St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-07-08

W neither VaIHclu uce
or not, the attempt on his life is fraught :
with lesson which the nation must
learn and profit by, if it would escape
of Saturdays event. This
question of Office holding might as well
be met squarely mt once, and the sug-
gestion that the next Congress has a
duty to perform i'll relation to tenure
of office, is good one.
Not only in this country has the
shooting of President Garfield created
intense excitement, but all over the civ
ilized world the greatest interest Is
aroused, and expressions OF sympa-
thy and good wishes for the President /
and the nation have been pouring in
from other nations, who feel the blow
with all the force of Il domestic calami- |
tv. A portion of the foreign press
have seen fit to characterize the crime
as Il result of the ''spoils system" and
are watching us To see if the lesson VIII
he well learned. The prOmptness and
sincerity with which the foreign pow
ers have united in sympathy for our
country and prayers for the recovery
of our Chief Magistrate will strengthen
the friendship already existing with
them, and beautifully illustrate the
saying that zone touch of nature makes
the whole world kin"
The President, i'll his perilOus con
dition, has proved that he possesses
Christian manhood which even the
prospect of death cannot destroy. The
conduct of his wife, too, has been he
role, and will give hera deeper hold on
the affections of the people. The brave
manner in which she has met the terri
BILE blow, combined with the Presidents
own cheerfulness and fortitude, has
done much to bring him thus far safely
through the ordeal. She has been sup
ported by the prayers of the entire
people.
Guiteau. the assassin-a sketch OF
whom is given extraordinarily
escaped lynching by the crowd, which
went wild at the news. 1t was well
that the police protected him, since If
he had been lynched it might have pre-
vented revelation which only Guitcau
can give-if he sees fit. He is no
doubt monomaniac on political ques-
tions, though it is held by the highest
legal authority ut Washington that he
was sane enough when he committed
the crime, since his plans We're careful
Iy laid and he himself confesses that
he had been meditating on this crime
for six weeks or more. Whatever the
result to Mr.. Garfield, the enraged peo-
pie will demand that strict justice be
melted out to the perpetrator of such a
hellish deed. 1t has been stated that
if the President RECEIVERS there is ne
law by which the assassin can be pun
ished us he deserves. Such an attack
on the President ought to be high trea-
son, but it looks us if the law was lame
in that direction.
Considerable alarm was felt ut first
as to what would result to the country
in case the President dicd-and Ger
tainly in such case the outlook is moi
encouraging. Gen. Arthur's course IA
Albany has not increased public conf
dencc i'll him, and the majority of tho
people do not think him tit to take the
4 reins of government. There is now ne
: speaker of the House, and no presiden
4 pro TEN. of the Senate; and Garfield
, death would leave us i'll bad shape
= Arthur seems to be overwhelmed 10y
the disaster and is doing much to con
ciliate the people by his close attend
n ance at Washington and deep-fclt anX
n ietv for the Presidents safety. Posi-
# bly,, if he were called upon to take tin
n reins of government from the fallel
n Garfeld's hands, he might profit by tn
q lesson and do his best to rule wisely
= Millions beside himself pray that ther'
q may not be any such necessity.
d The latest reports from Washington
are very encouraging, and Indicate tina
II the President will live. The wound
- il bad one, however, and may prov
treacherous. The best physical ski
in the country is at hand, and tn
: stricken President will have the best {