Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-08-01
..sTRANGVLATUS PRO REPUB-
IICA."

We find the following article going the
rounds of the press;
"Happersberger has been awarded the
first prize for a design for the Garfield
monument The design includes a ped
estal raised on a base of gently ascend
ing steps. On these is a seated figure in
bronze of America, leaning on a sword
and showing sorrow in her face and po-
sition. The sides of the pedestal hold
eagles. the first guarding the emblem Of
war and commerce., and the second
watching over the flag and shield of the
country. S~urmounting the pediment is
a bronze statue of Garfield ten feet in
hight. firmly poised, and to which have
been given both dignity and likeness.
The inscription on the pedestal Isl:
James Abraham Garfield, 'Strangulatus
pro Republlca.
This inscription on the pedestal is no
doubt artistic. Happersberger got a prize
for the design and that settles the artistic
part of it. There is no art critic in this
shop. Anything OF that kinds too high for
us, and we don't try TO climb up far enough
to catch on to it. ''Strangled for the
Republic seems to be what is meant,
That does not sound very nice, still it
NAV have a nice sound to the truly re-
fined ear. But it cannot be considered
poetic, for one OF the three essentials Of
poetry, according to Wilhelm Sehlaegel,
is truth. "Strangled for the Republic
may possess sufficient Imagination and
pathos, the two other poetic essentials,
according to the learned German critics
idea, but if the expression be not true it
is unpoetic. Even without the aid Of the
great Schlaegel, however, it might be
safe enough to depend upon our five
senses and jump at the conclusion that
there is no poetic charm in being stran-
gled for the Republic or for anything
else. But the fact Of the business is
Garfield did not die of "strangulation, .
or to put it more mildly out OF veneration
for the memory Of the illustrious dead,
he did not ''hsave up his last sigh fol
the Republic. He was shot. He was
assassinated by a crank, not because he
was President Of the United States, and
that through him the assassin had de
signs upon the Republic. To presume
this would require a vivid imagination
indeed. The Judges have said that Gui
teau was not crazy: hence his removal
Of the President could not have been Sin
spired.' His death occurred when he wa
not fighting any battle for the e%ountr!
or engaged in special public duty. Sine
Guiteau was sane when he fred the shot
the conclusion is unavoidable that h
fired it to kill a personal enemy, on,
whom he hated because he could get II,
appointment from him and whose dealt
he thought would be pleasing to the stall
wart wing Of the Republican party
Anybody, from President Arthur dow
to the Justice OF Peace at Palisade, !
liable to be ''strangled for the Republic
in the same way. On principle, on
friend Penrose on the Hill, had Wey
burns bullet killed him, would hav
been as much entitled to the ~extraordinar,
inscription on his tombstone, ''Stran
gled for the Republic" as Garfield
There Is a whole lot Of hog-wash throw,
onto monuments hat would be NOR
pleasing to the eya if left blank or in
soribed with the unvarnished truth only