Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-10-31

ODE Mistake Of GNiteaN

Chicago Reco,d-Herald.

+ ! i
1t was shortly after the assassination
of President Garfield and While Chas.
j. Guiteau was waiting execution that
Robert G. Ingersoll, meeting Dr. ID. q.
Rush on Pennsylvania avenue, Wash
ington, said to him:
Doctor I've got to the bottom of
this Guiteau business, and | think the
government has also am we'll salts
fled that Guiteau never intended TO Kill
Garfield, or even to wound him. He
fired at James G. Blaine and intended
to kill Blaine. That Garfield got the
bullet was simply one of those extra
ordinary happenings wherein it seems
as il the fates oNerruleu the Will OF
man"
DIR. Rush knew Ingersoll we'll and APP
preciated his extraordinary capacity
for research and investigation. He
pressed him for further explanation of
the matter. The two men found a
lounging place, and the great orator
began his story.
You know as we'll as l do DOCTOR
he said. that during the Gapfld- Han
cock campaign Guiteau was one of the
most favored men at national head
quarters. He seemed to have more
pull and drag around the old Fifth
Avenue hotel than even senators or
congressman. His impudence was SUI
perb. His ability to impress those
whom he met casually With the idea
that the success of the campaign de-
pended upon him was extraordinary.
when he first made his appearance
nt national headquarters II some one
had sympathetically but firmly taken
him by the shoulders and kicked him
into the street the trgedy of July would
probably never have taken place. But
you know how things are in headquar-
tiers in the heat of the fight. Every
body counts for something until the
votes are in. The Sitting of individuals
does not come until after the ballot
ing.
.In consequence of this Guiteau
without any merit without amy partic-
ular knowledge of the situation, with
out the control of single vote in the
country but his own, became an object
of Importance at headquarters. He
could work his way into any private
room, he could buttonhole any promi-
'nent man, he could secure u hearing
where either of us might have had t.
cool our heels for day.
1.-The result was the man, never bal
anced of mind, gained a false impress
sion of his own Importance, which wa:
to prove his own undoing and the
working of frightful wrong upon tn,
people He began to talk loudly o.
what he proposed to do If the repub
licans won the day. He spoke mys
teriously Of certain connections Which
he hoped to have with the state depart
ment IL republican secretary con
trolled it. He said frankly that moth
ing but a profitable consulship would
satisfy him, and declared that prom
Uses had been made him that he SHOULD
be so taken care of.
II do not doubt that such promises
We're made to him by thoughtless per
sons-even by persons who, if they hat
been speaking seriously. could have Sc
cured for Guiteau what he desired
Some public men, to get rid of bores
regard 1t as justifable policy to prom
Use them anything. But this polio.
had more to do with Garfield's dealt
than anything else. Guiteau took ever!
promise made him seriously. He wa
convinced that he was to be with eithe
the diplomatic service in London o
Paris, and that he would be one of tn
most important representatives of TIL
state department abroad,
He told this to a number of person
In New York city after the election. AM
they smiled and did not disillusioniz
him. They even thought 1t was CAPT
tai joke. and have no doubt some o
them. for the fun of the thing, encour
aged him In the idea. Guiteau did no
know Garfield, and never espresso,
particular hostility toward him unit!
after the latter was shot down. II
psyer. In my opinion, gave Garfield