The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-21
THE HANDY CAMPAIGNER.


Newspapers are expected to print
the news, but when it comes TO a
lot of sensational stuff which would
go to prove the assassin anything
but mentally responsible, the pro-
priety of publishing such mat
ter is very questionable. Guiteau
tried to kill the president, and he
should be punished for it at once,
unless the most careful investiga-
ton of the courts prove him ire
spOnsible. Probably not one hum
dredth part of What is told about
him is true. There are some things,
however, that are true, which had
just as well be circulated more
widely. He has been a stannch
Republican, one of the stalwarts,
who carried New York for Garfield.
He was in high favor with the Repub-
lican executive committee during the
last presidential election, and the
managers assigned him to duty in
the doubtful empire state. Here he
did service for which the spoils sys-
tenn had taught him he deserved
consideration, which means Office.
There seems to be not a
particle of doubt that Mr..
Garfield traded for the support OF
the stalwarts, and they. elected
him president; but unfortunately for
him he fell into the hands of Blaine
to whom the spoils fell, instead
OF to Conkling, who was too
proud to follow the president upon
his promises. Guiteau expected
place from Mr. Garfield, and it is
reasonable to suppose he was as
well fitted for position as many
men who do hold places. The fitness
of this man for reward may be COM
puted by his utterances in the can-
vass, where he boldly and bravely
performed duties, imposed upon him
to save the Republican nominee.
While serving at the direction of fthe
committee, he made campaign
speech, August 6, 1880, in which he
said: .rft
"In October last, in old Faneuil
Hall. i'll Boston, l heard Senator
Chandler, who was the keenest Ro-
man of us all, say that the rebel
spirit then was the same that it was
twenty years ago, just prior
to the breaking out of the
rebellion, and he was right.
The Democrats now in the
majority in congress would precipi-
tate this action into another, save for
President Hayes and his stalwart
cabinet. The Democratic majority
now in congress makes it imperative
that the president and cabinet be
Republican, otherwise the national
government will be entirely con.
trolled by ex-rebels and their
northern friends. The Democratic
party are painting for the national
treasury. They have been starving
since Buchanan retired in 1851, and
they are dreadfully hungry. They
will make desperate effort to get in
this tIme under the lead of that gal
liant soldier. Gen. Hancock. Han
cocks nomination was a godsend to
the Democratic party, and they
will make the most of it. They
are trying to run him as they
did Horace Greeley in 1872.
Poor Horace went down in
that combination and the chances
are that Hancock will do likewise.
This is the issue-a solid north
against solid south. The north
conquered the south on the field of
battle, and now they must do it at
the polls in November or they
might have to fight another war.
Ye men whose sons perished in the
war, what say you to the issue?
Shall we have another war? Shall
our national treasury be controlled
by eX-rebels and their northern al
lies, to the end that millions of dol
lars of southern war claims be
l1quidated? If you want the repub-
lie bankrupted, with the prospect
OF another war, make Hancock
president. Ii you want prosperity
and peace, make Garfield president,
and the republic will develop till
it becomes the greatest and wealth
lest nation on the globe"
This speech was printed as cam
paign document by the Republican
national committee. Gniteau was
regarded then as very handy
young man TO have around during
presidential campaign, and the.presi-
dent had no business forgetting him,
simply because Guiteau had not
been running with the Blaine wing
of the party in the disputes that
arose about Robertson.