New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-20
SCOVILLE on TIE STALWARTS.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF CONKLING, GRANT
AND ARTHUR.
To ne Editor Of The Tribune.


SIR; Mr.. Scovile has tired to prove too much. If
the jury are in any way strongly impressed by his
earnest anaignment of leading Stalwarts, the inn
preston should logically be a very different one
from that which he desired.
Mr.. Scovllle declares that ex-senator Conkling,
eY-Presldent Grant and President Arthur are
morally responsible for the hidcOus crime committed
by " a Stawart of the Stalwarts' under the inlu-
ence of Their teaching. Their most unjust assaults
upon President whom they now laud to the skies,
Mr. Scoylle AYERS, persuaded Gutcau that the re-
moval Of that President was necessary for the vel
fare Of the country Hence Mr.. Scovillc saws, they
shall not be permitted to escape the responsibility Tor
an act which they really caused rather than the pas
sionate creature who fred the murdeTous shoi.
These declarations produce deep impression, rs is
natural They have force, because the common
sense of the millions recognizes the fact that they
contain truth. OF course, Mr.. Conkling did rot
mean TO cause physical assassination of the Prcsi-
dent But be did mean to assaSsinate the character
and reputation of President Garfield and 50 far sue
cccdcd with one passionate follower that Guitcau
was moved to put the President ont of the way. So
of General Grant and President Arthur; according
10 the measure of their zeal in making unjust war
upon President Garfield they are responsible before
God and their cOuntrymen Tor results winch thty
never contemplated.
But this does not tend to prove that Guitcau was
insane On the contrary, il tends 70 prove that he
was mat rs sane as Mr. COnklng himself. In both.
passionate anger and the fierce spirit OF faction
naSSeI all bounds of reason or dcc3ucN. But Mr..
COuknnC was not insane when ne labOTrd, week al
fer week to assaSSinatc the character OF the noble
and heroic President whom the Nation loves.
Neither was his admircr Insane when, with prec ely
the slmo fury of faction, the sam" greedy ambition
and the same inSufcrahlc cg1tlSln, he slew the
Presidents BODY. In each case the immediate
cause was StUpcndoUS vanity WhlCh lidde Il
man utterly reckless in seeking ITS gratihca'lon III
u. fT RI ~
Inn the crime of the assassin OF character was AT
least as great that OF the cheap lihitatoI Who IN
capable of using intellectual weapons win nope Oh
effect could stay only the phISlCal man. II Ii'
Couhiing was not insane in his attempt 10 SlaD
great and good mans reputation, IN ms lTenIicd
wrath Lecalec his dictGtioH had been in VAIN III i1
suicidal trrachery 90 his party and his constituents
what reason is there for supp0sing that lac more
VULGAR crime was an act ol an irresponsible hi"u-
Neither was General Grant insane when he came
back from Mexico TO take part III warfare against
III President Yet he did what he could 70 make
pooplc believe that President Garfield was an I'M
wor, hv and diehOrOrabc man aad dangerous en-
envy 10 Repdblicauism. lfIt was not irresponsible
,uaJuaes in hm 10 such things, was Gut'au III
.a',, ieca,ISe he believed them2 Neither was Pres
iJeu: Arthur insane, and yet he !aDOr@d Tor weeks
I'm cause a brand Of dIsAcnor TO be hNcd, ~ tHG
mt state of New York, upon the President elected
ON tie same ticket with himself. lie took part III
q kind of political warfare from which, there
can be little doubt, he now wishes NEST hcC4ly
he ha! kept alOot. That the Nlce-fltAlaehI o! thls
,r,ot Nation took part with two defeated politicians
Hn al attempt to cripple and dlshonor the Nation
pre,idtnt-surc,y this was far more strange than
thst n creature of the stamp Of Gutcau should
translate deadly wcTd, INTO deadly deeds lrIe,
there was no law f0T5idding the attempt to dis
Grace the President by TIE reelection OF a man
vio had accused INN Of persona! dlshonor But the
sfab 10 he heart would have been q greater wrong
n p,rc and patriotic statesman, ana Would nave
Lrru harder fer him TO bear, than the shot III Tie
back. .o. r. tho
leaders but that Is no proof Of INSANITY. lie was
fired by their desperate spirit OF faction, but thli
does not prove hm irresponsible. Both committed
great wronga each after his own nature:
Tie coarse dead-beat and habitual breaker OF
ali laws resorted to vulgar and brutal crime TO
yreak his vengeance and gain his ends. Inc men
OF intellectual power sought to slaT III more re-
fDed and far more cruel way 10 e&Gh,
President Garfield was an obstacle. Inc
Stalwart leaders tried to sweep NM from
the path by the use Of tier hon0rcd
names and large influence by their skill III po'IcI
management, hy ranking insults OF poisoned S!al!s
of SANDER The StalwaTt follower, lacking their
,ean0ns and feariu. That these would FAIL loaded
revolver II be was crazy 10 believe their aecusa-
lions they were clazy t. make them: He wa Teck-
s. enough 10 shoot at the man lIey W-ie Ge'-
ur,atc enough to stab the Presidents honor ana 10
hin. deadly blows AZ his rghtiu Official lniilenc'.
The fury and eSCrdtion of either " III not ,taH rs
proof of insanity Nor viii the people hold either
free from responsibility. u NJ W.
N,r- York. Jan. -. lSN2.