Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-07-05
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 81, 1882.
This day that mas been looked forward
to by the entire country as the longed for
fnal scene in a national tragedy, dawned
cool with clear sky. Government Off
Gals walked slowly to their offices, and
senators and representatives went to the
capitol impressed with a solemnity in
which there was no sympathy for the
murderer, but painful recollection oil the
appalling crime.commItted by him one
year ago, and the terrible days Of suspense,
hope, and despair that followed. I shall
not 90 into the details of the final scene,
or describe the manner and bearing of the
criminal in his poor and pitiful expiation.
Il is enough that the odious life has been
ended by an odious death. and that one OF
the most worthless and unworthy of men
has been forced to the doom Of his despi-
cable deed. II there is any moral to be
drawn from his life and fate. it is to be
feared the American people have not i'm
proved it. He has'been given that notori-
ETY. which his half.donkey. half-demon
nature craved, and no doubt his long
imprisonment and his last moments were
solaced by the reflection that his infamy
was sublime in the reflected splendor of
his victim and the shock of the world. He
has gloated over the fact that his name
has appeared in head lines in thousands of
journals; that his photographs have been
displayed in the windows of stationers
and photographers; that bis bust has been
made by distinguished sculptor; and
that so-called women have besought bis
autograph. ..
1t is not too much to say that this could
not have occurred in any country except
the United States, and it should bring
blind boosters about American civilization
to the decency of silence and reflection.
Manners are indissolubly related to NOR.
ais, and good taste is not bad religion.
The bad taste that has tolerated the
display OF Guiteau's photograph en- group
with the photographs of the dead presi-
dent, his venerable mother. and family,
indicates moral obliquity and justiies the
accusation that penny grabbing vulgarity
is deplorably conspicuous in the United
States.
On Sunday, the second of July, the first
anniversary of the assassination. the
corner stone of the Garfield memorial
church will be laid by the pastor of the
Disciples church and chaplain of the
House, Rev. J. d. Power. Hon. A. G.
Pettibone of Tennessee and Hon. A. 5.
Willis of Kentucky. members of congress
and also members of the church to which
the late president belonged, will deliver
addresses. The church is to be small
edifice, though nearly twice as large as
that which President Garfield attended
and it will be built on the same ground.
Hon. Mr.. Hawk, who died suddenly
from appoplexy yesterday, was also a
member OF this church. He was an up
right and rigidly temperate man. Just
two hours before his death he had received
telegram from his home in Illinois in
forming him of his unanimous re-nomina
ton 10 congress.
1t is now expected that congress will
adjourn soon after the 10 h of July. Tn,
deletoriness and general lack of system il
making up and passing the appropriation
bills in the two houses Of congress ha:
been again illustrated. Now at the very
close of the fiscal year, when all the ap
preparations expire and when the govern
ment will come to standstill unleS
sufficient appropriations are made at thi
session, several of the most important bill
have not yet been reported to the Senate
anu some of them will he subjected t
protracted if not careful debate before the
can be passed.