The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-07-03
PRIEST. TAYLOR'S REMARKS.

1f the general com mittte on the
Liberty Park Celebration, when the
news OF the shooting of Prest. Gar
field had been authenticated:
In relation 10 the startling u ews
that We have heard concerning the
assassination of President
Garfield, whether it arises from pri-
vate luminosity or pers5nal feelings of
revenge. or whether it originates from
q political clique. it ic one of those
things that all right feeling people
will lament. President Garfield
stands at the head of a great an6
mighty nation OF which We form an
integral part. aud anything that
tends to disturb the government of q
nation like this is to be deplored, be-
cause anything of so appalling ma
ture tends to unsettle the public
mind, to startle the better feelings OF
humanity, to obstruct the common
course OF events and make insecure
the proper, Just and efficient admins
tration OF our public affairs. Were
it private matter it would not be OF
30 serious q nature az If it arose
from political clique or cembina-
ton of men similar to those associa-
tons which prevail to 30 great an ex-
tent at the present time in Europe;
but there seems to be a feeling OF
recklessness and blood-thirstiuess that
,is spreading throughout the nations,
and that is aimed particularly at men
in authority In their midst.
The late Gar OF Russia, from all
The information l can get concern
ing him, was a man that sought 10
do more good than any of his prede-
cessors for many generations. And
while l could not approve of that
form of government, be liberated
somewhere between twenty AMI
thirty million OF serts. and ia doing
so, so far as I can learn, be did not
interfere very much with the rights oil
their owners. have conversed with
men from Russia on this subject, aud
that seems to be their general opin-
ion. Nevertheless, there is q princi-
pie OF nihilism, and another OF COM
munism, which appears to aim at
the subversion OF all proper rule and
government anywhere and every
where, and to place power in the
hands of ignorant, irresponsible and
brutal men. felt sorry when
learned of the death Of the Gar, and
to hear of these alarming uncertain
ties and commissions among the ma
tions. And when our late iratricidal
war commenced / bad similar feel
ing. | bad known for years that
a dreadful fate awaited the nation
and had premonitions o! the terrible
calaUities that would overtske the
people. I shed tears over it when
it was fret made known to me, be-
cause of the scenes of carnage and
desolstion that I knew would take
place, and the suferings, the mourn
ing, the lsmentation and woe that
would exist among the people, and
that would spread throughout the Ia
ton.
In vie@ CT all tie circumstances
surrounding this horrible tragedy,
could not enter into any arrangement
such as this honorable com aIt:ee
have been contemplating in the cele-
bration of our national holiday on
the Fourth OF July; because, when
the taking of the life of the chief
executive of the nation has been at
tempted, # the full purpose was not
accom- plisned, by the hands Of 90
assassin of some shape-oi which We
are not at present fully informed
it would be impossible for me, with
the feeling that l have. to mix up
with anything like hilsrity on so FAD
an occasion. and | think that this is
the sentiment that perVsdes this com
mitIee, and | am pleased to see g
spirit OF this kind prevail. Such vi
cious deeds. or any act OF violence are
always shocking to me. particularly
when they reach men occupying the
nigh and elevated position which
Prest. Garfield does.
We have, it is true, mixed up with
our faith certain ideas pertaining to
the events mat will transpire in
this nation and in other nstione,
which things have been foreshsdowed
to us as we'll as to others, and
while We cannot help or interfere
with the fat OF Jehovah, yet We would
be very far either from assisting in
the Accomplishment OF these iniquit.
Gus deeds, or entertaining any other
than feelings OF sympathy towards
the sufferers.
We have our ideas of principle
which amount to something like this:
That God lifts up one man and
put, down another according to His
will. We have a knowledge that
great calamities will overtske this
nation and other nations; but while
We have an understanding OF this
kind, we cSuno: but lament the
necessity for such action by the Al
mighty. / do not look upon these
things as matters OF chance, but
there is an unecrutsble Providence
that overrules and controls ell the
affairs of the human family, and I
cannot but have deep sympathy for
President Garfield and for bis family,
and for the rulers of the nation when
thev heconle the victims of euch in