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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3192, 21 September 1881, Page 2

The world had been prepared by the physicians' bulletins for the worst, and the cablegram announcing President Uarfield's death will take no one by surprise. From the first it was feared ; but that his wounds bad not proved quickly fatal it was hoped that he might still be spared to finish by a natural death an earthly career that was so full of promise to his country. It was a curious coincidence that, within a few weeks of each other, the rulers of the two largest territories in the world should have been struck down by the hands of assassins. The one an Emperor, and the autocrat of a military despotism

that knows net the name of liberty: the other a chosen by his fellowmen to be the thief ruler of the greatest republic the world has ever seen. Nothing coiiid be in stronger contrast thari tile coiididofa. df the two countries, ekcepL, perhaps, the rela ; ions of their rulers to their respective countrymen. Both have been murdered, but the cause was different. Tne Emperor of Russia was for political reasons ; thf death of Presidea-r G.'trfieM was brought ab;;:»t by a miserable wretch who wanted but could not obtain office. President Garfield owed bis election to a compromise arranged at the Chicago Convention; General Grant was withdrawn from the coutest J General Arthur, of the rival party to Gaifleld, was made Vice-Preei-dent, and the Spoils of office were to be shared between the two factions. The murderer ot the President belonged to General Arthur's party, and receiving no appointment, hoped to obtain a lucrative post by securing the President's chair for bis"political chief. None but a crazed mind could have conceived that reward would follow so revolting a crime, and the only consolation in this foul aiiirder is that the assassin was a madman.