Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-04
The Attempted Assassination OF
President Garfield.

President Garfield.
People were slow to credit last Satur-
day morning the intelligence which flashed
over the wires that President Garfield had
been shot by murderous hand. The
news came like clap of thunder from u
clear sky. There had been nothing which
TO the public eye portended the terrible
crime announced. The country was at
peace. There was no reason to suppose
the government had foe lurking in am
bush and prepared to give it a fatal wound
through the assassination of the Chief
Executive. The time was when the peo-
pie would not have been surprised at any
hour to hear that Abraham Lincoln had
become the victim of an assassin's bullet
But that time has gone by. The asperities
Of active and internecine war, with its in
elements to daring deeds of violence, do
not now exist in such degree as to create
even suspicion that any partisan Of the
late Confederacy would assail the life of
the President Of the United States. And
If we look at the character and history of
President Garfield, nothing can be dis
cerned therein to indicate or intimate
cause why anybody should attempt to
strike him down in the cowardly and
brutal manner attempted. He is a man
cast in NATURES finest mould, large of
heart and brain. noble and generous to a
fault. true to duty and principle. possessed
Of all traits of character that create good
will and friendship, and not known to
have bitter personal enemy in the world
Why should such a man. occupying by the
choice Of his fellow citizens the arduous.
responsible and honorable position of
President Of the United States, the duties
Of which during his brief term OF service
he has discharged with eminent satisfac-
ton to the great body of the people. be shot
down like dog by would-be murderer
Of course the above facts being known,
it is not surprising that men were slow to
believe the President had been shot. But
the persistent wires told the same story
with such accumulated corroborative evil
dence that to doubt was impossible at last.
When it came TO be realized that the re-
port Of the great outrage was true, horror
and indignation were universal. The
assassin would have stood but poor
chance Of escaping with his lite from the
populace in any city or town. and earnest
and sincere prayers went up silently from
the great heart of the nation that the
President might live in spite of his wound
and the nation be spared the terrible
calamity that his death would be. The
consequences politically were discussed
that would ensue from the changing of
the head OF the administration from Gar
field to Arthur. and manv said boldly
that such change of leadership under
such circumstances bodied no good to the
government.
The probability is now that President
Garfield will survive the attempt to assass-
mate him. Most devoutly do the people
of this country who love their govern
ment and respect its worthy rulers pray
that such may be the happy result. If
President Garfield lives. the country will
rejoice as it has not for the last sixteen
years at least. and those who have con-
spired to humble him into the dust will
be made his footstool. The mills of the
Gods grind slow. but they grind exceed
ingly fine. Right and justice will pre-
vail ii the end.
The would-be-assassin is represented
in two characters-in one as half insane
fanatic and good for nothing, who at
tempted the murder from some Crazy i'm
pulse and upon his individual responsible
ity alone; in the other as william fit to
do any desperate deed that bigger vii
lains than himself. but with less courage.
might hire him to do. We sincerely hope
that it may prove the deed was that of a
crazed brain. rather than the outcome
of conspiracy Of factionists. But
we would not have the govern
ment accept either theory without the
most searching investigation into the facts
connected with this great crime and the
most thorough exposure of thu part which
every party or person had in it. and if
it I've the fruit of black and diabolical
conspiracy its authors should be punished
in the severest manner. Unless our rulers
are affordedprotection appropriate to their
circumstances and conditions and GRIMM
ais are made to suffer for crimes of
political character the punishment they
deserve. this government will sink into
contempt and soon be numbered with the
dead. When assassination comes to be
exercised with IMMUNITY as an agent to
change the control Of the government
from one party or faction to another. we
shall be no better than Mexico and life
and property will not he secure any longer
under the American flag.
The latest reports from Europe indicate
that the use OF electricity rs a motive pow
err is rapidly extending. Several railroad
lines in Germany are employing success