we stand helpless. appalled, and
rebuked. in the face of the announce
ment that the Nations invalid is nearer
deaths door than at any time since he
was shot" 1Sl uCa Cslt yT.iW r.d
This story was as plainly told on the
faces of those who gathered about the
bulletin boards on Saturday as though
a procession of frightened people had
gone about the streets shouting their
self-reproaches at the; top of their
voices. The first unfavorable dispatches
received were not bulletined, because
it was hoped that later ones would
make it unnecessary to alarm and
shock the people. But when the later
ones came and reported the President
worse instead of better, the bits of
dreaded news were posted rs soon as
received, and in an instant it seemed as
if the city was in an uproar. As on
the ever-to- be-remember Saturday of
three weeks before, men, women and
children crowded about the bulletin
boards, and, panic-stricken, carried the
news to others who came in turn to
convince themselves that the startling
story was true.
On the I'd of July the announcement
that the President had been shot, and
that there was little hope of his recov-
cry, came upon the people like thun-
derbolt from a clear sky. On Saturday
last the evidence that the Presidents s
case was regarded as well-nigh hopeless
struck people as bolt from a thunder
cloud that after roar of tumult and
confusion, had sunk toward the hori-
zon, giving place to sunshine falling
upon frightened Nature. The first was
like a binding, desolating flash; the
other cruel. like death-stroke among
romping children shouting in gleesonie
rejoicing over escape from tornado.
Three weeks ago the people were too
much stunned to reason. On Saturday
| their reasoning powers were wonder
| fully alert, and all were relentlessly
logical. The people felt that the bold
candor of the bulletins was like con-
| fession that the worst had come, and
that the skilled physicians were draw
ing away from the sick-bed, reverently
and reluctantly, ready to say that they
were helpless in the face of unex-
| pected complications. They argued
| that Drs. Hamilton and Agnew would
not have been sent for had not the at
| tending physicians considered the case
almost hopeless. 1t was not one man
| who said this, or reasoned in this way;
| it was the multitude. And there was
really less disposition to speaks words
| of hope and consolation than on the I'd
of July. Even the boys had learned
to know what temperature or pulse
beat was dangerous, and a mere ex-
| preston of hopeful opinion would not
stand against the record of Observe
tions. e."
| 1t is rare that any Nation turns toward
man rs this one did on the I'd of July,
and in the days that followed. Rarer
| still is it for a Nation, after such an up
heaval as this people has recently ex-
perienced, to turn toward q man in a
spirit of such meekness, and tender
ness, and with such an outburst OF self
reproaches for ill-timed exultation and
premature rejoicing as was witnessed
4 on Saturday.
| Families often experience such feel
ing, and only those who have stood
hanging on the words of physician
bending over an invalid that has suffer
ed dangerous relapse, know how utter
ly self and world are forgotten at such
moments. OF all the vigils lasting in
their effects, such vigil as that is most
so. t-H- a-- "a list
| What such vigil is to the family, the
present experience is to the Nation.
The spectacle of people battling with
hopes and fears, and turning to the
President with that keen appreciation
of worth that comes when hearts are
chastened, is quite as touching as was
the magnificent out-burst of affection
and loyalty of three weeks ago.
Should President Garfield rally
promptly from this relapse the effect Of
what the people have, experienced will
be more noticeable even than that ol
the first coming together in sorrow
The people knew the man before
They have been taught now to know
their own hearts, and, knowing them
they can no more bear the thought o.
losing him than could any family beal
the thought of giving up its deares
member.
There was panic in the White House
on Saturday; there was prayer-meet
ing in every mansion and log cabir
within the reach of telegraphic com
munication; there was a panic on tn,
Chicago Board of Trade, and a whirl o
Supplying excitement from San Fran
cisco to New York. In this panic tn,
callous stock-operator' heart was LITTLE
better than boys. The mans courage
was like that of forlorn hope. Ever
women spoke with the sentient irrita
ton of bereavement half-ack cknowledged
1t was sad day for the people, and TO
the first time, perhaps, they did full
justice to that group of faithful physi
clans and watchers who have for S,
many weeks stood guard in the sicl
room at the White House. For tn,
first time they realized what sort o
courage was required of Mrs. Garfield
in all these long-drawn days. Ant
keenly as they had appreciated the suf
fering of the President, there came al
added pang with every thought of tina
terrible wound. Chicago Inter Ocean.
1t is q custom in London, on tn