Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-03
THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

The entire country was stirred with
emotions of sorrow and indignation when
the news of the attempted assassination
of President Garfield was flashed over
the wires yesterday morning. AS the
terrible intelligence became confirmed
business was practically suspended and
people asked each other with bated
breath, evil he die" Since
the assassination of President Lin
coin in 1865 no such intense feeling has
been manifested among the people. That
calamity befell the country in time of war
when bloodshed was familiar matter,
but to have the head of the nation shot
down in cold blood, when the country is
enjoying prosperous peace, was an event
so shocking as to paralyze the community.
The fact that so terrible an event was
possible at this time, created consterna-
tiOn and feeling of unrest, relative to
the outcome in its political effect upon
the country. The hope that the deed
would be traced to an outright
lunatic, rather than political
fanatic or villain was general.
There was desire TO feel that no man
could be sufficiently monstrous to deliber-
ately do so dastardly an act. This was
independent of the high personal regard
entertained for President Garfield, and
applied to the position which he fills
rather than the man. 1t was an unwil-
lingness to admit that this country is
either a Mexico or Russia.
Until past midnight it seemed inevita
BILE that the GLOBE would be obliged to
render an obituary tribute to the head of
the nation. Happily that event is at
least postponed, and the postponement
awakens hope that the great calamity
may be averted.
A feeling of tenderness almost akin to
love, goes out for the suffering President
upon this bright Sabbath morning, and
if prayers can be of avail, the free-win
offerings of to-day will render his speedy
recovery certainty. Whatever of po-
litical animosity may have existed
is buried by the atrocious act
which places at deaths door
the honored head of the nation. The
thoughtful tenderness which President
, Garfield displayed for his wife when he
telegraphed that he was feeling better,
but that if she was well enough
to travel she had better come to Wash
ington Immediately, finds an echo in the
popular feeling which goes out towards
himself.
The GLOBE does not join in the belief
that this cowardly crime was the result
of the disagreement within the Presi-
dents party We have better opinion
of even the worst political elements
which the country contains than to as
sumo that this CRIME can
be laid at such door
1t was evidently the crazed deed of a luna
tic and it is far better for the country
that this should prove to be the case 1t
will be sad day for the Republic if the
precedent of assassination is to be estab-
lished as a remedy for political ills
The very fact that people
can be found to accept such theory as
probable shows the low plane which our
politics have reached. 1t is to the honor
of the country that there seems no rea-
sonable ground for holding such mon
strOus theory.
The glad tidings that the President
s'still lives" which the GLOBE conveys to
the Dublic this morning will nrova q
source of joy. The whole civilized world
will echo the prayer that the great heart
and strong brain which was SO
recently called to preside over.
the destinies of the nation will
speedily be restored to serve the country
in the position which he has briefly but
worthily filled. There surely is not, in
all this broad land, wretch so base, as
-. - fool a thrill of hapninpcc