The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-10-06


not only the confidence, but the affecionate love o.
great lakes to the southern bays, everywhere, East
West, North and South, came one united expression
of confidence and good will. Excepting the COM
plainings of few disappointed demagogues uni
versal calm like the soft benedcton of the Prince
Peace, pervaded throughout the entire country.
In the midst of this profound repose, this quiet
hush Is heard the report of the assassns pistol Oh
my friends, what horrible conclusion! How cheeks
blanched and bosoms thrilled, and tears from eyes
unused to weep fell scalding How the lips quivered
and strong men moaned; how boding fear crept into
all hearts, and the foul end suspicion coiled about
our very souls. 1t was nations natal day,
and men, glowering, questioned,-will our country
expire upon the day of its birth? Then became
known the strength of the bond attaching the Presi
dent to his people, Our holiday robes converted
into the mourner's serge, every hearth became a
shrine, every heart an altar-men prayed who had
never prayed before-sorrow settled upon cities
and despair brooded over our hamlets.
Party chickering's became hushed-sectarian strife
silenced-discord disappeared from the light of day
the tongue of SANDER became parayzed and detrac-
ton closed her polluted lips, all awed by the majesty
of a nations grief.
The President, however, was not fated to meet a
sudden, painless death. Though mortally wounded
his fortitude yet tested by days of suffering,
and lingering nights of pain.
Surrounded by every appliance that affectionate
love could suggest, inventive genius apply, the
President lived until the first rash and dangerous ex-
citement consequent upon the attempt to take his
life had substantially given way to soberer counses.
Looking back the trials and doubts of these last
ninety days, who fails to the benefcence of Prov
dence whose guiding hand Mr.. Garfield always re-
cognized, in thus proonging life suddenly made so
valuable to the country?
But neither love genius could supply the ex-
hausted fountains fe and near the arch of night,
September 19th 1884, in great quiet, the suffering
stata tn "
from the far beyond received the emancipated soul,
and all that mortal of James A. Garfield was but
a corpse!
Such death! Where may we look for its counter
part? Not in the volume of history for history fur
nishes none such!
We are a christian people-this convocation lis one
in memory of who in life christian gentle
1t is theresore not irreverent for to look upon
that other great death scene, whose unapproachable
sublimity is the warrant of the worlds redemption.
There surrounding the innocent victim of perjure
witnesses, and corrupted court are the appliances
suggestive of suffering-the rude cross the mailed
soldiers; the torturing crown of thorns; the
rude spikes driven through the quiving hands
and feet; the intense and dreadful anguish of
body arising from being suspended for hours
by these wounded and bleeding members; an
guish that finally reached its limit and forced the
parched lips to exclaim, my God, My God why hast
Thou forsaken me!" cry whereat nature startled,
and shook through all her parts the sun was extn-
guished In mid heaven intense darkness smote upon
every eye the earth throbbed with incessant earth
quake and from their tombs came forth the dead of
past centuries walked through the streets of Je
rusalem clad in the garments of the grave, and at
sight of all these wonders the heather exclaim,
'Surey tits God that dies!" Yes, my friends the
Christians God. The adored of our late revered
President thus died to reconcile the world unto him
ward His follower and servant the President of the
United States of America died a christian should
die calmly trusting. Died it has been said by one
for reconciliation, to reconcile unto each other
James A. Garfield was the embodiment of our ad-
civilization. meek christian, ripe scholar,
a chiyalrous soldier, sagacious statesman and wise
ruler he was the eptome of the highest progress.
Why snould he have been down in his usefulness
The question is unanswerable. OF the causes which
lead to his untmely fate does not become us here
to speak. Let rather with more hope of profit
peruse the lesson which it furnishes 1t teaches
that no position can be obtained however elevated
that beyond the assaults of envy. 1t teaches us
that in this solemn moment all differences should be
forgotten, and all maevoence buried, when we come
to perform these solemn duties, and from this hour
my friends may become better citizens than we
have hitherto been. Here in the of the
mighty shade of iustrious dead, let us resolve
be obedient to the laws, grateful to Creator
faithful to country and fraternal to our fellow
forget chickering's and strife, cease our SLAM
derous attacks upon fellows and become what the
President did so much DESIRE united people, Teach
ourselves the great lessons of honesty, purity and
patriotism the duty of acting for country and not for
self and thus render future assassinations impossi-
BILE. Let all the living throughout entire domain
profit by this terrible visitation, and should honesty
become the rule the future historian when coming to
treat of this to sad event. will be to trace the
effects and point the and to show that the
death of President Garfe1dwas benefit to the good
of humanity, and that the blood of this great
popular ruler fertized the roots of the tree of lib