The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-18
pEMooRATIo ASSASSINATION,

fishes the following remarkable editorial para
graph:
oItis a notable fact that the Presidents who
died in Office were each elected in opposition
to the Democratic party, and, with two ex-
captions, are the only persons so chosen in
sixty years, or since the election OF John
Quincy Adams in 1924. Grant and Hayes are
the only persons therefore, who have been
elected President in sixty years, as opponents
of the Democracy, and survived their. ofilclal
terms. The record is enough to make Repub-
lican candidates shudder. If the chance OF
life for the chief magistrate, IT he be kepuo-
lican, is only about one in two, there ought
not to be such scramble for the place as
there is"
The only two distinctive Republicans who
have died in ofice-Lincoln and Garfield
persisted at the hand of an assassin. Is this
the danger that menaces Mr.. Blaine, for
reason of which he should hesitate to accept
the election that now awaits him9 Is the
record to be maintained, and the life of every
other Republican President sacrificed The
thought Of the Buffalo Times is very pecu-
liar one, and compels the inquiry of what sug-
gested it. Is there parallel between the
methods of Democracy of 1864, 1880 and 1SS4Y
Is there something in the methodical madness
Of Democratic vituperation and mendacity
that suggests the probability Of another assas-
sination2 Is the hatred ineulcated in the
breasts of savage and brutal men likely to
eliminate in another tragedy that shall stag
ger the Nation and appall the peopleR
The premonition Of the danger is not new
one. The same thing that suggested danger
to the Times has been apparent to others.
The Journal has already pointed it out. The
same murderous methods that raised mp des
perate men to assassination in 1865 and in
1881, are being persistently practiced to-day.
Scores of i'll balanced men are being educated
Booth and of Guiteau. The Democratic par
ty, through its constituencies organs taught
its followers to believe that Lincoln
was tyrant the oppressor Of the
people, the enemy of the Nation.
The morbid mind of Booth took these lies for
truth, and in his distorted imagination all the
malignant things uttered by the Democratic
press were accepted without question. So
with the awful ISLANDERS published against
Garfield. The Democratic press laid broad
the way of his taking off Behind Guiteau's
frenzy at being disappointed in not getting
AZ. I. L. L 4. L.
the fearful slarders put upon the man whom
the people Of the Nation had elected These
confined his impressions that Garfield
was unfit for the presidency, and he
resolved to deliver the country of such
disgrace. And, for the second time in the
history of this Nation, the people were
plunged into the profoundest sorrow The
successor of Lincoln and Garfield is now in
the field Of political strife, breasting his
upward way against one of the strongest
tides of Democratic malediction that ever
candidate encountered. Not content with
criticising his record as public man, his
private life has been most Indignantly and
persstently assailed More and worse than
this: his very household has been
invaded, and the good name of his wife tram
pied in the mire; and the same class of van
dals that did this have intensified their infamy
by desecrating the grave Of his frst-born.
The antagonism manifested is without par
allel. Lincoln, in the. bitterness and passion
of war times, was never so UNANIMOUSLY ira
duced. The men morally guilty Of the muir
der Of Garfield did not descend to such depths
1t is not strange, therefore, that the Buffalo
Times sees danger to the life of James e.
Blaine after he shall have been elected. But
Blaine is not the kind Of man to be deferred
by threats or prophecies Of assassination.
Chosen to lead his party, he will remain at the
front and will enter upon the discharge of his
high duties as President with all the pluck and
push that have ever characterized him as a
public man and leader among the people. If
so be another Republican President is to be
sacrificed a victim to Democratic malignancy
and abuse, it will have to be. But neither
abuse, nor Islander; nor hatred nor persecu-
ton, Eor assassination will avail to stop the
onward march Of events. The Republican
party will elect James G. Blaine, and
he will be the Nations President. He
viii win because he represents the Republican
party and its principles, and, elected, viii see
that those principles which have proved 50
bene6cent shall be maintained to the upbuild-
ing of the Nation and the enrichment Of the
people. The country will go on 70 greater
measures Of prosperity, and the assassins Of
life and character will again be discounted.
l