Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-15

The motives that prompted Guiteau's
atrOcious deed have been the themes of
the press for days past. One or two
journals set the act down SIS an outcome
of the spoils system, and the great ma
jority have fallen in line and re echoed
their arguments and concessions until
one might think that there was not an
honest man in theemp!oy of the govern
ment.
The best index to Guiteau's motives is
foupd in his declarations: 81 am stall.
wart of the stalwarts" and arthur Is
President. While it is stated that he
wanted an Office, which he did not OBJ
tain. the fact is nowhere referred to in
his letters or his declarations. Nor will
the theory that he wanted notoriety alone
account for his Villainy. There can be
no doubt that he wrought himself up
under the inspiration Of the stall
wart press and leaders to
the belief that Garfeld's death
was, as he puts it. political necessity"
and would save the party. This is the
only logical explanation that can be
given of his crime He has expressed no
regrets for his deed. He does not regard
it as a crime. Had he acted through re-
venge he might have expressed regret.
The deepest dyed villains are often con-
trite when confronted with the suferings
of their victims All attempts to put
Guiteau's conduct on any other ground
than stalwart inspiration are directed
towards lifting the odium from the fac
ton whose license prompted him.
And wherein does his act differ, save
only in degree, from the acts of his party
since its inception7 Higher Law, the
shibbOleth of Radicalism from its birth,
was the rule that guided Guiteau. The
party spat upon the law and the Consti-
tuition. It believed IN a 'higher law"
John Brown took his stand behind the
"higher law" The party professed de-
votion to the law IN its plat
form, and yet when it came
to power flung law to the winds. Lin
coin plead a higher law" when he ans
initiated the wealth of the South with
stroke of his pen. The Radical Con-
gress did the same when they converted
States into satrapies and gave license to
the arpet-baggers to plumber the living
and hamper posterity. Grant made a
higher law" when he placed the bayonet
in thee ouncil chamber and ordered the
visiting statesmen to witness a flair
count" in the memorable November of
1876.
Follow the party from its birth TO the
bolt of Conkling, and higher law" has
ruled it throughout. What is stalwart
ism if it is not higher lawismf Il am
stalwart" 81 am a relentless foe to
reconciliation, the solid South copper
heads and everything that tends to an
abandonment of prescription and sec
tional hate" This is Republication
pure and simple-the creed of Conkling
and the creed of Guiteau. The crazed
fanatic sought to murder the President,
the representative of a free people-the
party outraged law and justice, and
trampled upon constitutions and pre-
scriptions. The people have slumbered,
and if the deed of Guiteau does not
rouse them they never will awaken.
The burst of feeling that went out all
over the land to him that had fallen
showed how near they could be to-
gether, and how dear to all is the
fabric their fathers had reared.
Stalwartism is a standing menace to
fellow feeling and the reign of law, and
the deed of Guiteau, which it prompted,
alone should work its downfall.
TH1Iu win Uv NJ narm UHy IN the laud iii
it passes into oblivion, whittier other un-
American political creeds have preceded
it, or till its professors reject it and agree
to walk in submission to the law.