The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-09
The Attempted Assassination.


the history of the country has created such
excitement and regret. The assassination
Of President Lincoln is no parallel to it.
Then the whole country was in state Of
excitement The surrender of Lee had
been announced, but actual peace had not
smiled upon the land and the unsettled
condition of affairs of the four years pre-
yious continued. The assassin of Lincoln
was said to be insane, and the antecedents
of Guiteau, who attempted to take the
life of Garfield, would indicate that he,
too, is insane; but all must admit that the
insanity of each is not Of the kind that
usually afflicts humanity. There was con-
siderable method in the conduct Of each.
Booth was one of band of conspirators
who had their whole proceeding planned
and systematized, including immediate and
rapid means of escape. Guiteau, also, had
well-settled purpose to assassiuate Gen.
Garfield. 1t was not hasty act, and he,
too. ad provided means Of flight. lie
had been, according to his own statement,
contemplating it for some weeks, When
Mr.. and Mrs. Garfield first started for
Long Branch Guiteau went to the depot
to shoot the President, but the pale aud
SICILY annearance of Mrs. Garfield, he
says, prevented him from then executing
his design, His inquiries, just before he
committed the deed, in regard to the move
ments Of the President, still further con-
firms the belief that he acted with the d.
rectness and determination of a Temporal
rily sane man, at least. His letter ex-
planning the cause Of his latest act bears
no evidence Of the loss of reason.
When Bratus slew Cesar, insanity was
not supposed to be the impelling cause
No, that he loved Brutus less, but tina, he
loved Rome more, is why he stabbed Ca-
sar. SAYS Guiteau 'The Presidents tragic
death was sad necessity, but it will unite
the Republican party and save the rePnt-
lie. There is no insanity about that,
doubling the fact. ''Life is a flimsy dream,
and i. matters not when one goes. /
presume the President was christian, aud
that he viii be happier in Paradise than
here, continues Guiteau. and there is no
evidence Of insanity in the expressions.
"a human life is of small value Daring
the war thousands Of brave boys went down
without tear, he further remarks, aud,
meaning that a lie is Of small value COM
pared to the life Of the republic, will not
be considered the enanatioD of an insane
man. He remarks that, as life Is uneer-
tain. and the President is liable TO die at
any time, it viii be no worse for Mrs. Gar
field uto part with her husband this way
than by natural death. While there may
be difference Of opinion on this point
vet there is nothing insane about the con
cIusion. Il had 10 i'll viii toward the
President His death was political ne
cessity, says Guiteau, and still no insani-
ty appears. u am a lawyer, theOlOsian
and politician, he further remarks. This
is 4 strange combination, yet is not indica-
tive Of insanity. The law is his profession,
yet he has studied theology and politics,
as his career shows, and from the two lat
ter stapdpoints he perhaps wants it under
stood that be had considered the deed he
committed, and 50 designated himself in
the manner be dill. a Stalwart Of the
Stalwar,s, be further designated himself
and in doing SO he merely stated to which
wing Of the Republican party be belonged.
Il is singular, too, that If Booth and
Guiteau were both insane when they
PLAYED the terrible role Of assassins, they
should have selected the Chief Executives
Of the Republic as their victims. If they
were insane in the sense generally accept
ed, or in the manner people are usually
afflicted, they would not have journeyed
from their homes, made such preparations
for fight after committing their deeds, or
written such sensible letter as did Gni
teau. If their insanity was Of vicious
turn, they would have stricken down the
first person encountered, man, woman OF
child.
On the other hand il must be admitted
that Gaitcaus lectures, speeches aud his
whole previous history point him out as
possessing very erratic mind, to say the
least, and his sanity or insanity is diff.
cult matter to determine. His actions,
when be attempted TO assassinaie the
President, would indicate that he occa-
sionally moves with all the system and cool
ness of man Of sound mind. Atall events
he should be made an example Of, and
visited with the punishment the law would
impose upon one whose sanity was IN
questioned. 1t would be easy, if Guiteau
escaped, for anyone, SO inclined, to play
insane for few months, then 60 and
strike down a President, Cabinet Officer
or other public man, aud 90 unpublished
on the plea of insanity.
Sane or insane, We have no doubt that
his deed is the outcome Of Imperialism
The idea that Grant or Conkling, or other
representative of Imperialism, is in any
way connected with Guiteau, is not worthy
of consideration but the belief that his
act was the result of their teachings and
consequent upon their way upon the ad-
minietration and the Blaine wing of the
Republican party, is general and we'll
founded. Guiteaus expression that ne is
"a Stalwart Of the Stalwarts, and his act
ia striking down the official representative
of the opponents of Stalwartism, is strong
ground for the belief. Had the President
died, or should he die, Arthur would sue
coed him, and Arthur is not only Stall
wart, but has lately been engaged in the
war upon the President.