ng to your view, then, the species of fanaticism
taught in sectarian Christianity, by which Guiteau was led to assert
that Garfield dead would be better off then living--being in Paradise
--is more responsible than office seeking or political factionalism
for his deed?

_Answer_. Guiteau seemed to think that the killing of the President
would only open the gates of Paradise to him, and that, after all,
under such circumstances, murder was hardly a crime. This same
kind of reasoning is resorted to in the pulpit to account for death.
If Guiteau had succeeded in killing the President, hundreds of
ministers would have said, "After all, it may be that the President
has lost nothing; it may be that our loss is his eternal gain; and
although it seems cruel that Providence should allow a man like
him to be murdered, still, it may have been the very kindest thing
that could have been done for him." Guiteau reasoned in this way,
and probably convinced himself, judging from his own life, that
this world was, after all, of very little worth. We are apt to
measure others by ourselves. Of course, I do not think Christianity
is responsible for this crime. Superstition may have been, in part
--probably was. But no man believes in Christianity because he
thinks it sanctions murder. At the same time, an absolute belief
in the Bible sometimes produces the worst form of murder. Take
that of Mr. Freeman, of Poeasset, who stabbed his little daughter
to the heart in accordance with what he believed to be the command
of God. This poor man imitated Abraham; and, for that matter,
Jehovah himself. There have been in the history of Christianity
thousands and thousands of such instances, and there will probably
be many thousands more that have been and will be produced by
throwing away our own reason and taking the word of some one else
--often a word that we do not understand.

_Question_. What is your opinion as to the effect of praying for
the recovery of the President, and have you any confidence that
prayers are answered?

_Answer_. My opinion as to the value of prayer is well known. I
take it that every one who prays for the President shows at least
his sympathy and good will. Personally, I have no objection to
anybody's praying. Those who think their prayers are answered
should pray. For all who honestly believe this, and who honestly
implore their Deity to watch over, protect, and save the life of
the President, I have