Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-30
The Lesson Of the Assassination.


xnent and sympathy which are thoroughly
mingled IN the death OF the president OF
the United States. By violence. one fact
stares Us plainly IN the face-one feature
OF these assasslnatiOns commands re-
spect-
To state this fact and feature in as few
words as possible. Il Is the impropriety
and imprncticabiiity OF advertising 20 the
multitutes the presence OF the ruler OF
the nation IN a promiscuOus assembly
for DAYS and weeks ahead OF time, at a
certain place and a certain hour, as &C
CURED az the Buffalo exposition.
understand fully the objections which
may be raised 10 this statement the plea
that the president should be entitled 20
circulate al viii among the people OF this
country and enjoy himself BY this COM
mingiing and sightseeing as do other ciu-
zens OF this country. As Mr.. Mckinney,
the citizen. this was his privilege, but as
the president OF great nation. IL was
mistake 10 place his valuable person at
the mercy Of degenerates. demOniacs and
crazy -uadmen as Il happened in Buffalo.
IL has been the custom know, and have
seen more than one president on exposi-
ton grounds but I have never seen one
IN such a position that did not recollect
that his person might be target for some
evil-minded assassin. IL was always a
matter OF great risk. great danger, as has
been proven On my opinion. since l De-
came a grown woman I have lived 70
know Of and 20 grieve over. assassination
OF three presidents OF the United states
q terrible fact 10 be remembered in so
short a space OF time as ! fully under
stand. I was reused from sleep. IN
poor refuge home near Macon. Georgia
In the early morning 20 hear Federal
troops galloping through our enclosures.
loud. angry voices cOmmingled with the
clatter OF canteens and the rafting OF
sabres as an accompaniment. They did
not enter the dwelling house but they
aroused the colored people on the place
with their imprecations. threats and
pruphesies on the death OF Mr.. Lincoln
was fairly dared with the news. IL
seemed so improbable that President LIN
coin In the very semblage OF victory,
should pass away in such manner.
knew Il was the madness OF the time,
which made the deed possible and at the
distance Of a third OF a century from
that time I still mourn that the deed was
committed By a southern man whose
mind was certainly unbalanced BY brood
ing over the disasters OF his country.
sfr. Lincoln was a martyr 10 the war
spirit Of the early sixties. and his taking
on was the worst thing that could have
happened for the southern people
aIr Garfield was a personal acQuaint-
ance- was somewhat acquainted with
his wife and the little withered. aged
mother. who was so proud Of her boy
that she fairly twittered IN her mothers
pride and personal delight. IL was a cruel
shot he suffered that bright July morning
twenty years ago. IL was a base deed
sGulteau committed The assassin should
have been dispatched on the spot before
his smoking weapon left his hands. do
verify believe that Guiteau's long trial
and the feelings aroused thereby, gave
aid and comfort 70 the assassin who fired
the fatal shot at Buffalo. czolgosz had
an example TO follow. Some people are
so constituted that their minds absorb
horrors. and they become also demoniacs.
~ broOding over terrible things Of this
sort. Il Il more than likely this late as
sassIn expected 20 enjoy a similar oppoT-
tunity 10 the one granted 10 Guiteau.
God forbid that his crime and his doc
trines should be thus allowed 20 advertise
themselves again before this country!
Mr.. LincOln's presence IN theatre IN
Washington City gave Wilkes Booth the
chance TO appear IN real tragedy. Mr..
Garfield's fondness for Senator Blaine,
when exhibited in a public place. touched
a match 10 the intense hate OF a dissent
ing member Of his own political party
and the president was fatally shot as we
al remember, only few short days and
weeks after he took the oath Of office,
for the first time.
II Nessrs. Garfield and Blaine had quiz
city taken the train at some quiet hour
in the day or night without any demon
stratlon OF their particular fondness for
each other. in so public a place. Mr.. Gar
field might have been living today-in
good health and spirits AS plain Mr..
Garfield he had every citizens rights and
privileges-even TO embraces for his
friends-when he met Mr. Blaine that
morning. but II there had been no demon
stration OF the kind mentioned, the presi-
dent might not have been shot. i eznpha-
size the necessity for caution, IN the pres
ident. During his term of ONCE he Is more
than a plain citizen. He owes prudence
and caution TO the Office he is seeking 10
nj and was elected TO MI.
sat in the great Auditorium theatre
IN Chicago. the night before the great
Worlds Fair and exposition was
launched and the machinery started by
President Cleveland. who had been sworn
in only a few weeks before TO the office
OF the president. The presidents party
came In quietly that night and the lights
IN that vast theatre building were turned
low until he was safely seated. Then the
whole building was flooded with lights
all the bands began playing and the peo-
pie shouting in honor Of the nations chief
tain.
With a long opera glass drew the pres
dents face close 20 my view and I saw
the discOIored bruise on his forehead
where he had struck the carriage door
mat day N getting from the tram 10 MS
hotel.
was within less than a dozen yards Of
the box he occupied and the thought OF
what might happen right there (as did
happen TO Mr.. Lincoln only eighteen
years. befOre) flashed in terror across my
mind. He might have been riddled with
bullets sent on their deadly mission with
smokeIsss powder before his best friends
could have protected him from bloody
death.
AS sure as we live the time has passed
anywhere In this country or in other coun-
tries when the highest official In the land
or nation should be allowed 10 tempt as
sassfns 20 violent deeds after such a
fashion. In that brief interval OF semi
darkness Mr.. Cleveland's assailant might
never have been placed. II an attack had
been made. such as was made on Mr..
Lincoln
Chicago was az that time only steadying
herself after an experience with anar-
chlsts which was horrible 10 recollect.
and stu uncertain as TO final results The
city's name was clouded by those Hay