Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-09
GARFTELD'S PO WEIR.


lfIom Ine Clnclnnau Gazette.l
The following reminiscence of Gen. Gar
fields power during the greatest crisis the
country ever passed through, has been furn-
ished US by distinguished gentleman who
was present, and shows the intellectual and
moral power of the Republican nominee for
the Presidency over a surging and maddened
crowd
II shall never forget the first time I saw
| General Garfield. 1t was the morning after
President Lincoln'B assassination. The coun
try was excited to its utmost tension, and
New York City seemed ready for the scenes
of the Fraich Revolution. The intelligence
of Lincoln's murder had been flashed by the
| wires over the whole land. The newspaper
| headlines Of the transaction were set up in
the largest type, and the high crime was ON
every ones tongue Fear took possession of
.men's minds as to the fate of the Govern
ment, for in few hours the news came on
that Stewards throat was cut and that at
tempts had been made upon the lives of 9TH
| ers OF the Government officers. Posters were
stuck up everywhere, in great black letters
calling upon the loyal citizens of New York,
Brooklyn, Jersey CITY and neighborine
places, to meet around the Wall Street Ex-
change and give expression to their senti-
ments. 1t was u dark and terrible hour.
What might come next no one could tell, and
men spoke with bated breath The wrath of
the workingmen was simply uncomfortable,
and revolvers and knives were in the hands
of thousands of Lincoln's friends, ready at
the first opportunity to take the law into
their own hands and avenge the death of the
Inariyred President upon any and all who
dared to utter n word against him."
Eleven O'Clock A. NJ. was the hour set for
the rendezvous. Fifty thousand people
crowded around the Exchange Building,
examining and jamming the streets, and
wedged i'll tight as men could stand together
With few to whom a special favor was ex-
tended, went over from Brooklyn, at A. NJ,
and, even then, with the utmost difficulty,
found way to the reception room for the
speakers in the front of the Exchange Build
ing, and looking out upon the high and mas
sive balcony, whose front was protected by
heavy iron railing. We sat in solemnity and
silence, waiting for General Butler, who, it
was announced, had started from Washing
ton and was either already in the city or ex-
pected every moment. Nearly hundred
generals, judges, statesmen lawyers, editors,
cergymen, and others, were in that room
waiting Buffers arrival. We stepped out to
the balcony TO watch the fearfully solemn
and swaying mass of people Not hurrah
was heard, but for the most part dead silence,
or deep, ominous mutteriDg ran like ris-
ing wave up the street toward Broadway, and
again down toward the river on the right
''At length the batons of the police were
seen swinging in the air, far up on the left,
parting the crowd and pressing it back to
make way for a carriage that moved slowly
and with difficult jogs, through the compact
multitude. Suddenly the silence was broken,
and the cry of Butler Butler Butler = rang
out with tremendous and thrilling effect, and
was taken up by the people. But not hur-
rah Not once , 1t was the cry of great peo-
pie, asking to know how their President died.
The blood bounded in our veins, and the
tears ran like streams down our faces How
it was done l forget, but Butler was pulled
through, and pulled up, and entered the
room, where we had Just walked back to
meet him. A broad Grape, yard long, hung
from his left arm-terrible contrast with the
countless flags that were waving the nations
victory in the breeze. We first realized then
the truth of the sad news that Lincoln was
dead. When Butler entered the room we
shook hands. Some spoke, some couldn't.
All were in tears. The only word Bntler had
for us all at the first break of the silence was:
Gentlemen, he died in the fulness of his
fame" (" and as he spoke it his lips quivered,
and the tears ran fast. down his cheeks.
"Then, after q few moments, came the
speaking. And you can imagine the effect,
as the Grape huttered in the wind while his
arm was uplifted. Dickinson, of New York
State, was fairly wild. The old man leaped
over the iron railing of the balcony and stood
ON the very edge overhanging the crowd,
gesticulating in the most vehement manner,
and next thing to bidding the crowd burn up
the rebel seed, root and branch, while a by
stander held on to his coat-tails to keep him
from falling over. By this time the wave of
popular indignation had swelled to its crest.
Two men lay bleeding on one of the side
streets, the one dead, the other next to dy-
ing; one ON the pavement, the other in the
gutter. They had said moment before that
Lincoln ought to have been shot long ago.
They were not allowed TO say it again. Soon
two long pieces of scantling stood out above
the heads of the crowd crossed at the top
like the letter Y, and looped halter pendent
from the junction, dozen men following its
slow motion through the masses, while Ven
gcance = was the cry.
"On the right, suddenly, the shout rose,
'IHe World p Tie ,YOrLdP The Office of
The WOrldP World! World = and move
ment of perhaps S, 600 or 10, 600 turning their
faces in the direction of that building began
to be executed. II was a critical moment
What might come no one could tell did that
crowd get in front of that office. Police and
military would have availed little or been too
late. A telegram had just been read from
Washington, Seward is dying Just then,
at that juncture, man stepped Toward with
a small flag in his hand, and beckoned to the
crowd. Another telegram from Washing
TOM And then, in the awful stiffness of the
crisis, taking advantage of the hesitation of
the crowd, whose steps had been arrested
moment, a right arm was lifted skyward, and
a voice clear and steady, loud and distinct,
spoke out Fellow citizens Clouds and
darkness are round about Him His paVil-
ion is dark waters and thick clouds of the
skies Justice and judgment are the estab-
lishment of His thronel Mercy and truth
shall go before His face Fellow citizens
God reigns, and the Government at Washing
ton still lives"
The effect was tremendous. The crowd
stood rveted to the ground in awe, gazing at
the mOtionless orator, and thinking of God
and the security of the Government in that
hour. As the boiling wave subsidies and set
ties to the sen when some strong wind beats
it down. so the tumult of the people sank and
became still. All took it as a divine omen.
1t was a triumph of eloquence, inspired by
the moment, such as falls to but one mans
lot, and that but once in a century. The ge-
MUS of Webster, Choate, Everett, Seward,
never reached it. Demosthenes never equal
ed it. What might have happened had the
surging and maddened mob been let loose
none can tell. The man for the crisis was on
the spot, more potent than Napoleon's guns
at Paris. l inquired what was his name.
The answer came in q low whisper, 1T Is
General Garfield, of Ohio" Tt
A day or two ago, as colored boot-black