Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-07-07
THURSDAY, JULY Z, 1881
THE NATIONAL CALAMITY.

THE NATIONAL CALAMITY. |
The calamity that b upon % in the
attempted assassination OF President
Gar6eld came suddenly and unex-
psetedly I s-s-&ins Of prefeaad- quiet,
when the country. had settled down
to the expectation Of . successful and
prosperous administration Of its al:
fairs, and of all others our new exec
utive was the least calculated Of our
public men to arouse the cruel spirit
of MURDER. OF gentle disposltion.
conciliating manners and kind heart,
it was his wish to advance every in
terest, public and private. No palia-
ton, therefore, can be offered for the
dastardly deed perpetrated at Wash
ington- From whatever source the
demoniacal intent came, 1t was the
act Of . demon, and it would be .
miserable country and an unfortunate
condition Of society that would for q
moment tolerate 8 spirit that
has rudely made u realize that
the ruler OF this boosted land
Of freedom enjoys no greater immu-
nifty from violence than those of less
favored nations.
The almost general expression Of,
sentiment around us is first joy for
the Presidents escape, and then that
this spirit of political assassination
must be stamped out. But how can
that be done? It will be easy to pun
ish the wouldbe murderer, but how can
the spirit by which he seems to have
been actusted be annihilated, so long
as the prevailing spoils-system con-
tinues to exist? Will this warning be
needed? Will men of all parties com.
prehend that our politics are defled
with m;ssrabtes like Giteau, who
think they earn position by their
support Of party, and are maddened
when they do not get it? Is either
Of the two great parties into which
the country is divided, prepared for
thoroue6SR d efficient civil service
reform? Have not both parties been
smirched by the same defilement, and
are not q majority of the workers In
both anxious for the continuance of q
system that has borne pernicious
fruit?
Not alone the President, but the
heads Of all the departments at Wash
ington, have their time taken up and
their attention diverted from their
public business by constant applica-
tons from partisans, whom there are
no offices to reward, and who are
incapable of filing them satisfactorily
If there we're. Disappointed and
crazed they live, few know how.
They have worked for party success,
have been promised position and pay,
and present letters Of recommends
ton from the high officials whom
they helped to elect, when they ought
to have been earning livelihoods. Is
it strange that disappointment and
starvation create revengeful DISPOSE
tons, and that those in high position
are liable to be attacked? Let, then,
the powers Of appointment be taken
away from the executive and returned
to the people? 1t is the only method
by which our politics can be purified
and the condition of our rulers made
as secure as that of ordinary citizens.
Our Extras.
The LEDGER, as usual, was the first
to publish the news of President Gar
fields attempted assassination. The
news reached Mexico at IL 80 q. M,
Saturday. We at once telegraphed
East for news, end IL 30 p. M, had
500 extras circulated on the street
containing the news. At 2 and 8 p.
NJ, we issued two more editions of
500 each, containing later dispatches:
Up to 6 p. m, no one IN Mexico had
received any kilograms concerning
the news except the LEDGER. We
took this prompt way to get the news
on account Of u many patrons.
The LEDGER is q newspaper, and
proposes to furnish the new on time:
While under its present management
it will never be second best in Mexico.
y