National Republican., 1881-07-13
A PHILOSOPHER
TALKS ABOUT THE RECENT TRAGEDY.
Motive for the Heinous Ofrensc-Thc Frenzy Of
Halluclnation-The Insinuations OF Narrow
Minded FOols-Christlanity aud
Civil Service.

To be able to form correct Judgment
on tho actions and institutions Of men," observed
distinguished gentleman 10 the religious reporter
OF THE REPUBLICAN last night, 1--WE must en-
deavor for the time TO raise our thoughts above
and beyond the vulgar things of earth and con-
template humanity In general as herd of inferior
animals; for IL we judge from an equal standpoint
our opinion must necessarily be swayed by pas
sion prejudice, love- interest OF something of that
sort, and II will not be n just criticism that we
make. / am an old man now, have been an OBJ
server OF men and things for nearly eighty years,
and have learned to take what to you must ap.
pear an extremely liberal view OF things-in other
words have learned to PHILOSOPHERS"
Our religious reporter became interested ut once
and asked What, in your opinion was the motive
that inspired this man to attempt to murder the
Presidcnt2"
"If we judge men by looking into ourselves we
VIII perhaps bo unable TO find motive for this
heinous offense but let us consider him as an &C.
centric animal, and will find this to DO the re-
suit OF supersutious imagination. II is super.
stiton, or to express IL little more mildly, II Is
faith that makes fanatics. Now, this deed of
Gulteau seems so unnatural, so wild and fanciflil
that II perfectly sane man can hardly bring himself
to believe that II is real That this is the work of
fanatic Is most certain, forthc act in ITSELF had
the assassin previously been reputed n snge Is suf.
religious enthusiasm could work n mans mind up
to such pitch. II We wish to find an example Of
such barbarous and unjustihable murder as this
would have been We must search for il among the
archives OF religious fanaticism, and there we may
find thousands Of them. The same spirit that
caused tens Of thousands OF miserable beings to bo
tortured with the most hideous and slckcning de-
vices that human ingenuity could contrive
caused this depraved creature to commit this
m fhat
ligous potentatcs to order helpless women, whose
only crime was that of having more brains than
their orthodox sisters to be bound to stake with
their babes at their feet, where while starving
themselves they could see their darling ofsprinrs
dyingot hunger. II Is kind of frenzy that comes
from an hallucinalion concerning God. In the
past two weeks there has been no less
than four fanatics In this city who had an inspi-
ration from God to kill somebody Now, these
fellows get their idea of God from the Bible and
not from His works. else they would not be led to
these extremes offoy with the notion that God
snnciioncd-yea, demanded 1t OF them. To man
who ilrmy believes IN an inheritance Of perpetual
bliss beyond the grave. coupled with that worse
than idioc idea that God intcreres with the insti
tutions and actions of men on earth these mon.
strous deeds appear to be heavenly virtues and he
Is anxious to become a martyr, thinking that as
soon as this lie Is ended he will fly to Abraham's
BOSOM"
Then, you do not think that this was either the
result of personal pqpc or OF political pot?' re.
marked THE REPUBLICAN,
mo; don't think the desire for revenge could
pervade man so deeply who had been so slightly
wronged; and as for political plot, the idea is
too preposterous to find crodeucc in the brain OF
the most ignorant wretch alive"
But" insisted THE REPUBLcAS, "a few prom.
incnt newspapers insinuated very strongly thai
there was "A plot"
"Oh" he exclaimed, "some of these narrow.
minded splonctc editors are wild enough to de.
clare anything, thinking 1t will inlurc the Repub.
llcan party; but they haven't the least influence
for they make so many rash and unreasonable
statements, and SO pcrsistently urge that the
country is on the verge of ruin, aud such bosh
that every sane man becomes disguised and lose.
NIL Cnnfllnnnn In Ihnir nn nlnr y