Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-07
CHICAGO LETTER.
ondence Public Ledger

SOduo CNoA SAhCc ouC sbaA tiih6 hS"S
reached our city Of the probable muir
der of President Garfield, up to B
pm, Sunday. When the news first
reached us, the shocking tidings were
believed to be the work of some one
DESTROYS OF agitating the country by
fendish joke. But when the terri
BILE fact was made palpably hideous, a
gloom settled over every meas dark and
sullen as generally precedes violent
storm. The silence was painful and
ominous-only perceptibly broken by
the mutterings of anger and regret
that dubbed up from every heart and
trembled on each indignant lip. But
the storm swelled into a roar when the
Tribune's bulletins put forth the be-
| lief that the "Stalwart' party insti-
gated the work of the foul assassin,
and many we're heard to say that a
man who could coolly and calmly step
into the sacred precincts of the fam
| lily of friend and aesolate its happl-
ness was capable Of doing darker deeds
to accomplish his own questionable
purposes. COnkling was the person
referred to. This sentiment was not
confined to few. And this belief was
strengthened when it became known
what the assassin said after he had
fred the deadly shots, Arthur will
now be President. The Stalwarts are
avenged" And as the follower Of
Cain is and was Radical Stalwart
those entertaining the idea that the
attempted murder was a Stalwart plot
to regain power, had spacious grounds
upon which to build their belief. But
no sane person would believe that
Roscoe Conkling would entertain fol
the shadow of a moment crime SC
horrible in nature, and so damaging
in the eyes of the world. For the
honor Of this glorious country let the
proclamation go forth that the deed
originated in the brain of the crazy
unfortunate who attempted black
deed of crime that will cost our com,
mon country considerable of the bril-.
liant glory that surrounds her name
That the miserable wretch was insane
at the time he made the dreadful
attack upon the nations head, ther,
can be not a shadow of doubt. From
the most reliable accounts, he ha
been unsettled of mind for years, anC
should long since have been confined
in lunatic asylum. If those who knew
this defect of the would be-assassin
"Chas. j. Guiteau, counsellor and at
torney-at law, 26 Ashland block, Chi.
cage" had presented his case in tint
to the proper authorities the issue
would not have arisen TO throw tn
nation into its terrible cOmmotiOn
and President Garfield would not nov
be a great sufferer, nor his bereaveC
family bowed down with sorrow, no
the hearts Of over 5000O,000 peopl
aching, nor the unfortunate would-n,
murderer the inmate of ielon cell
But, as our noble Democratic Mayo
of Chicago, Honorable Carter H
Harrison, said before the German
Club and its numerous guests, lie
us pray that an All-Wise God viii
spare the life of our honored Presi
dent and save the country from fallin
, into the hands of her enemies"
hope that this prayer will be answere
ere this reaches you. The would
assassin Of President Garfield is vel
remembered in Chicago as brieAes
lawyer and a most erratic visionary a
to forms Of religion and otherwise
Those who knew him best say he wa
a dead beat. Whether or not thi
: statement is correct is a question {
little importance; but the fact is paten
that he came near proving himself
dead shot. Ia concluding this sub
ject for the present | again reiterat
the heartfelt sentiment of the peopl
, of Chicago that God will spare h
life Of him whose death would be {
great calamity as could befall ii
nation.
The great S9ngerfest came to a
end last night. For the four days an
nights that included the program
= Of song tho people of Chicago, az
thousands from abroad, we're delights
with season of music most gloriol
in its effects. and their hearts al
maids filled with the hope that SUI
soul-snIiyeping feasts Of song will sot
re the general rule in this count
= instead Of the raEe exception. III
irst German Sengerfest eyer held
America was held in Cincinnati, Jul
d | LIST and Cd, 1919. This constituted
: union of the singing societies of Gil
cinnati, Louisville and Madison, Il
diana. At this feast the "qermi
e Sengerbund,' of North America "
| founded. The frat of these music
i feasts had 1l8 siagers. The numb
I kept increasing until in 1872 Il
"fest" held in st. Louis number,
d l400 voices, and at the one just end
vi in Chicago. there appeared 1900,
II 420O less than at the Deptscher Sac
!. gerbund. held in Munich, Augu
Il 1874, when 5000 singers participate
b 70 Professor Hans Balatka the cou
r, try is indebted tor the great impet
b given to the introduction of gra
is music this side of the great Qee'
,r He is a wonderful genius
{, his role. He is a Moravia
e. having been born ia the village
re Hoffnungsthal, Austria, March
d 1927, and is only 81 years of age.
has fine general physique. mol
e. forehead, and an uncomfortable en-,
gy. In early youth he was was
Of chair boy in the great 0lmutz cati
be dral, and from that dates his fal
as a musician. He came to New YC
in June l849, and subsequently S
on ted in Milwaukee, Wis, about Is
oh There he commenced organizing mu
Of cal societies aud giving exhibitions
talent, make his selections from
most celebrated comnOsers hesil