Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-07-15
wAsmINuToN LETTER.


IN view Of the appalling tragedy that has
transpircd since my last letter was written Vt
would be impossible to write Of anything else
at this ,ime though there is little to be said
that the telegraph has not already given you.
Il would moi be correct to describe the feeling
that has existed In Washington as excitement,
for IN ere has been little Of that, but II In dom
In any country that such deep, quiet sadness
pervades a whole community. The first intel
iigence Of the deed was terrible shock, which
has been followed by intense sorrow and anxi
otv. There seemed to be a sense OF personal
ailliciion upon the mind cf every resident Of
the Capital and the public pulse went mp or
dawn with that Of the wounded President, un.
al his symptoms gave positive hope oi his re-
covery. Probably such quiet 9TH Of July
has not been known in this country during the
ono hundred and FIVE years OF It's independence,
and right here in the Capitol Of the Nation
whose anniversary II was, mt a gun waa fred
and sea rcely a lre cracker vas heard the whole
day. Year after year the police have made the
most strenuous Ell ,rts to suppress in some de-
gree the destracting noise of fireworks on that
dav, but without avail yet public sen,i ,iment
and public feeling in the face of great sor-
row, accomplished what fifty thousand police
could not have done.
This tragedy has served to prove the one
ness Of the American people, after all. There
has been no North, no South, no faction and no
nhfty III tue tNpTebstUnS W sOEVUW anu
thy that have poured forth. II was the peoples
President who wasstruck down, and the blowwas
felt by every citizen. ltwas blow at the Nation
aud the whole people stood up to resent II. The
event has shown too in what high esteem Pres.
iden, GARFIELD has come to be held by the coun.
try. His administration has encountered trials
but there is no doubt that through all he has
had the hearts Of the people, His own fairness
and justice and consideration have assured him
that, and there nre to day but few men of all
parties who do not believe In the righteousness
and loftiness Of his intentions and purposes.
There are few who do not recognize that his
removal from the scene at this tirie would be
peculiarly unfortunate for the country. The
probable administration that would succeed him
Is moi considered promising. And ii seems too
bad that miserable, worthless scoundrel like
| Guiteau, too mean to live, should have the
power to inact such suffering upon the head
| Of a Nation aud such affection upon his family
| and country.
The favorable prospect Of recovery which the
| President has at this writing is due in a great
| degree to his own splendid nerve and will pow
| er. He has throughout displayed the bravery
| Of a soldier on the bloody field. When told by
the doctors, in reply to his inquiry about the
wound, that he had barely one chance in sey'
enty, his prompt reply was We will take tina
one chance, won't we doctor ?" Nine men ou
| OF ten would then have given mp the battle, bu
| his courage saved lum. During that fatal Sat
urdsy when the bulletins issued every hou
extinguished all hope in the hearts OF the anx
Ions crowds. he was cheerful, though sinking
| rapidly. His great anxiety seemed to be fo
the arrival of Mrs. Garfield, and every littl
while he would ask what time il was. Th
| PHI ysicians thought the most they could d
would be to keep him M until she came, bu
when she arrived he greeted her cheerful.
and said /" Never mind sweetheart, I'll pnl
through all right" His genial, patient an
| ar. ,ta hos itsalf frs
to last coupled with n courage that is the nd
miration of the Nation.
| There is no Significance attaching to this al
tempt upon the Presidents life beyond the les
sons il teaches. Ths deed vas that uf SHIFT
less, sch eming fellow, half crazy at times. bu
more vicious than insane. Undoubtedly he alan
is responsible and ii is great pity that the la'
does mt permit such punishment tO be meied or
10 him as he deserves. lfhe had a million live
they could not atone for what he has dnne-sii
less for what he intended to do. Tho thee
~ Of n conspiracy was entertained by but fe
and 1t has been entirely Abandoned. 1t is ger
orally believed that none Of those who cuul
have benefited by the Presidents death nj
less appalled, by the awfulness of such Grim
than all other citizens. We have not renche
the condition of ancient Rome before the Ce
sars, when assassinat was the common wea
on of in!uriated partisaus. Yet there are le
sous to be drawn from such thing as thi
W
. people to prcft by the teachings of histor
must be combined with virtue in the people
our system Is tn Itand the strain to which 1t
? being subjected.
Though the sta.wart faction Of the Republ
can party does not sympathize with Guiteau
r crime and should not be held responsible Il
II, yet there is at the bottom indirect relatu
to Il which II understood may be future war;
ing. The Conkling and :" star route" orgai
Of this city-mostly one and the same j"nrDa
have been very abusive of the President, Il
j Attorney General, and other members of Il
e Cabinet for many weeks. The editorial ute
e ances OF George G. Gorham and A. G. Bue
have not only been uncaIled for and Outrageou
! but coarse and trutnl. Yet these two ha'
- been indignant that anybody should even SUI
gest that their supposed hackers had eDter'
n conspiracy to get rid Of the President. Th'
declaim against the horrible injustice of such
suspicion, as well they may, but they do II
remember that their uwn words may have j
I spired not only the suspcan but the very dee
: Among the papers which Guiteau left to be gi
en- to the press as his vindication. and wh
II fell into the hands Of the District Attorney,
/ am told, compilation of extracts from the
very editorials. And who can doubt but til
e the inspiration to do the deed was drawn fr'
I these? So great is the feeling wr1ught by II
4, sort Of thing that an employe "i the War u
% pertinent in liquor, declared That If CARTE
il did not live Arthur must go too, in retaliati'
: Who can forsee the result of such faction
passion? And whether the utterances givi
y birth to ii be in defense of "star rOnte" ihiey
d or disappointed politicians, they are alike r,
rehensi6le.