The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-18
THE CONTINGENCY

The Chicago Times contains the
following
WASHINGTON, Aug 15.-Of course it
goes without saying that in the event of
an unfayorable termination of the presi-
pent's case, a special session of the senate
will be Immediately called for the purpose
of electing president pro TEN. to pro-
vide for succession. Several sensational
stories have been started here to-day about
Vice President Arthur. 1t has been re-
peatedly asserted in various quarters that
it can be positively shown that Mr.. Ar
thur was born in Canada. This, however,
is nothing but a reawakening Of the story
that was repeatedly exploded during the
last canvass, and attracts the notice only
Of those who are fond of keeping up sen
sations at this very critical period There
is reason, however, for some of the sensa-
tional talk about Vice President Arthur,
and it is given in this dispatch merely be-
cause it is the current talk among excited
people who have thronged the white house
this evening. An official of the govern
ment says that he has received in his mail
during the last two weeks numerous anon
ymous letters from various parts of the
country representing very excited state
of public feeling. Many of these letters
have contained
THREATS THAT MR.. ARTHUR WILL NEVER
TAKE HIS SEAT
as president in case Gen. Garfield dies
One of the letters runs something in this
wav: The writer says that he believes that
Guiteau was the agent of a stalwart con
| spiracy to remove Gen. Garfield for the
sole purpose of permitting Mr. Arthur and
the stalwarts to gain control, and that he
| (the writer) deems it pious duty he owes
| to God and man to murder Mr. Arthur. or,
to use his own classical language, remove
| him to another sphere of action by the
means of the pistol or the knife, as this
| sanguinary wretch may, in his own lunatic
mind, determine. Threats of this charBc-
ter have been so repeated, and have come
in from so many different sources, as to
create grave apprehension in the minds OF
those who have been the recipients OF
these crazy messages. This official, in re
viewing the correspondence that has pass
ed under his inspection during the last few
weeks, says that he has no doubt
that there are plenty of crazy people in
this country who would be impelled in
| times of excitement naturally following the
presidents death, to make some such at
| tempts as are outlined in these numerous
missives. Another kind of letters received
| by this official comes from different class
of people These letters contain threats
against the life of Guiteau in case of Gen.
Garfield's death. The writers of this sec
ond class of threatening documents say
| that body of armed men will march on
to this town for the purpose of
| TAKING GUITEAU FROM THE JAIL
and hanging him. There is certainly
enough of a lawless and crazy character in
these numerous epistles to warrant some
thing of the grave apprehensions felt by
this official in looking forward to the fu-
ture. Endless precautions will be taken
to avert any scene of disorder or
| another assassination. Another one
| of the threats against vice-president
| Arthur takes this shape: The writer says:
that Vice President Arthur will never reach
Washington in case of his coming on here
to be sworn in as president; that some ac-
| cident will happen to the train; that rail
will be displaced; or that dynamite will
stand in his path. There is so much OF
this that borders upon the extremes of SEN
sationalism that it would not be given were
it not for the fact that
| THE LETTERS ARE voUCHED FOR
by an official of the government connected
with the department of justice Very
stringent orders have been issued to the
local officials. Every crazy man or even
any person indicating an erratic disposition
would hardly be safe from arrest in Wash,
ington at this time A vigilant eye is also
to be kept upon tramps. 1t is not general
lv known that within the last two weeks
upward of thirty stranger lunatics have
been arrested in this town and quietly taken
over to the government asylum.
HEIR APPARENT.