National Republican., 1880-06-16
General Garfield on the Assassination OF
Lincoln.

General Garfield OH the Assassination of
Lincoln.
10 The Editor of The National Republican,:
SIR There are many of us who still re-
member the scenes aud incidents connected
with The assassination of Abraham Lincoln
The nomination for the presidency of tho
Hon. james A. Garfield calls to mind the fol-
lowing speech made by him in tho house of
representatives on the first anniversary of
that tragic event-April IL. 1866. Those who
listened to his eloquent words feel that thcro
is fitness in his oxaltaton to the chief mag.
istracy of this great nation, that tho consecra.
tion made in tho shadow Of that great sorrow
may yet DO fully consummatcd.
o. L. PREsDIEY:
On tho assembling of tho house the f4.h of
April, 1866, Nr Garfield moved, Immediately
after tho reading of the minutes. that tho
house adjourn, and said This day will be
sadly memorable 80 long as this nation shall
endure, which God grant may be till the last
syllable of recorded time, when the volume OF
human history shall he sealed up and delivered
TO the oanipOtent judge. In all future time
on the recurrence OF this day doubt not that
the citizcns Of this republic will meet in sol.
emu assembly to reflect on the liio and char.
actcr of Abraham Lincoln aud the awful
tragic evcmt of ApTil H. 1SG5-an event
unparalleled in the history of nations.
1t is emncnty proper that this house should
this day place upon its record n memorial of
that event The lust five years have boom
marked by wonderful developments of indi.
vidual character. ThOusauds OF our ppople
before unknown tn fame have taken their
places in history crowned with immortal
honors. In thousands of humble houses arc
Il rall pnl ,,.l,,
shall never die. But greatest among all these
great developments wore tho character and
famo Of Abraham Lincoln, whose loss tho ma
tion still dcplorcs His character is aptiy de-
scrbod in tbe words of England's great laureate
rs he traces tho step upwards OF some
"Divincly gifted man,
Whose Ii In low estate began,
And on simple Village green,
Who breaks his births !nyidiOuS bars,
And grasps the skirts OF happy chance
And breasts the blows OF circumstance
Aud Grnppes with his evil stars;
Who makes by force his moral known
And lives to clutch tho golden keys
10 mold mighty stntuS dccrcOs
And shape the whisper of the throne;
Becomes. on Fortunes CrOwning sope,
The pillar OF peoples hope.
The centre ofG worlds desire"
Such life and character will be treasured
forever MS tho sacred possession OF the Ameri.
can people and OF mankind. In the great
drama of tho rebellion there were two acts
Tho first was the war with its battles. its
sieges, victories and defeats, its SufItlings aud
tears, That act WAS closing ono year ago to.
night and just as the curtain was rising upon
new characters and now events, the OWL spirit
of rebellion in the fury of despair nervod aud
directed the hand of tho assassin to strike
down tho cbiet character in both acts. II was
no one man who killed Abraham Lincoln.
II was tho embodied spirit of treason aud sluy.
sry Insui rod with iauY!1l Inst,ns nsrN h,I,
that struck him down in the moment of the
nations suppmcst joy. An, sir, there are
times in the history Of men and nations when
they stand so near tho veil that separa les
uOrtals from tho iIDmOrtaIs, time from eteY-
nifty, aud mtn from their God, thai they can
almost hoar tho breohings ANA feel tho pulsa-
lions OF the heart of the Mhnite. Through
such a time has this nation passed. When
25OOOO brave spirits have passed from the
field OF honor through that thin veil to the
presence of God, aud when at last its parting
folds admitted the martyred president to The
company Of the dead heroes Of the republic,
tho nation stood so near the veil that the whis-
pers Of God We're heard by the children OF men.
Awe'stricllen by his voice. the American people
knelt iu fearful reverence and made solemn
covenant with God and each other that this
nation should bo saved from its enemies; that
all its gloriCs should be restored, and on the
ruins Of slavery aud treason tho temples OF
freedom and justice should be built and remain
forever. 1t remains for us consGcrated by that
great event and under that covenant with God,
to keep that faith, to go forward in the great
work until it shall bo completed. Following
the lead of that great m9n and obeying the
high behCStS OF God, let us remember
"Ho has sounded forth his trumpet that shall
never call retreat
lie Is sitting out the hearts of men before his judg.
neNt seat;
Be swift, my SOUL to answer HIM be jubiant my
feet
For God Is marching on"