The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1881-09-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.


FROM O"T 1tegtt0q correspondent. ] +
Washington, D. G., Aug. 81, 1881.
The past has been the most remarks
lble in the news annals Of the American
Capital. Other great events have come |
md gone, blowing up the public mind in
heir passage, other great alarms have
been sprung from time to time; other
great anxieties have pressed the public
pulse up in fever heat before, but there
probably never was such constant and
uninterrupted strain upon the nerves,
such series of alarms, such week Of
ups and downs of hope and lear and ex-
element as the beginning last Sunday
and ending to-day. From the moment
OF the Presidents relapse on Sunday to
the present hour there has been scarce
ly breathing>spell of reasonable hope
for his recovery. Yet the occasional
recurrence of encouraging symptoms and
the almost coaxing voice of the Presis
dents physicians have afforded tempo
rary relief. These respites of anxiety have
only served to whet the edge Of excite~
ment at every renewed unfavorable ree
port. This constant strain upon the
nervous system has had the effect at
last to produce an exhaustion akin to
lethargy, and never since the dark days
of the rebellion, when the life of the Ma
ton hung trembling in the balance, have
the whole people suffered such season
of anxious waiting as since last Wednes-
day night, when the despatch of Secre,
tary Blaine announced to the country
how frail was the tenure of his life. All
during the week the sorrowing people
have eagerly looked for favorable news,
and each day has closed with an ominous
foreboding that the morrow would bring
forth fatal tidings. Since Thursday
night the suspense has been positively
painful, and now even with the shade Of
hope, as expressed by DR.. Hamilton, this
morning, the feeling of depression is moi
frightened, and as the fateful Saturday
dawns, fears of impending dissolution
crowds from the public mind the slender
germ of hope of a possible recovery.
There is disposition to find fault with
the doctors because they will not tell the
actual truth about the matter, Now
while have been equally disposed to
kick at the occasional concealment OF
apparent distortion of facts in the official
bulletins, there is line beyond which ]
feel bound to say think the physicians
are assuredly right not to venture. This
is in the expression ofadyerse opinions OF
even to indicate by any positive word On
purposely suggestive act that the Presi,
dent is going to die, though they may
think so ever SO strongly. In preserving
discreet reserve when the SYMPTOMS are
alarming, and expressing their renewed
confidence and hope when the patient is
doing better, think they are doing 8
Wise ttklQ CEcSlltdDlO tu1uS, duQ Wl1tll
should be expected of them.
When the physicians approached the
noble wife of our Chief Magistrate, yes
terday evening, and performed theil
painful duty, informing her that she
must be ready for the direct result thai
her husbands death was near at hand
unless averted by miracle, the brave
woman, still strong in the explicit faith
that such grand life could not be torn
| from her and from the country, replied
| forcibly: Then that miracle will occur
My husband will recover He must, A
feeling Of an impending calamity peryas
ded every person during the evening"
The Cabinet were all at the White HoAse
and some Of the ladies were with Mrs
Garfield. There was deep feeling oil
gloom with them. Hope had almost
forsal1en them when the contents of the
evening bulletin were learned. In eons
versation with the doctors they learned
that the situation was growing more and
more grave, and they were given to
understand that change must come
soon. In fact one of the members sta
ted afterwards, they were told that if a
change for the better did not come withs
in twenty-four hours the worst might be
expected. The Cabinet and their ladies
all left at 1890. Secretary Window had
tears in his eyes as he escorted his wife
to their carriage. In answer to an in
quiry, he replied: 'It's bad enough tell
you" Secretary Hunt said: II don't
know any more than you do about it.n
Secretary Kirkwood said: 1--WE think
the President will not recover POST
master General James, whose hopes
have been strongest, could not speak for
emotion. Secretary Lincoln said @The
end looks near" Attorney General
MacVeagh said: at is turning out as l
feared, and it won't be long, fear now.
The only hope lies in the nourishment
in the next few hours"
AUGUST.