ondition of
the President and my reluctance to speak; I said:

"Fellow-Citizens:--I am requested by the Republican state committee
to make a political speech to you to-night, in opening here the
usual discussion that precedes the election of a governor and other
state officers. If I felt at liberty to be guided by my own
feelings, I would, in view of the present condition of the President
of the United States, forego all political discussion at this time.

"The President is the victim of a crime committed without excuse
or palliation, in a time of profound peace and prosperity, not
aimed at him as an individual, but at him as the President of the
United States. It was a political crime, made with the view of
changing, by assassination, the President chosen by you. It has
excited, throughout the civilized world, the most profound horror.
The President has suffered for more than two months, and is still
suffering, from wounds inflicted by an assassin. His life still
hangs by a thread. The anxious inquiry comes up morning, noon and
night, from a whole people, with fervid, earnest prayers for his
recovery.

"Under the shadow of this misfortune, I do not feel like speaking,
and I know you do not feel like hearing a political wrangle. It
is but just to say that the members of all parties, with scarce an
exception, Democrats as well as Republicans, share in sympathy with
the President and his family, and in detestation of the crime and
the criminal, and the evidence of this sympathy tends to make
political dispute irksome and out of place."

I then entered into a general discussion of the issues of the
campaign. Soon after the close of my speech I received intelligence
of the death of Garfield, and at once revoked all my appointments,
and by common consent both parties withdrew their meetings. Thus
mine was the only speech made in the campaign. I immediately went
to Washington with ex-President Hayes to attend the funeral, and
accompanied the committee to the burial at Cleveland. The sympathy
for Garfield in his sad fate was universal and sincere. The
inauguration of President Arthur immediately followed, and with it
an entire change of the cabinet.

CHAPTER XLIV.
BEGINNING OF ARTHUR'S ADMINISTRATION.
Special Session of the Senate Convened by the President--Abuse of
Me by Newspapers and Discharged Employees--Charges Concerning
Disbursement of the Contingent Fund--My Resolution in the Senate--
Secretary Wi