The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-07-20
NO CHANGE NEEDED.

AS one of the results Of the attempted as
sassination of President Garfield, there is
much clamor raised in some quarters for
greater protection for the Chief Executive
and his ministers. Not q few are already
advocating the employment of Presidential
body guard to surround the President when
ever he appears in public, and protect him
from all bodily harm. They would have
him, like the Gar Of Russia, hemmed about
at all times by q strong military force, and
thus engraft upon our system one Of the
most vicious elements Of Imperialism. The
advocates Of what is styled q ssstrong gov
eminent are led by easy stages to take this
view Of the matter. They point to the deed
of Guitteau as evidence tending to show that
their theory is correct that the authorities
at the national capital should be clothed with
greater power. To this end they would sac
rifce the simplicity and freedom Of our insti-
t%utions, and take the first fatal step towards
monarchy. Before the hand Of the fanatic
was raised against the President the central
lists were making such claims as these now
they imagine they have a pretext, and a good
one, for prosecuting their ideas. The RIVER
PRESS can not agree with the ''strong gov
for such change in the form Of our govern
ment never has existed, does not now exist,
and it is to be hoped never will. The people
would not readily tolerate IN innovation in
this direction. They cherish their liberties
too highly to permit the introduction Of Rus
sian methods to the smallest degree.
But there is really no danger to be appre-
hended. The shooting Of President Garfield
cannot be tortured into an excuse for making
the Chief Magistrate and the heads Of the
departments prisoners, as it were, or for Civ
ing one grain more Of authority to the gen.
eral government than the constitution now
guarantees. If Guitteau' 8 deed were the re-
suit of q conspiracy, instead of the act Of a
mailman without counsel or aid from others,
it would put q different face on the matter.
Communism has not yet taken q deep hold in
this country. This is one Of the isms that
cannot flourish on our soil, at least not ia its
dangerous forms. Tyranny breeds Nihilism,
and the more power an autocrat yields the
more is his head in danger. The President
Of the United States can come and 60 as he
pleases, just as any other citizen, in compar-
alive security. The Gar Of all the Russias
in his barricaded and sentineled Winter Pal
ace, is not as secure Of life as the President
who mingles freely with the people without
any guard whatever. If the latter followed
the example Of the monarchs of Europe it is
probable that his life would be in far greater
danger than otherwise. He would then have
some Of the semblances of a tYrant, and
there would be q slight pretext at least for
Booths and Guitteaas to make martyrs of
themselves.
But of course everything possible should
be done to avoid . repetition Of Guitteau's
crime. To this end the people should take
9 hand BY declaring at the polls that . party,
Of whatever name, that degenerates into q
spoils-seeking organization is not worthy of
their confidence. The contest for the staesh