Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-09-30

We hDptuu huuEthheh ubnNtTNu Ou Aulb
memorable occasion.
Mr. TyIer's Address.
F6llow Citizens-I shall be Obliged 10 speak
to you briefly to-day and without the prepar-
alton that l desired TO make. Indeed, it
seems almost an intrusion to speak at all TO
the people Of this land to-day while they sit
in the shadow of this great calamity.
On the I'd day of July last the terrible news
flew over the wires TO every part Of the coun-
try, carrying dismay to every heart that the
Chief Magistrate of this nation had fallen by
the hand of an assassin. Later came the re-
port that his wound was not necessarily IA
tai; still later, the physicians declaration
that his recovery was probable Then fear
gave place to hope and hope inspired within
our hearts the almost certain belief that lac
would yet be spared to govern the nation.
Then came relapses, and the return of our
fears. AS last resort that marvellous Jour
ney to the seashore was taken in the vain
hope that the breezes from the sea would
bring to him healing on their wings. AT last
came the dreaded but not unexpected intelli-
gence, that the event which we lad most ear
nestly hoped and fervently prayed might be
averted, had occurred-that the heroic battle
which our brave President had for eighty
days fought, was over, and he was dead.
Never in the history of the world has there
been such universal and profound sorrow
shown for any man as is shown for Presi-
dent Garfield. People of all political parties,
of all nationalities, of all ranks in life mourn
for him, not only because he was President,
but as they would mourn for a father,
brother or a son. From Long Branch to
Washington and from Washington TO Ceve-
land, the track of the funeral train is strewn
with flowers, while hundreds of thousands,
81
and with uncovered and bowed heads do
honor to their dead chieftain. Nor is this
mourning confined to our own country.
From every civilized nation on the earth
come expressions of sincerest sympathy and
sorrow. The Kings Court of Belgium and
the Court of st. James 60 into mourning
The Queen sends tenderest messages of con-
dolence to the stricken wife and orders a
beautiful floral wreath to be placed upon the
coffin of her dead husband. These demon
STATIONS come, no doubt, in part from the
fact that he was President of a great nation,
and in part from the fact of his tragic DEATH
but they come also because the whole world
honored the man.
We, in common with the people of tho
whole country, have assembled to-day, to
pay our tribute of respect to his memory,
and, If we can, to gain some consolation for
our hearts and some lessons for our lives
from this saddest and cruelest event in all
| history.
General Garfield was highly distinguished
as a statesman and greatly respected as a
| man long before his nomination 10 the Presi-
| dency, but since then he has had u wonder
full hold upon the popular heart. The coun-
| try has had and now has wiser statesmen,
more brilliant political leaders, grander mill
| tary heroes. but it has had few public men,
think none besides Washington and Lincoln,
whom the people have so deeply loved.
In this country we have no hereditary rank,
and compared with the English people, but
| little hereditary wealth. Here, every one
has to make his own fortune and his own
fame. and the people look with pride upon
the man who fights his way from obscu-
rity up to high distinction. III New Eng
land we know nothing of the hardship and
privatiOn, almost destitution, that were Incl
dents of the lives of the pioneer settlers Of
| the West fifty years ago. Among those pio-
neers Garfield had his humble origin. He
was reared in a log cabin and his widowed
mother split rails with which 10 fence her
| little farm. His inheritance was good health,
good constitution and large, healthy, &C
tive brain. Necessity taught him habits OF
industry, frugality and temperance, and his
mother cultivated in his heart those religious
| principles and sentiments that characterized
and adorned his whole subsequent life. These
| qualities of body and mind and heart consti-
tuted the boys whole capital with which he
| set out to make his fortune in the world.
| But these alone might never have sent his
name beyond the limits of his own county
had he not also acquired a thirst for knowl-
edge and formed determination to become
a scholar. His labor in the field and shop
and on the tow-path was directed to one end,
namely, to earn money to pay for an educa-
/ 40 ~ i,
the little log school house. ct the Institute,
in Williams College, working and teaching
between terms TO earn money TO pay his way
| along, and knowing well what his education
| cost graduating with high honors and re-
turning with pride TO be professor and
| then president of his loved Hiram Institute /;
soon after, entering political life and the
| Senate of his state; then, when the war
broke out marching at the head Of his regi-
ment to the front, winning some of the most
| brilliant victories of the war, the pride OF
Rosecrans and Thomas, rising rapidly TO the
rank of Major General of volunteers, return
ing home near the close of the war in obedi-
ence TO the voice of his people and at Presi-
| dent Linooln's solicitation to take his seat in
| Congress, where for eighteen years he was a
most profound student of political history
and political economy, standing successfully
at the head of every important committee in
the House, its acknowledged leader, shaping
legislation, impressing the nation with his
wisdom and thrilling 1t with his matchless
eloquenee. Before his last term in the
House had expired he was elected TO the
Senate, and on the day when he would have
taken his seat in that body he was inaugu.
rated President of the United States. This Is
all familiar history, but on this occasion ii il
| well to repeat it as an example to all young
men Of noble daring and doing, the record OF
a noble life.
think one great secret of Garhelds pop
ulRrity and power lay in the fact that he was
of and for the people. Though, like Saul.
he lowered head and shoulders above them,
he knew their wants, and his great heart was
in full sympathy with them. He was brave
soldier, wise statesman, most eloquent or.
ator, and he was as simple and gentle as a
child. He had his faults, but they consisted
in this, that he was too unsuspicious too
magnanimous, sometimes too quick 10 forgive
a wrong. But say of him in the words OF
Emerson in his Representative Men, 81 count
him great man who inhabits higher sphere
thought into which other men rise with labor
and difficulty; he has but to open his eyes To
see things in true light and in large rela-
tons"
shall always delight to remember Presi-
dent Garfield as he stood on the grand plat
form on Inauguration day delivering his elo-
quent address TO the nation. He seemed to
me to have reached the summit of earthly
fame, and to be himself the impersonation OF
all that is noble and grand in man. Spleen
did in form and strength and beauty, happy
in the enjoyment of the friendship of the
wisest and best men of the age, supremely
blest in his wife and children and in his no.
| bic mother lust elevated bV tina VOiea of the