The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-10-26
A BLACK PAGE IN AMERICAN
HISTORY
(By NJ. H. j.

mother who sat on the rostrum and
witnessed the Inauguration of her son
as President of the United States.
On the evening of that day, at the
six o'clock dinner at the White House,
Grandma was one of the guests at
the table, and naively made the query,
''Now we can have a cow, can't we?''
While faint smile rippIed across, the
faces of the guests, the President
answered, eyes, mother, now we can
have a cowp'
The prize Of GarfeId's nomination
to the presidency was the result of an
awkward contretemps at Republican
convention, which proved a blow to
the lifelong ambition of John Sher-
man who deserved the nomination by
the sO-called political scheme of SEN
iority, that is to say, he was one of
! our eminent statesmen who could
claim by warrant of service the re-
wards of his country. But he lacked
the quality of personal popularity;
| the scoffer called him an icicle, the
recognized opposite of his brother,
"Old Tecump," the brilliant general
He was not a good mixer in the
| popular sense, like Jim Blaine, and
his enemies remembered that he had
made a fortune on the rise in whiskey
during the civil war
The nomination was a tragic event
for Garfield, recalled with penetrat-
ing anguish to this day.
| He was a capable military COM
mander, the trusted confidential ad-
wiser of the government at the head
quarters of General Rosecranz; he
was an eloquent orator, a statesman,
a wise and good man, typical Amer
lean patriot, of the high-class upon
which the government leaned in the
heroic days of our history, man of
: absolute integrity and purpose, he
took up the reins of government,
backed by the God-speed of the ma
ton, he richly deserved all that good
fortune could bring him.
We remember what manner of man
he was; how he grasped the glittering
prize and was plunged to the bottom
of a frightful abyss; he enjoyed few
brief glorious days when he rode life's
topmOst wave.
We could confidently claim that he
would have proved one of the ablest
| executives our government has ever
had; he laid the foundation of a COM
petent cabinet at the head of which
was a brilliant Secretary of State,
+ Jmes G. Blaine.
The opening months of his admin
istration were full of promise, the
masses of our people were confident.
inspired by a rising industrial pros
perity.
And the people wanted to see the
, new President and become acquaint-
ed, and an invitation was extended
him to meet the people on a notable
occasion and preparations for depart
ure from the White House were
made, and with pleasurable anticipa-
tions the Executive and his Secretary
were conveyed to the Union Station.
President Garfield was an arresting
figure physically; striking presence
, in any crowd.
would that it were possible for me
to stop short at this point in this mar
rationI But no!
Charles Giteau with premeditated
, murder in his heart and a gun in his
hand, eagerly sought the opportune
, moment; it came quickly; the Presi-
dent and his Secretary came into the
open, in the foyer of the station, and
! the brutal crime was done.
A thrill of horror passed over the
wires of the nation and across the
seas to all nations.
The high hopes and worthy ambi-
tions of a great career were suddenly
quenched.
The Preident was borne back to the
White House; he questioned the sur
geon in attendance; one chance in
ten was the answer; with firmness
and high courage the President
answered, eve viii take that chance"
Consulting surgeons, distinguished
in their profession, studied the wound
and the probabilities of the patient;
weary weeks passed, and the nation
went down on its knees in supplica-
ton; there was no sign Of healing by
first intention" as the surgeons
phrase puts it, and the President was
removed to the sea shore; the stalwart
frame succumbed at last and the na-
ton, clothed in weeds, followed the
remains TO the rotunda of the Capitol;
his old friends and colleagues Of the
cs.I - - e1l