National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-03
Remarkable Utternnces.

The New York Times of recent date
broke out in strain of unmistakablc
congratulation at the removal "of Presi-
dent Garfield. This was in leading
editorial, headed "a Providential Es-
cape" 10 escape is to get out of danger
A providential escape is one effected by
Providence. Providence is defnedas "thc
divine superintendent over all created
beings; the care of God over his crea-
tures.' The danger from which the Times
declared the Nation had been delivered
by direct and special interposition by
Providence. e., by God himself-was
the consequences which would have fol-
lowed ifthe hand of Guiteau had been
stayed, and Blaine thereby continued A.
Secretary of State. Said the Times!
Nobody Is willing to regard the tragic Interrupt.
ton ofthe Administration of President Garfield as
anything buta national calamity and ye in the light
of the admissions made by his Secretary OF State
1t is almost appalling to reflect upon the possible
consequences of the vigorous foreign policy which
was inaugurated under its nominal sanction. Mr.
Blaine insists that the President was cognzant of
all his plans and purposes in dealing with foreign
questions, and that his action had Mr.. Garfeld'S
sympathy and approval If this is so, It Is more
than doubtful whether the President comprl,.
hcnded the drif and the ALMOST insyii,able results
OF the course mat tAA9S.tatc Department was pur.
suing, and it.iSs| certain that some Of the deeper
ru'possy. Of the head of the Cabinet were beyond
ms ken. The President was one of the most
patriotic of men, and he no doubt intended to eX
ercise the utmost prudence in directing the policy
| of his Administration but he was n confding man.
| and to Mr.. Blaine he seems to have given his
fullest confidence. This is the more remarkable as
| the Secretary was ktloWn TO DO n daring and i'm
petuous politician rather than n cautious and dis
| Greet statesman, upon whose judgment implicit
| reliance could be placed He was, in fact, about
the most dangerous man that could have been put
in charge of the foreign relations of the government
The Times stands alone in weighing
| Garfeld's assassination in one side of the
scale and the escape the country has
| had from Mr.. Blaine in the other side
but it has Guiteau with it in attributing
to Providence the inspiration" of what
it terms the escape. We have not space
for the TimeS'S recital of the dire disas-
tiers Mr.. Blaine would have brought upon
the country, though we agree with much
of what it has to say of the vigorous
foreign policy" of the late Premier. The
conclusion is as follows:
He even showed no understanding of the spirit
of his own countrymen. A bull in n china shop Is
too trivial figure to give faint suggestion of the
perils threatened by MIR. Blaine in the State De.
partmcnt Had he remained there with freedom
| to dash about in his own way the consequence
would have been trouble on all sides, with
no outcome but war. Of course, the danger.
Gus minister would have been caught and
put under restranst before he had sue.
ceeded in getting us into conflict with the
rest of the world for a peaceful nation, inten
upon industry and trade, with no army, and nc
desire for one with no navy and no wish for any
except as precNution against possible aggression
would not have allowed itself to be dragged into
war with half dozen armed nations by an am
bilious and hot.hoaded politician. But 1t had q
timcly escape from complication of awkward en-,
| burrassmens.
The Times thinks the escape" the
country had, through Garfcld's death
was both Providential" and timely
To borrow the language of friend who
drew our attention to the Tines arti
Gle: "does not this go Guiteau one
| better?"