The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-09-19
THE MARTYR PRESIDENTS.
Three In a Generation Have Been
Shot Down-How Lincoln and
Garfield Fell,

Three In Generation Have Beer
Shot Down-How Lincoln an6
Garfield Fell.
Three Presidents OF the United
states nave suffered at the hands of
assassins within the last thirty-six
years, and in two of the cases the mur.
derous attempts were successful. Pre-
sldent Lincoln was shot at 8 O'Clock on
the night of April ID, 1865, and died
at 1922 on the morning of April IS.
1865. President Garfield was shot on
the morning of July ., 1881 and after a
lingering illness died on September 20,
1881. The shooting of Prcsidcn, Nc
kinlcy has occurred just six months
and two days after his second acccs
sion to the presidency.
Ere III the moment President Lincoln
received the bullet of Wikr" Roo,h
there was no prospect Of his recovery.
His devoted wife and members of his
cabinet remained with hlm through
that memorable night, when all WASH
ngton was in a fever OF excitement
over the attempts on the life of Lin
coin and of Seward. as daylight
drew near the pulse Of the sufferer be-
canic more feeble. a bulletin at G:3O
said Sinking slowly" Another
bulletin at Z said that the end was
near. Death came at 1922, with the
stricken widow and Secretaries STAN
ton, Wells and Usher and Private
Secretary John Hay--now member
OF the Mckinley cabinct-standiny as
the bedside. There was prayer, and
then the solemn voice of Stanton broke
tho silence with " Now he belongs to
the ages.'
AT ii O'Clock on the morning of the
18th Chief Justice Chase administered
the oath of Office TO Andrew Johnson.
Tho latter remained at the modest tav-
ern on Pennsylvania avenue where he
had been quartcred, until the catatal-
que containing the remains OF the
martyrcd President was borne from the
White House to it's final resting place
at Springfield III.
President Garfield was shot at the
Pennsylvania railroad depot IN Wash
ington as he and Secretary Blame were
about to depart for Long Branch. AS
the two distinguished men were pass
ing through the Iadics' waiting room,
Two pistol shots rang out upon the air.
MIR. Blaine saw q man running and
started toward him, but immedlatcl,
turned and saw the President lurch
forward and fall. a moment after
ward the assassin, Charles J. Guiteau,
was discovered, and was rescued with
difficulty from the infuriated mob. a
pistol a very heavy calibre was wrench
cd out of his hand, and it became clear
that large ball had entered the Presi-
dents body. The bullet had entered
the right side of the Presidents back
near the spinal column and immcdiate-
ly over the hipbone. The sufferer
moaned at intervals; he was conscious
AT all time, except when uuIcr the in
flucnce of opia,cs. When, in answer
to his eager questions, his physicians
Informed him that he had cone chance
in hundred" of living, he said calmly
and bravely; Then, doctor, we will
take that chance"
The wounded President was borne
TO the White House, and then followed
those days and weeks of praycrful
anxiety among the watchers at the
bedside and the people of the whole
country. General Corbln, then as
sistant adjutant general, Immediately
provided special train TO bring Mrs.
Garfield to Washington where she
joined those at the Presidents bedside.
Messages of, coincidence came from
Queen Victoria and from the crowned
heads throughout the world. The public
watched the fluctuations of the suf-
ferer's condition with fevcrish anxiety.
From day to day the bulletins, usually
hopeful in tone, encouraged the belief
that recovery would occur. Arrange
mcnts were even made for sea voy
age on the government ship Tala-
| poOsa.
While President Garfield thus lnger-
| ed between life and death an imp >rt.
ant question arose as to the constitu-
tiOnal provision relating to the " dis
ability' of the President. On the part
of the Vice President, General Arthur,
there were no move toward assuming
the responsibilities of the executive
office. TO the vice president the situa-
ton was exceedingly trying, but he so
demeanod himself as to win universal
respect. HIS whole bearing from the
day of the crisis TO the close
of the scene was such as to indie
ate the profoundcsL sorrow and
anxiety. But in other quarters the
Presidents "disablity" was carger-
ly discussed. The question arose,
was President Garfield disabled
in the sense contemplated by the fra.
mers of the constitution? Does that
kind of prostration of the bodily pow
ers in which there is still prospect OF
recovery, which leaves the will free tc
act, and the mental powers unimpaireG
really involve disability? White these
questions were mach discussed it was
the universal public judgment that
President Garfield was not in fact "dls
abled" in the sense of the constitu
ton. He continued to be the chief ex