The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-07-23
REV. !. n. THOMPSON,
Formerly Of MorgantOwn.I His
EDiscOirsc on the sass1na ii ON

Discourse on the Assassination
The Jersey City Evening journal,
says: "At Hedding NJ. f. Church,
last evening the pastor, Rev. j. r.
Thompson, delivered discourse on
the recent attempt to murder Presi-
dent Garfield. The handsome Church
was crowded to overlooking, notwith-
standing the vacation season and the
heat of the weather, and we wish
that thousands could have heard him
instead of hundreds; for we have
rarely heard timely truths more elo-
qucntly and forcibly expressed than
in his discourse last evening. Mr..
Thompson has an unusual gift of
shrinking while on his feet" He
speaks without notes, with great ra
pidity and correctness, and with a
beauty Of diction and fitness of
thought that commanded the closest
attention of his hearers. His dis
course last night was rather an adj
dress or speech than a sermon, al
though throughout it was marked by
the spirit of the Christian minister.
The text was, "Boast not thyself of
to morrow" DC. After an eloquent
and thrilling sketch of the sudden
change which the shocking crime of
the attempted assassination wrought,
in moment, in the feelings of the
people of this nation, and in the pos
sition of public affairs, the speaker
considered the murderous deed, the
criminal and the victim, and then de-
duced from the whole some practical
lessons. The deed he characterized
as crime not only against the Pres
ident, deed of ferocions murder,but
as crime against the laws and dig
nifty of the nation, against liberty,
and against God. The would-be
murderer was denounced in most
scathing terms. Mr. Thompson does
not think Guiteau insane, except with
the insanity Of sin. He is thor
ou9hly vile man, disobedient, I'M
faithful husband, an adventurer, a
liar, a swindler one who borrowed
the livery of heaven to serve the dew
IL in, his crime was the Legitimate
outcome of his wicked head, and his
only insanity is of that sort which is
love of sin; he achieved by his pistol
shot world wide and enduring in
fanny, and his name in all ages will
be execrated and coupled with those
of Benedict Arnold, Gebhardt, and
Judas Iscariot. OF the many lessons
which might be drawn from this case,
Mr.. Thompson only noted three: it
should teach us our dependence on
God at all times individually and ma
tionally; it should be an effective re-
Duke of the practice of slandering
our public men, and it teaches MS a
grand lesson of confidence In our
free institutions, and the stability of
our great republic. Speaking of the
way in which candidates and public
men are belied and slandered, Mr..
Thompson said; that while it would
be absurd and criminal to attribute
to any political or public man of any
party completely in, Guiteaus crime,
yet it is true, and in the interest of
truth it should be plainly stated that
the implacable and internal spirit of
factious abuse of President Garfield,
and hostility to him fell upon the
wicked heart of Guiteau, and work
ing there wrought in him the purpose
to murder the President; in so far
the deed was the outcome of this VIC
lent spirit of faction. Mr. Thomp-
sons whole discourse was one of re-
markable ability and interest, and
but for lack of room we should like
to publish it entire.