Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-21

theless was impressed with the belief
that he had actively influenced the
outcome of the Presidential elec-
ton, and so believing he as
naturally concluded that he was entitled to
considerable reward. Perhaps it is i'm
possible for those who have had no personal
experience of the greed and impudence OF
large element of chronic office.seekers to
estimate correctly the conduct of this man,
but Secretary Blaine showed by his evi.
dence last week that he had long been
familiar with quite as striking instances OF
presumption as Guiteau's afforded. The
latter thought he was entitled to either a
foreign mission or Consulship. The fact
that there was no comparison possible Be-
tween his demands and his deserts cannot
be regarded as indicative of mental un-
soundness, for nothing is commoner than
| just this kind of self.delusion. Guiteau in
fact is merely type of very well known
class in politics, and no veteran politician
could have been surprised at his assurance
in asking for a foreign mission.
In his frequent applications to Blaine he
presently received very decided check.
The Secretary told him plainly that he
could not hope to get either of the offices
he was asking for, and intimated that he
had better take this statement as final, and
cease to annoy the Government. Upon
this Guiteau wrote to Garfield recommend.
ing the dismissal of Blaine, who, he said,
was not friend to the President
evidently because Blaine would not recog-
nize the Importance to the Administration
of placating go considerable parsonage as
Guiteau. The President, however, proved
as obdurate as Blaine had been, and when
Guiteau slowly realized that his high hopes
were all dashed, and that the Government
did not intend to reward him at all, he
turned to thoughts of revenge, and doubt
less first conceived the atrocious deed
which he soon afterward perpetrated with
SO revolving deliberation. The pretense
GCe up ny MN oUOoCiuOubIt, tudg HO 1Clb
himself called upon by God to do this deed,
was evidently an afterthought, for it does
not consist with his other explanations at
all. Ii seems probable that he really
thought the removal of Garfield and the
accession of Arthur to the Presidency
would solve the problem of his personal
! reward. He had seen with what ferocity
the contest between the Stalwarts" and
Half. Breeds was carried on in the press,
and he had derived from the ferceness of
the quarrel belief that whoever assisted
the Stalwarts" to power would be sure
of their gratitude and protection.
Nor, though this may be characterized
as an extravagant idea, was it an insane
one. Guiteau had been a lawyer, and he
had lived at Washington He therefore
must have seen how frequently justice is
defeated in the Courts, and how often
political influence secures criminals from
punishment. And it is to be observed
that from first to last he is controlled by
purely selfish motives. There is in him
nothing of the religious fanatic. He is not
a second FELTON,. He is simply grossly
egotistic and morally callous man, who
calculates all his chances with an almost
single eye to his own interests. Blaine
and Garfield had refused him Office
Therefore he tries to get Blaine turned out
of the Cabinet, and he murders the Presi-
dent. There is no insane delusion in all
this. There may be evidence of weakness
OF mind, but not more than could be dem
onstrated In the cases of hundreds of
thousands of men who are at large. It
must further be realized that from Gui-
teaus point of view there was no difference
of status between himself and the Presi-
dent, or rather it may be said that he
regarded the President as his inferior.
For him Guiteau has always been the fore.
most figure in the universe, and this con-
tinues to be the case. He consequently
had no qualms about what he was going
to do. He thought he was merely remov-
ing an obstacle from his path, and that as
he was at the same time helping the
"Stalwarts," they would be obliged to
stand by him and see him clear
This view he still retains, as is shown by
his recent appeal to the "Stalwarts" and
his cool reminder that he has put numbers
of them in the way of political preferment
In fact the whole story hangs together
wonderfully. There is no room in it for
the idea that God commanded him to com
NIT the murder That stands out plainly
as an addition to his pleas derived from
his pettifogging experience Itwas clearly
for revenge that he killed the President.
and against this theory the insanity theory
will fail to be substantiated. There is in.
deed only one real popularity about Gui.
teau's character, aud that is his extreme
egotism. To this is attributable the
brutal callousness of his demeaner, his
continued insolence, his inability to realize
the detestation in which he is held. his
persistent belief that the "Stalwarts +"
will after all be compelled to rally round
him and preserve him from the fate he has
deserved. All the peculiarities of his coz
duct can be traced to this master vice Of
temperament. But it is vice, and not
madness. The man is as sane as millions,
in fact, and he is thoroughly responsible
for all that he has done, The fact that
he is of very bad type only suggests
the more forcibly the wisdom and the jus.
tice of hanging him as effectually and
speedily as possible.
Is THE TIDE TURNING7
There are certain indications that the
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