The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-04
Echoes from the Pulpit,

iact enaC PRESIDENT GARFIELD, as he was taking
the limited express train at Washington, was
shot, But few persons were present when the
news was received, but the information few
like wild-fire, and in few minutes The Mer-
chants Exchange was filled with group of
eager, anxious faces, while the street in front
was crowded with people. Mr. Liyermore,
the manager of the Western Union, had du-
plicate dispatches posted on the street, so that
the public could read for themselves, while
bulletins and dispatches were promptly fur
nished the PRESS office, where another dense
crowd gathered that stretched up and down
the Street.
AT first the public seemed shocked as if by
some sudden personal blow. They could not,
apparently, realize what had occurred. Some
could not believe the dispatch was true. They
thought sorle stockholders were trying to
force caoard on the community. AS the
other dispatches followed, brief, and in the
same vein, settled gloom shut down on the
multitude. Men spoke in whispers, gathered
in great knots all over the business part of the
city, and were so quiet, even in the midst of
the crowds, that the men who volunteered to
read off the bulletins could be distinctly heard
for a long distance.
The dispatches were so meagre at first, as
was natural, under the circumstances, that the
motive OF the deed or who the assassin could
be was mere matter of conjecture. All kinds
OF motives were attributed for the deed The
most generally accepted was that some maniac
had dealt the blow. Another theory was that
a of MI vaors ba ictso
had become SO prominently advocated, first by
the attempts ending in the assassination of the
Gar, then by the efforts to put Emperor Will
liam out of the way, and later the attempted
blowing up Of buildings in England, that some
Socialist had conceived the idea of putting the
President out of the way and thus perchance
melting revolution. There were some few
who thought the affair an outgrowth of the
trouble at Albany; but these were mostly the
light-heads who jump at conclusions and give
no man credit for principle or honesty.
AS the details came over the wires, the senti-
ment gained ground that the would-be assas-
sin was some discharged employe, who crazed
by want or drink, or both, had thought to re
vengeshimself fol, fancied wrong on the part
of the President. Finally, when at u o'clock,
the dispatch arrived announcing the conscious
ness of the President, and his probable recov-
cry, the gloomy faces frightened up, hands
we're shaken, general feeling of relief expe-
rienced a hearty "Thank God," calculated,
and the crowd slowly dispersed.
After the public had learned that the
Presidents condition had improved SO much
that there was possibility of his recovery,
the streets began to wear their wonted appear
ance and the crowds dispersed. Later, as the
bulletins began to assume different tone, the
places of business were again deserted, tele-
graph and newspaper offices were besieged
and anxious inquiries were made for further
news The public could not seem to get the
news fast enough, although it must be said
that the Associated Press never did better
work. The sympathy of all parties was with
the President, and on all sides could be heard
expressions of horror at the terrible, dastardly
deed, and of coincidence for the Presidents
family. Ladies were as much interested as the
men, and not only did they invade public
places to get intelligence but they called from
their windows and doorsteps to gentlemen
friends.
The PRESS extra was largely sought for, and
the demand was very great. In an hour some
1000 copies were sold. The Advertiser got out
an extra at 1 o'clock, a regular edition and
still later extra. all of which were eagerly
snapped up. Nothstanding the great number
OF papers sold by the PRESS and Advertiser,
the demand could not be satisfied, and there
was rush for the evening editions of the
Boston papers when the trains arrived. At
Fessenden's the Heralds were all sold before
arrival, but the journal and Traveller were
quickly cleaned out. All through the evening
until late hour knots of people filed the
streets talking over the sad affair and waiting
for intelligence.
During the first of the afternoon arrange
ments were made with the Brown Light Artil-
lery to fire 100 minute guns in case news of the
Presidents death should arrive, but happily
tho occasion did not demand these funeral
honors. Mayor Senter also telegraphed the
following dispatch to Secretary Blaine:
Hon: James G. Blaine, Secretary Of State,
Washington
Profound grief is felt here at the Presidents
condition, and all citizens unite in earnest
hopes for his recovery. They would regard his
death as most grievous public calamity.
WILLIAM SENTER. Mayor.
Portland, Maine, July 2, 1881.
In the morning. and, in fact, all through the
day yesterday the public pulse was exceeding
ly feverish. The fact that it was Sunday, and
that it was difficult to procure intelligence only
heightened the desire for it. Everywhere the
reporters for the PRESS went they were contin-
ually asked if there was not something later.
The following dispatches were received by
Mayor Senter and Lewis B. Smith, ESQ. It
will be seen they are more favorable than the
official bulletins of the same hour:
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 8, q P.M.)
Hon. Vim. Senter:
DIR. Bliss tells Gen. Sherman that the Presi-
dents ultimate recovery is now almost certain.
r. w. GAGE.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
SUNDAY, July 3, Is P. MY
l.. b. Smith, Portland:
The President eats well and retains the
nourishment He continues to improve, and
it is thought he has passed the danger point
H. c. JAMES.
In the churches almost every pastor touched
upon the absorbing topic to greater or less
extent. Some prayed for our Chief Magis-
trate's speedy recovery, while others made the
sad event the occasion for special sermon.
Rev. DIR. McKeown, at Chestnut street,
Methodist, prayed that the Presidents valua-
BILE life might be spared if it should so seem
good, and also prayed for his would-be MUIR
derer, although he hoped justice would be
melted out to him.
Rev. DIR. Hill, at the First Parish, said that
God, although called mercifnl, did at times
strike horror into the hearts of nations but it is
not for us therefore to claim that he is not
merciful because we cannot interpret him
Rev. G. A Dickinson, of the Second Parish,
toon for his text Ps. 37:14-"The wicked have
drawn out the sword and have bent their bow
to Stay such as be of upright conversation"
Yesterday the pistol shot of would-bs assas-
sin reverberated throughout our country from
Aroostook to the Golden Gate, sending thrill
of horror through every heart The pistol was
aimed at the Chief Magistrate Of our nation.
He fell dangerously if not fatally wounded.
Standing, as we do, with the report of the as
sassin's pistol ringing in one ear, and the boom
of the independence guns about to ring in the
other, we are led to ask several serious aues-
tions relating to the interests of our nation.
There are two opposing spirits at werk in our
land, that which will be commemorated to.
morrow and that which was witnessed vester
day The latter has in late years manifested
itself in three forms: