West-Jersey pioneer., 1881-07-07
THE LIFE OF THE PRESIDENT.

When the news passed over the wires
Saturday morning that President Garfield
had been assassinated the public were loath
to believe it. Men said everywhere, sit
cannot be; it is merely canard." But,
with repeated kilograms the people began
to realize that it was too true. Then the
good citizen with indignation said:-
"What are we coming to? Is this Republic
to become second Russia? Has Com
munism and Nihlism taken root among
u.s." Terrible were the feelings of all with
out regard to party, and condemnation OF
the dastardly deed was heard on every side.
Along the streets of great cities men called
for vengeance on the murderer, and a wave
of sympathy went up for the genial, kind
hearted President and his family. When
the news came that Garfield was not dead,
but there was some hope of life, the nation
took great breath of relief, and prayed
earnestly for his recovery.
Twice in the history of this nation we
have been compelled to witness the assassi-
nation of the head of the Government. In
Liucoln's case, while it covered the country
with woe and mourning it was not altogether
unexpected. The expiring embers of the
Confederacy must give forth a last effort,
and they did it through the pistol of Booth,
and the honest, upright, pure life of Abra-
ham Lincoln went up as sacrifice. In the
case of President Garfield there was no such
expectation nor dread. The country was at
peace at home and abroad; the bitterness of
the Presidential campaign had disappeared;
business was good; the Administration was
giving satisfaction to the mass of citizens.
Only small cloud was on the political hori-
2on, and that the struggle of once pow
erful politician to seek vindication by
reelection to a seat in the Senate which he
had foolishly vacated This was of but
small Importance to the people in compari-
son with the good work which President
Garfield had rendered, and yet the assassin,
Guiteau, has made this pretext for taking
the life of the Chief Executive. In one
sense then, while nobody holds Mr.. Conk-
ling and his clique personally responsibility
yet, &c is largely thought that had he acted
the part of a statesman, and accepted the sit
uation, instead of making war on the Ad-
ministration, this great calamity might not
bave happened. Out of the prolonged con-
fict at Albany, and the events connected
with it, the diseased mind of Guiteau was
furnished food for the bloody work which
he did, and just as the Confederacy was
indirectly responsible for Lincoln's death,
so many are disposed to argue, is the respon-
sibility of the New York ex-senator and his
immediate followers for the attempt on the
Presidents life.
The deed was of the worst possible char
acter; it is foul blot on the pages of our
history; it places US in bad position before
the world. The assassination of the Head
of Government must not be allowed in this
free land for if continued long, the Republic
will end in anarchy. The freest country on
Gods footstool must not allow liberty to
run into license. AS the representative of
the people; the head of the nation; the
President Of the Republic must be protect.
ed. His life is more precious than that OF
the ordinary citizen because of the soyer-
eighty he wields. What shall be done 10
prevent a recurrence of such crimes? The
problem is hard to solve, but one thing is
certain-Congress should at its next ses-
sion enact such law as will make it trea-
son, punishable with death. for any at
tempt upon the life of the President. There
must be no halfway post. Death should
be swift and sure for all such offenders.