The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-09-28

eDTenl Der 20, IooI
fields of our country and in the Halls OF
Congress- and as he recited the event ot the de-
ceased's nomination for the Presidency, the
congregation arose en- masse and remained
standing until the close Of the history of the
life and ,sufferings and death Of the distin-
guished President.
Judge j. w. Tattan then delivered the
following eloquent panegyric which was
listened 10 with hushed attention
My FRIENDS: We meet here this even
ing, in this mourning, this sacred edlhce, to
unite our prayers to the Almighty God, that
the light of Heaven may guide the soul OF
our martyr President, and that Divine assist
ance may attend, strengthen and direct the
grief ef-stricken family OF him, upon whose re-
mains, on this earth, the morroW's sun will
shed its last beam. The occasion s,indeed, ,oIe
of w-inexpressible sorroW-words fail
to picture it. The Nations son is dead
The Nations loss A faithful son, kind
husband, just father, trusted friend, a
noble man, true child and prototype of
free government has delivered up his life that
the Nation may live. His life is our history,
his death is our woe. True, he had been
amongst us for years and we knew him not,
save as we knew other men Of his distinguish
ed and exalted sphere. But in his long and
weary weeks Of patient suffering he has re-
yealed to us his inner life, and we see in him,
truly, one Of Gods noblest works.
During his long struggle against the fatal
ty of the assassin's bullet our hearts, flowing
with sympathy, affection, homage and rev
erence, went out unto him. Kings, queens,
princes, and potentatea, Lords and Commons,
believers ind unbelievers, Jew and gentle
united withus in sympathy with our wounded
President. And to-day all the nations OF the
Earth gather with us around the open tomb
to do homage and reverence to his memory.
The ways of the Great Ruler Of Heaven
and OF earth are wonderous and mysterious.
And well may we reflect upon the thought
Why should this life SO dear to rs be sacri-
feed Why should this life so valuable to
mankind be so ruthlessly swept away Was
it necessary that this sacrifice should be
made? A few short months since and we
were enveloped in bitterness, strife and pas
sion. The President recognized it, and he
was grieved that it was so. And at a late per
od Of his suffering, after having undergone
such pain and anguish that no ordinary NOR
tai could have Withstood, he inquiries, lis it
worth the struggle" If his spirit could look
down upon this world to-day the response
would be found full and complete-the end
is worth the struggle. It is, my friends, and
let us pray that 1t may not pass away as
would mere feeting fancy; let us pray that
the sufferings and anguish of the past eleven
weeks have not been without reward, and
lhat our noble President has not been sacri-
feed in vain. Yes !! To-day the bonds of
oin bn;f
tightly drasvn the strife of sections and of
factions has been healed the bitterness Of
the Immediate past has been obliterated, and
onr hearts have been indissolubly cement
ed into our common love for our one COM
mon country Yes ! This sacrifice, for it's
atonement, has revealed to the world how 3
self-governing people can cast aside the diff
ferences of politics, party, sections and
creeds, in their grief for their chosen ruler
it has proven to us that here law is perman-
ent ana order is supreme, and that the rights
Of the people Of this great Republic are Sc
cure, even il the presence of the direst ca
lamitY, and it has taught US that sectional
and political strife will blend in the spirit of
patriotism, in supp)ication and prayer for
our country's welfare Thank God, that the
life Of our President has not PASSED as would
whitening blight; thank God, that James
ADTaIu SIaIutu HAS not .ulGu LII Ndiu.
In the long and honored career of Presi-
dent Garfield there are efforts, works and
triumphs, which, hereafter, will fill one Of
the brightest pages of history. But the clos
ing scenes Of his life, the height of the relig-
ious, sublime, far transcends in interest the
brightest exploits Of his public career. The
serenity with which he stood in the presence
OF Death, without fear or falter, for hours,
days, and weeks Of expectation; the affec-
tlonate and solemn anxiety for his mother,
his wife, his children and his friends; the
thoughtfulness for the public business when
the sands OF life were so nearly run out. He
had no regret, no sorrow, no remorse, no
fear; but, alas, he could not shake the dews
of death that gathered on his brow, he could
not pierce the thick shades before him, yet
he knew that eternity lay close by the shores
of time, he knew that his Redeemer liVeth-
IF my time has come, | am ready to die.
Gods will be done, were the words of our
good and noble President spoken but few
short hours before he was called upon to
meet the Great Ruler.
Of these scenes we shall not readily find
the equal angels might we'll have drawn
aside the curtains of the skies to look down
upon them. They are scenes not to be re-
called without reverence, scenes over which
the tears Of sympathy VII be she'd for ages
after the glories of the forum and the senate
are forgotten.
.'Hs sn1ferings ended with the day,
Yet lived he at its close;
And breathed the long, long eve away,
III statne-like repose
But ere the sun, in all his state,
Iumed the eastern skies,
He passed thro' Glory's morning gate,
And walked in Paradise.
The genius Of President Garfield has passed
ia tho realrna of Iinhf hiaf Iaio rr;rt,1na l;a,o