The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-09-18
ATTACKS ON PRESIDENTS.
Lincoln and Garfield Victims Of Assassin's s
Bullets.


from the earliest times, and under nc
form of government have they been
more frequent than under the demo
cratic. In this respect popular liberty
and free institutions have been no
guarantee Of immunity for the head of
the nation. Three a. .cmpted murders
of this nations Chief Executive, two
Of which resulted fatally, have marked
the last thirty-six years of the century
and quarters national existence OF
the United States.
President Lincoln was the first vic
tim of the assassin $ bullet. lie was
murdered during the waning days Of
the civil war, when sectional bitter
ness was at its height. The assassi-
nation of President Garfield occurred
under altogether different circumstan-
ccs. A reunited country had settled
down to forget the disscnsions Of the
past, and the President, just elected,
was not known to have an enemy,
political or personal, in the entire
country.
Mr.. Lincoln was shot on April Ii +,
1865, as he SIT with his family and
friends in Washington theatre. He
had for the second time been inau
guratcd President of the United States
but short while before. To Ameri-
cans Lincoln assassination came as a
new experience in the national his
tory. Until then no attempt had ever
been made upon the life Of any of the
fifteen Chief Magistrates who proceeded
him.
President Lincoln was murdered by
John Wilkes Booth, an actor, who
crept stealthily upon him from be-
hind. When within distance of a
few feet he took careful aim at the
unsuspecting President and fired.
The bullet entered Lincoln brain and
in few hours he expired. This as
sassination served to prolong and keep
alive the smouldering embers Of sec
tionalism which two succeeding gen
erations failed to eradicate entirely.
The assassination was part of con-
spiracy intended to cripple the Gov
ernmept by the simultaneous destruc-
tion of its principal executive officers,
and it involved, either as principals or
associates, large number of persons.
Nine Of the more immediate actors
suffered condign punishment, four
others hanged, three imprisoned for
life and one for six years.
Sixteen years after Lincoln's death
and within few months Of the assas-
sination Of the Gear Of Russia the
nation was again startled by the rews
that President Garfield lad bean shot
In Washington. President Garfield
was shot July 2, 1881, while in the
railway station, ut the National Capt.
tai, where he had gone to join several
members of the Cabinet for trip to
New York and New England.
The President, arm in arm with
Secretary of State Blaine, was passing
through the ladies' waiting room,
when two pistol shots were heard in
quick succession. One took effect in
the Presidents back. He sank to the
floor, half supported by Mr.. Blaine,
bleeding profusely. For moment he
was unconscious and was then affected
with vomiting. He was quickly car
ried to the Offices of the railway COM
pany Oh the second floor and several
physicians were summoned. The
President was then taken back to the
Executive mansion.
Meanwhile the assassin had been
taken into custody. He proved to be
Charles j. Guiteau, who had been a
persistent, but unsuccessful, appli-
cant for appointment, first as minister
to Austria and then as consul general
to Paris. A letter was found on his
person in which the death of the
President was spoken Of as q sad
: necessity" that would "unite the Re-
publican party and save the Repub-
lic."
The greatest excitement was caused
throughout the country by the news
of the attempted assassination, and
by many it was considered an indirect
result of the political system which
encouraged unregulated office. seeking.
1t was also attributed to the quarrel
between the so-csllad "SStalwarts' and
the Administration Republicans,
which parties had originated in the
controversy over appointments in the
State Of New York.
The long struggle between life and
death Of the wounded President is