The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-11-29
The Address Guiteau Did Not De-
liver.

The Address Guiteau Did Not De-
liver.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-The follow
ing is the full text of Guiteau's address;
which he desired to deliver in court to.
day and was not permitted.
II the Court please desire to address
Your Honor at the threshold of this
case. am in the presence of this hon.
orable Court charged with "maliciously
and wickedly numbering one James A
Garfield. Nothing can be more absurd,
because General Garfield died from mall
practice. The syllogism to prove it is
this: Three weeks after he was shot his
physicians held a careful examination
and officially decided he would recover
Two months after this official announce.
ment he died. Therefore, according to
hisown physicians, be was not fatally
shot The doctors who mistreated him
ought to bear the odium OF his death,
and not his assailant. They ought to
be indicted for numbering James A.
| Garfield, and not me. But l have been
Indicted and must stand my trial for the
alleged homicide. General Garfield was
President of the United States and
am one of the men who made him Presi-
dent. His nomination was an accident,
bis election the result of the greatest
activity on the part OF the stalwarts and
his removal a special providence. Gen
eral Garfield was good man, but a
weak politician. Being President he
was in position to do vast harm to
the Republic and he was doing it by the
unwise use OF patronage, and the Lord
and took the responsibility of remov-
ing him, certainly never would have
sought to remove him on my own ac-
count. Why should shoot him2 He
never harmed me. From him expect
ed an important office. ] considered
him my political and personal friend -
But my duty to the Lord and to the
American people overcame my personal
feeling and | sought to remove him
Not being marksman, he was not fa-
tally shot; but incompetent physicians
finished the work, and they aud not me
| are responsible for his death. Nothing
but the political situation last spring
justifl ID General Garfeld's rem oval
CIVIL WAR FoREsEEy.
The break in the republican party last
spring was widening week by week and
foresaw civil war Nv inspira'io
was to remove the late President at once
and thereby close the breach before it
got so wide that nothing but another
teartrending and desoating war could
close it. The last war cost the nation q
million of men and billion Of money.
The Lord wanted to prevent repeti-
| ton of this desoation and inspired me
to execute his will Why did he inspire
me in preference to some one else2 Be.
cause had the brains aud nerve probs-
bly, to do the work The Lord does not
employ incompetent persons to serve
Him. He uses the best material he can
lind No doubt there were thousands
of republicans that felt as / did about
General Garfield wrecking the republi-
can party last spring, and had they the
conception, the nerve, the brains and
the opportunity they would have remov.
ed him. I, Of all the world, was the
only man who had the conception. On
the trial of my case propose to sum
mon some of the leading politicians OF
the republican and democratic parties
also the leading New York and Wash
ington editors, to show the political sit
uation and the perils which surrounded
the Republic last spring. / propose to
60 into this branch Of my defence ex.
haustively.
Another reason the Lord Inspired me
to remove the President in preference
to some one else is because he wished
to circulate my theological work, "The
Truth" This book was written TO save
souls and rot for money, and the Lord
in circulating the book is after souls -
Bv it He breaches the Gospel and pre-
pares the world for their judgment,
which some people think. and with rea-
son, is not far distant / have been de.
layed in getting out new edition of
this book, which will include graphic
narrative OF my life, but l expect it will
be issued shortly. More than one hum
dred witnesses have been summoned bv
tie prosecution. Two-thirds Of them /
know nothing about, and the Court, ]
presume, will decide they are irrelevant
THE DEITY RESPONSIBLE.
The issue here is: The Deity seems
well disposed to father it thus far, and
expect He will continue to father it to
the end. 1t is not likely He will allow
me to come to grief for obeying Him.
How do you know it was the Deity p
l was so certain of it that put up my
life on it, aud l undertake TO say the
Deity is actively engaged in my defence
am confident He will checkmate the
wise heads on this prosecution beg
they 60 slow. They cannot aford to
get the Deity down on them "He ut
tered His voice." says the Psalms, ssnd
the earth melted" This is the God
whom l served when Isought to remove
the President, and He is bound to take
care of me Recently Washington
newspaper Autographed cramped piece
o. paper had carried in my vest pock-
ct week under the title of "Guiteau's
Plea" 1t was written when I hal the
malaria at odd times, and could hard
ly read it myself, and 80 told the gen.
tleman gave it to, hut he thought he
could read it, and took it, as he was in
haste. Inext heard of it as litho-
graph. Owing to circumstances beyond
nv control have been forced to ask
Your Honor to assign me counsel and
furnish me witnesses. / formerly prac
ticed law in New York and Chicags.-
In 1877 LETT good practice in Chica
90 and went out lectu,ing, but l had
small success. / had ideas, but no rep
utation.
HIS THEOLOGICAL WORK
NV theological work, "The Truth"
contains my Theology" 1t was writ
ten during period OF Eve years and
cost me great deal Of trouble, and l
have no doubt butit is official. 1t left
me in reduced circumstances, aud I have
had no chance to recuperate my finances
since. easily could have made So 600
at the Law in Chicago in 1877 and work.
ed myself into splendid position, but
had other work to do. As | know