Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-26
CHICAGO LETTER.
Correspondence Public Ledser.l

Correspondence Public Ledger.l
CHICAGO, September p, 1881.
When | mailed my last letter to the
LEDGER on Monday Aight / was fully
Of the conviction hat the anticipated
cloud that has since fallen upon the
country would be dissipated-that
President Garfield would be spared to
his family and the nation over which
be was SO lately called to preside.
But, alas for human hopes and desiresl
As the clock in my room pointed to
five minutes past ten the solemn tones
of the city's bells broke the stiffness
settling down upon the night. |
listened, thinking it the dread alarm
offire. Soon | was satisfied hat some
other cause than the red demon
authorized the startling peals. l
hurried to the public station and there
learned the dreadful news that has
plunged the nation into grief and ex-
cited the pity of the hundreds of mil
lions of the rest of the Christian
world. The fat had gone forth and
my hopes had been ruthlessly crushed
by inexorable death. Yes, it was only
too true that President Garfield had
been gathered to his fathers--sent to
an untimely grave in the middle
Of a bright manhood, and on
the entrance to a career of glori-
Gus renown, by the foul blow Of the
murderous assassin; that the talented,
gifted statesman, brave soldier,
poll shed gentleman, loving father, de-
voted husband and fearless son and
honored Chief Magistrate Of over 50,-
000, 900 Of brave and intelligent people
had passed into the shadow of the val
ley Of death, and hat the broad
nation was plunged in deepest gloom.
Yes, the work of the devilish muir
derer was complete, and the country
stood aghast at the horrifying spectacle
of the awful deed. Now, as one big
family, the whole country is draped in
mourning, and from afar down in the
deep depths of the big heart of the
nation tears Of agony well up in deep
est sorrow because of the irreparable
loss to the whole country and the
anguish rent wife, mother and chill
dren. And all this terrible suffering
to the dead martyr, this sorrow to the
nation, this agony to the benighted
family, was the work of a cewardly,
brutal, gloating, iendish murderer.
And yet he lives; lives to calmly view
his frightful work and to rejoice that
it was done so well. The assassin
liyes-guarded by the servants of the
people, and the hearts of 50,000,000 of
people stand around the corpse of its
Caesar, whose life was sacrificed upon
the altar Of his country. Yes, the
foul murderer still lives. 1t seems
Incredible, but such is the fact. Lives
while the big heart ofthe nation bleeds
because of his damnable deed. This
may be right, but l cannot think so.
Verify, it is a picture of Christian for
bearance never before presented to the
world, and | sincerely hope that ere
this reaches you, the scene will have
been changed for n fully depicting
the wrath of the nation, the fore.
ground being embellished with the
body Of the assassin suspended froma
lofty pole by a chain that has squeezed
the life out of bis cowardly
carcass. This may not be law,
but it is justice. And even this re-
suit would be no recompense for the
foul murder, for the black darkness
heaped upon the heart broken family
Of the martyr, for the deep wound to
the Mortified nation. Over $4,000, 900
of people have condemned and SEN
fenced the assassin. So, swing him
up without delay, and let the curtain
fall softly on one Of the most CHASTITY
dramas ever presented on the worlds
broad stage. This is the heartfelt
desire Of Chicago's half a million of.
sorrow stricken citizens, who proclaim
this wish in the FIVE hundred miles
Of mourning drapery hung from hamlet
and palace throughout the length and
breadth of her streets, ~bouleyards. and
countless lovely parks, and from over
the hearts Of her myriads of patriotic
women, men and children. Yes. the
sorrow Of Chicago is universal, sincere
and deeply felt. Party and politics
have been forgotten, and all mourn
in unison, and shed tears of sorrow
over the deep damnation' of the foul
and brutal murder of the peerless.
self-made man, and honored head of
this great naturalization James A.
Garfield.
Next Monday afternoon, out of
honor, respect and sympathy, will be
a public holiday in Chicago during the
burial services Of the martyred Presi-
dent.
Chicago is exerting herself manfully
to send substantial aid to the sufferers
by the Michigan fres.
A distinguished guest of Chicago is
John Walter, proprietor of the great
"Thunderer, the London (EnSiand)
Times. He has been in Chicago sew,
eral times in years gone by. He con-
siders that the Land Bill will soon
relieve ireland of her causes Of dis
content. 1t is to be hoped he is
correct.
Grain and breadstuffs are booming
in Chicago's market.
Thomas Burns, who some months
ago brutally and cowardly murdered
his business partner, Charles Bell, in
Chicago, has confessed his crime in
court, and will, most likely. hang.
Bell was sleeping in bed by the side
ofhis so-called wife when he received
the fatal shot.
Miss Kate Shelly, the heroine of
Iowa, has many friends in Chicago.
who consider that the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad Company
should put down its name for $1,000
on the sub list for her relief. Her
unheard of bravery saved a terrible
collision and the lives Of many pas.
sengers.
He killed his wife lately, did A. B
Stern, Of Chicago, and reported it as a
joke. When he is hung the Joke will
be turned.
The mysterious disappearance from
the Chicago Driving Park lately. of
@. N. Willis, editor of the Paris I'M.
nois) Republican and Beacon. consid.
erably agitated his friends, and threw
his relations into deep grief. After
about two months loss. he now turns