The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-21
WHEN eARFIeLo WAS SHOT.

WHEN GARFIELD WAS SHOT.
The prompt receipt OF news Of the clos
ing OF foreign exchanges. and Of messages
OF sympathy and confidence from al
over the world in connection with the as
impressed no one here more strongly than
]. K Upton. who was assistant secretary
Of the treasury az the time 81 Garfield s
assassination, writes q Washington cor
respondent Of the New York Evening
Post re had been sent abroad 10 ef-
bonds at lower rates CT interest and 70
carry out Secretary Window "exten-
si0n" plan. Garfield was shot on SaIgr-
day. and on that night Mr.. Cpton's ship
arrived in the Mersey. but the passengers
we're not allowed Il land until the next
morning. one Of the younger members
OF the D-exel family Of bankers. who
were interested in the bond transactions
as financial agents Of our government
abroad. met Mr.. Upton as ne landed. and
responded 10 an inquiry Tor news with
the statement that there was an Hide
fined rumOr in circulation that the presi-
dent Of the United States had been shot
when did this occur2' inquired Mr.
Upton.
some time yesterday answered aIr
Drexel but further than thar I know
nothing. and / have no authority even
for the report.
AT the Liverpool hotel where they
breai1fasted, an effort was made TO learn
some news, but 70 no effect L being
Sunday, 10 newspapers were published in
Liverpool. and there was no evidence in
the streets that any one had heard Of the
occurrence OF an unusual event. TIE par
u took g train Tor London. aad ~ Rugby
Junction mr. Upton made another effcrt
70 fnd out something. only 10 be bafsled
again. 1t the telegraph Office the oper-
ator was questioned, but said that no
word concerning the reported murder had
passed over his wire. This put the whole
party in good spirits. ard they had q
great deal OF fun at Mr.. DrexeI's expense
as . promulgator OF false and sensational
rumors.
Arriving at London. the party found ev-
erything as quiet as usual except for
one solitary neWsbcy at the station cry
ing the tidings. But tor that, the party
might have given the subject no further
thought Mr.. Upton visited the legation
at once for the purpose Of paving his re-
spects and having q short talk with Min
lister Lowell. There he found 2 few Off
ciaI DISPATCHES received by cable out
linirg the story of the tragedy. 1t was
not till the next day hiatt London seemed
TO wake up TO what had happened, and
even then il did not fairly realize what
the assassination meant The stock mar
ket felt the shock most. prices of railroad
securities falling of seriously, and tax
ing some little time tc recover; but the
bulk OF the people appeared 10 take com
paratiVely little interest in the event. OF
course. Mr.. Lowell had communicated
such news as had reached him 70 the
British government, few members OF
which called during Sunday TO make in
Quiries, and here and there some person
f...1 nod
news through this channel called also.
nong them being Baroness Burdett-
7utts
The Right Hon. Sir Stafford Northcote
was one of the visitors, and his interest
seemed centered less in the victim OF the
assassination than in the personality Of
the man who would succeed 10 the presi-
dency if Garfield died.
'fWhere does Mr.. Arthur stand on the
financial question: he asked With s"me
anxiety.
II do not know positively" answered
Mr.. Upton. 'as I have never cOnversed
with him on that subject. although OIL
oially and socially / have seen good
deal OF him. From his general surround
ings and habit Of thought / should feel
pretty confident that ne would favor sus-
tanning the single gold standard.
Sir Stafford seemed pleasantly impress-
ed by this statement. and then asked
about Mr.. Arthur's views on the tariff
question.
sAs a Republican. he is Of course a
protectionist.' said Mr.. Upton but va
rious things he has said lead me 70 be
lieve that he is not very radical high
tariff man. He probably assents 10 pro-
lection as a general policy, but believes
that IL is possible TO carry il too far
Again Sir Stafford seemed gratiied.
Then. as if his questions had been ar
ranged with reference 10 climax. he put
the third:
Pray. where does he stand on the Irish
question:
Il must plead ignorance on that was
the answer II doubt very much whether
MIR. Arthur knows anyth ~ about the
irish question or has ever given 1t mo-
ment's thought"
The British statesman's face fell as
suddenly as IL had before frightened. he
stared a. Mr. Upton with q look wHich
was half establishment and half suspl-
cious incredulity. To his mind, the irish
question was the greatest one before the
world at that moment. He could not
conceive Of a mans becoming president
of the United States who had not studied
il and settled in his own mind the policy
to be pursued. Mr.. Arthur did learn
something about the Irish question later
in his career, as the state department
correspondence FOR lSS3-b4 VIII attest.
What a wonderful change has come
over the face OF things IN twenty years,
Mr.. Upton remarked to your correspond
ent, in recalling these memories. Is
shown BY the general interest Of the
British people IN the attack on President
Mckinley It would have been Impossible
TO enter Liverpool or London the day
after the assault ar Buffalo and NOS have
the story ringing IN your ears from eT-
cry side IL this change the result or
improved means Of communication. or has
the United States government become 50
r,uch more important IN the eyes of her
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