The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-13

further enforced by giving lhe en-
tire ticket nominated a cordial,
hearty, vigorous support.
No page of Amerio..n history will
be studied more closely in the future
than that which records the appall-
ing horror Of the people OF the Unit
ed States when first informed, July
2, 1881, of the attempted assassina-
ton of the President. 1t was no.
ment of extreme pain and solicitude
when the heart of the nation stood
still and pallor crept over every face.
The President assassinated! Where
fore, and by whom ? were the first
inquiries which fell from every lip.
And btfore these questions could be
answered the whole country was
stricken with sorrow, and solicitude
filled every heart. Never can we
forget-never will men forget-this
first feeling of solicitude. VIII the
President live? What say the sur
geons The first intelligence de-
clared that the wound was not nee
essarily fatal but on the heels Of
this came the announcement that
the President was sinking, and he
could not live two hours. Secretary
Blaine telegraphed Vice President
Arthur that the condition Of the
President was critical in the ex-
treme. That dispatch wrought the
nation up TO the highest pitch of ex-
citement. No public calamity had
ever produced like effect on the
public mind. 1t was not confined
to section, State or city. The thrill
of anguish, with the force of an
electric shock, seemed to pierce
every heart in the land. 1t reached
to foreign lands, and rulers every
where hastened to inquire as to the
causes of the foul deed, the charac-
ter Of the accessories of the assassin,
and the ultimate effects it would
have on the administration of the
government and the course of the
people. The people acerc stricken, orer-
lclelnaed. and plunged IN anguish. 1t
was to them as a thunderbolt from
a clear, MONDAY July sky, the first
effects of which are indescribable.
There was a complete suspension of
business all over the country on
Saturday afternoon. The reports Of
good and bad news kept the nation
in a tumult of excitement, driving
them from hope to fear; exciting
and depressing with shocking rapid
ity. Nor was this confined to the
people of the United States. All Of
Sunday, throughout both continents,
wherever the telegraph penetrated,
there was excitement, inquiry, conjec-
ture, hope and fear. The sob of sor-
rowresponded to the depressing news
in every direction, and the prayer of
hope was on every lip as news of
more cheering character was given
to the country. There was some
thing sublime in the prayers of the
nation on Sabbath day following the
shooting. TSere was an evidence of
faith in God which will ever rebound
to the credit of the American peo-
pie. During the darkest and the
highest moments of the crisis the
cry was, when the news was dis
couraging, God help him, and when
encouraging, thank God. This feel
ing did not cease to move the people
everywhere. Men came together
like brothers 10 weep over mutual
afiliction. The injury to the Prcsi-
dent was every mans sorrow. Eve
ry woman wept for it, and every
child seemed hushed in silence by
the gloom which lowered on the
country aud cast its dark shadows
into the capitals Of the nations of
Europe.
Such was the sorrow of the Amer
ican people-such their fears and
hopes, and such the sympathy of
the world for them in their ailiic-
ton. a ray of hope now beams
upon the land, the light of which
seems to be felt in all parts Of the
world. The President lives, and
there is reason to believe that he viii
survive the injuries he has received.
And this again elicits expressions of
gratitude to God. This faith in God
elevated the nations sorrow far
above a common grief, and renders
lis rejoicing over the first assurance
of recovery sublime, = Harrisburg
Telegraph.
CJ'IIINES