The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-08
WORK OF ASSASSINS
THREE PRESIDENTS OF THE
UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN
SHOT DOWN
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
tne Previous Tragedies Caused Con-
gress to Provide for Success
sion to the Office of
President.

WASHINGTON, Sept Three presi-
dents OF the United States have fallen
at the hands Of the assassin within the
last forty-six years. President Lincoln
was shot at 8 O'Clock on the night Of
April A. 1865: died at 7:22 on the morn
Ing OF April 10, 1865. President Garfield
was shot on the morning of July .. 1881,
and after lingering illness died on Sept.
20 1881 re,- -s
The shooting of President Mckinley
has occurred just six months and two
days after his second accession TO the
presidency. 5t--
From the moment Pres. dent Lincoln re-
ceived the bullet of Wilkes Booth there
was no prospect of his recovery His
devoted wife and members of his cabinet
remained with him through that NOM
orable night when all Wash ngton was m
a fever of excitement over the attempts
on the life of Lincoln and Of Seward.
President Garfield was shot at the
Pennsylvania railroad depot in Washing
ton as he and Secretary Blaine Were
about to depart for Long Branch As
the two distinguished men were passing
through the ladies' waiting room two pis-
tol shots rang cut on the air Mr.. Blaine
saw man running and started toward
him, but Immediately saw the president
lurch forward and fall. A moment after
war, the assassin, Charles J. Guiteau.
was bound and was rescued with difficult
ty from the infUr.ated mob. When in
answer to his eager questions his phys
icians informed him that he had one
chance in a hundred of living, he said
calmly and bravely: Then, doctor we
will take that chance
DEATH OF JAMES A. GARFIELD.
Gen. Arthur was at New York when
the news reached him late at night that
the president had passed away Among
those who joined Gen. Arthur at that
solemn moment were Eihu Root now d
member of the Mckinley cabinet Mr.
Blaine and his associates of the Garfield
cabinet had telegraphed Gen. Arthur to
take the oath of Office. At o'clock on
the morning of Sept. q, Gen. Arthur took
the oath of Office, which was administer
ed by local official of the city Of New
York.
The course pursued during the lingering
illness of President Garfield appears TO be
precedent directly applicable to the
present condition of affairs. President
Garfield was without doubt incapitated
to perform any duty, although he was
himself in a certain sense There was
no acting president at this period. and
in fact the people did not desire one dur
ing such a critical emergency
The lessons Of Gartleld's death led to
the enactment of law on jan 10, 1856
providing a mode of succession to the
presidency. This established that in
case of the death or disability of both
the president and vice president the sue
cession should devolve upon members of
the cabinet in the following order:
Secretary Of state. secretary of the
treasury, secretary of war, attorney gen.
erai, postmaster general, secretary of the
navy secretary of the interior.
The new law made no construction of
disability" An important provisO Of
this law is that whenever the powers and
duties of the presidency shall devolve
upon any of the persons named; that is,
the vice president or members Of the cab
met, if congress shall not be then in
session, or if it would not meet within
twenty days, then it shall be the duty of
the new president to issue a proclama-
ton converting congress in extraordinary
session, giving twenty days notice of the
time of meeting.