Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-07

IUe VI nv ~
ON the morning of the 10Th of April,
1865. Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio. moved an
adjournment of the House of Represen-
tst,ves in view of the awful event of the
night before, and in support of his mo-
ton made a most eloquent speech, in
the course of which he said: at was no
one man who killed Abraham Lincoln;
it was the embodied spirit of treason IN
spired with fearful and despairing hate
If Mr.. Garfield ever really believed
what his words convey it is more than
likely that he has long since abandoned
that belief. the expression of which ar
raigned noble and chivalric people for
responsibility for the brutal act of Booth.
If he treasures that belief he will prove
himself unworthy of the warm
sympathy and unfeigned re-
gret which that people, with
wondrous spontaneity and singular
unanimity, have FASTENED to convey to
him and his afflicted family. If proof
were needed that the South is welded to
the unity and welfare of the republic 1t
would be demonstrated to her most
bigoted defamers by the hearty, honest
and manly tributes that have gone out
from our people to the stricken Execu-
tive.
1t was not for anything that he had
done to awaken their admiratiOn-tbough
his splendid courage in his agony has
begotten everywhere respect-that our
people spoke and acted as they did. 1t
was because the foremost citizen of the
republic was stricken down by a cow
ardly assassin and the blow aimed at
him menaced the republic itself. 1t
was for this reason that, as the diretul
tidings flashed from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande, the'enormity of the deed and
the perils of the crisis rose
before the mind of the South and called
forth universal condemnation of the as
sassin and his aims. Every word utter
ed came from the Southern heart and
fell with resistless force upon the ears OF
those who fain would misjudge the
wishes, the feelings and the character
Of our people.
If James A. Garfield dies their touch
ing tributes will prove to the men OF TO-
day and to the latest generations the 10y
atty of the men whose only crime was
that they fought for the rights of Ameri-
can citizenship. If be lives, and that he
may is the prayer of our people, he must
Judge them rightly. The promises OF
his inaugural were hailed by them as
omens that augured well for
the future of the republic, and
his course has afforded satisfaction and
awakened lively interest. Should he
be spared to his country the peril he
ran will lend strength to him in his
undertakings, and, unless the signs are
wofully: misleading, it may be that his
administration will mark an
era of good feeling, like
the one of old, during which the welfare
and grandeur of the republic were SC
largely promoted. The day that sees
him restored in the vigOr of health and
the measure of his powers will see the
death of stalwartism, the bane Of unity
fellowship and good government. THAI
that day may be FASTENED is the sincere
prayer of the South.
We refrain from specializing on the
effects of his death. Should the crisis
come it will be met, and should the fel
spirit of faction seek to profit by thu
nations trial, the men who staked theil
all for the rights their fathers prizeC
would not be recreant to the heritage o
slow to move for its preservation.