The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-01
RECALLING GARFIELD,s DEATH.

Treasury Clerks Plan for Protecting the
Life of the Late President Arthur.
Washington Special to New " rk Tribune.
A Washington friend of the Tribune has re-
Suscitated an interesting relic of the excitement
prevailing at the capital at the time of President
Gar6eld's death. When it became apparent that
President Garfelds death was but question OF
e few hours. an admirer and stanch follower of
the late ex- President, consulted with friend,
then a Treasury clerk, as to the best means that
could be adonted to protect the life Of General
Arthur, who was not even to know that he was
to be surrounded by faithful guardians. Be.
sides, he was not TO consider himself under any
moral obligations to his self-constituted pro-
tectors, who were to resort to every possible ex-
pedient and pretense to be within reach of him
wherever he should go. OF course, this was only
possible IL some person of high social political
standing could be prevailed upon to assist IN
.he plan Both men were enthusi-
astic and energetic and they soon
succeeded in securing the verbal consent of sew
oral prominent officials in the Treasury. the In
terior Department and others. The Treasury
clerk, however. in q spirit of mistaken zeal and
without the knowledge of his confederates, con-
stituted himself the secretary" of an organiza-
ton which he styled the National Minute Men
Of America" and such had the following
pcmpous circular printed in the dead OF the night
Snu QlStflDuJeO DFOdOchSL over washington tD9
next day:
THE PRESIDENT rs DEAD.
LONG LIVE THE NATIoNi
WASHINGTON, D. O., Sept. 10. 1881.
bIidnight.)
Fellow -citizens-In the name of the headess
trunk of the Republic you called upon to join at
Ibis minutes notice the Holy Alliance of Vigilants
In order shield and guard until Congress provides
the and only life that stands at this hour, under
the Constitution, between order and anarchy Let
see that peace be to the ashes of him
lied in the hearts of his countryen and that his
cred dust shall not be scattered to the four winds by
factions or revolution.
lives.
Address Secretary National Minute Men Of America,
20Sla Thirteenth street. S. w.
TIE object of the scheme being defeated by
this untimely and preposternus circular. the
movement died out rs quickly almost as it had
been organized. 1t may be said, however, in
Justice TO the originator of the plan. that it had
at least the good effect of putting those IN the
immediate surroundings of the newly -installed
President .)on their guard until the excitement
had largely subsidized. and the army of cranks
which always infest Washington had been con-
siderably reduced by vigorous police measures
The projectors never asked obtained any
recognition from President Arthur, and among
their friends the subject afterward became a
prolific source of good-natured jokes and taunts
The Treasury clerk has been permitted by the
present administration to apply his talents in q
less circumscrbed atmosphere than that SO dis
asrous to offensive partisans' while his friend
has completely lost his identity among the shous-
ands of government employees