Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-21
A Southern Orator.
On the Lessons of Garheld's Death.

On the Lessons of Garfield's Death. From Senator Terrill's Speech at Austin, Tex.l Truly the grave is a wonderful teacher. What sublime spectacle of restored conf-
 dence will this day present to future ages. He who, had he lived in vigorous health, had
 intended to meet those who were to commem-
 crate at Chattanooga on the last Wednesday the services of that army who with him once contended with the South in the ranks of war has finished this strange dream called life, and to-day, above his coffined clay, South united with the North in the bonds of common humanity and common aspiration pours forth the tribute of her great sorrow. From the Everglades of Florida to the Ohio river and from Richmond to the Rio Grande the village bells are tolling, and everywhere among all our people is felt the presence of @ common af1iction, when the South envelops herself in mourning and sheds her tears on the grave of the murdered Garfield, not be- cause he was better than other good men or wiser than other great men, but because he was the elected representative of the sover- eighty of united people. What shall keep that people from turning with lofty scorn from the placemen who live on social hate and clasping hands over the spot where
 chasm once was, but is no more? Loud ap-
 plause) What may be learned in the solitude
 of a northern graveyard this people are to-
 day learning at Garfeld's grave. It Is read
 ing the great lesson of common sympathy
 and a common aspiration which covers like
 mantle every section of this broad land. In
 a common sorrow it sees 8 common patriot
 ism, and in the sense of a common calamity
 it sees the universal consciousness of con-
 mon destiny.
 lam done, and yet there is something
 which had not intended to say which feel
 constrained to utter. But few days since,
 in company with Col. Andrews of Yazoo
 City, Miss, stood in the solitude of the
 cemetery where the citizens of the capital of
 Wisconsin bury their dead. Broken shaft
 and polished granite marked on the right
 hand and on the left where earth's children
 who had been favored by fortune slept; but
 on gentle slope, and neatly fenced away to
 themselves, I saw where each upon each 200
 sleepers rested. Natures carpet of living
 green rose in gentle waves over their rest.
 We asked whose graves are these, and the
 answer came, "They were soldiers of the
 South who died here in prison." A white
 board was at the head and foot of every sleep
 CT, on which was neatly painted his name
 and rank and stating the day of his death
 No noxious weed grew in that inclosure, but
 everything betokened gentle care, and near
 by was another bank of sleepers, whose
 graves gave evidence of just such care, save
 where some friend reared a monument. Then
 I asked, "Whose graves are these ?" and the
 answer came "These the Un1on dead of
 Dane county, slain in battle for the Union." Op0aklQR to Ou0 WHO WdS 5GeAA1AALS W41A uS l
 said q hear that no one of southern
 birth lives in Madison, and these confederate graves must look lonely on your Dec ration day ?" stNot so,' he answered, flor long ago Gov Washburn, when he had finished 8 speech on Decoration day, said The war of hate will never end till we learn to respect the memory of those who, right or wrong, died for their convictions. Let those who
 will follow ne, for I go to place wreath on
 confederate grave,' and with that, the
 whole of Madison rose and followed him."
 Prolonged cheering) Turning to look upon my companion as we stood in the gloaming of a northern evening, leaning on his crutch, he said as the tears dimmed his eye: s'Sir,
 we have misunderstood these people ;" and
 now, as often as spring, with her roses, her verdure, and her birds of song, comes to gladden. the earth and learn man that the great law of nature is love, not violence, the maids and matrons of Wisconsin with impartial hands deck with roses and ever- green our fallen dead. To-day the nation is learning at Garfeld's grave, concerning us, l just such lesson as I then read concerning one portion of the North, and thus does the l gentle influence of northern women, moving silent as the fall of the snowflake in the val
 ley at midnight, gentle as the dews of even- l ing, yet with the resistlsss powers of a | whirlwind, bring all men to understand that | our people will be one and again united. In | the language of the ilustrious dead, uttered
 when Lincoln fell .'sThe president is dead l but God reigns and the government lives. ?
 (Prolopged applause.)