The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-07

that makes his loss so hard to bear, and to
which we cannot become reconciled.
But with our grief there mingles feeling
of pride, if not of JOY, that our country, the
land we love, should have produced such
man. t
General Garfield was indeed typical
American, man well worthy of imitation
and emulation. Born, in obscurity and
poverty, on the 10Th day of November, 1881,
dying on the 10Th day of September, 1881,
he lacked Just two months of living out the
half century.
Notwithstanding the obstacles with which
he had to contend. by his own persever-
ance and indomitable will, he succeeded in
acquiring fine education. and at the age of
twenty-six we find him occupying the re-
sponsible position of President of Hiram
College, at which institution he had formerly
been a pupil, which station he continued to
hold until the beginning of the war in 1861.
About the time of his assumption of the
duties of College President, he began to take
part in political matters, and soon acquired
a local fame as an orator. and eventually be-
came, as we all know, enc of the greatest if
not the greatest orator of his day and age.
When the war broke out in 1861, General
Garfield was filing seat in the Senate of
the State of Ohio, and his voice was there
heard, as at all times thereafter in earnest
advocacy of the Union cause, and in stern
condemnation of treason and rebellion.
On the 14th day of August, 1861, he was
rendered the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the
42nd Ohio Volunteers, which he accepted,
and then and there he entered upon his
military career. and subsequently proved
himself to be an able, brave and trustworthy
officer. As a fitting recognition of his
Brigadier General ON the 10th day of Jan
uary, 1862 His brilliant military career
eliminated on the bloody field of ,Chicamau-
ga, where, for gallant and meritorious con-
duct, he was promoted to the rank of Major
General. Having been nominated by his
fellow citizens for Congress, he resigned his
commission in the army and returned home
to begin his subsequently bright career as a
statesman.
Triumphantly elected, he entered upon his
duties in Congress, where he soon gained a
reputation as one of the leading men of the
nation. He represented his district con-
tinually for II years.
In 1880 he was elected to the United
States Senate, aa a successor to Allan Ct.
Thurman, and on the 10th day of June of
that year he was, most Unexpectedly to him
self, nominated to the highest office in the
gift of his fellow citizens, the Chief Magis-
tracy of nation of fifty millions of souls.
On the 4th day of March last he entered
upon the duties of the proudest position on
earth, and that too, with what appeared to
be the appreciation of all his fellow citizens
regardless of party or section, and a univer
sal hope was felt and expressed, that it was
his hand that was to lead the nation into an
era of prosperity and good feeling, in which
the last traces of the passions and prejudices
and forgotten. For four short months only.
was he destined to labor for the success of
the beneficent measures he had inaugurated ;
but in that brief space of time he had en-
deared himself to the hearts of the people,
as no man had done, since the days of the
lamented Abraham Lincoln.
But alas alas on the fatal 2nd day of
July the bullet of the assassin was sped on
its deadly mission and the world was horri-
came flashing over the wires For eighty
weary days and nights he fingered in the
valley of the shadow of death, during which
time the nation was alternately plunged in
despair, or raised on the wings of hope. as
the news from the sick-room was favorable
or otherwise.
But not the prayers of the nation, the
skill of his physicians, nor the love of his
faithful, heroic wife, could save him. Only
one short week ago he passed over the river
He is gone, but the example and the
memory of ripe scholar, a patriotic soldier,
a great statesman, brilliant orator, an up
right ruler and a noble christian man, still
lives in the hearts of his countrymen
Time shall not dim his glory, nor tarnish
his fame. His memory shall grow dearer
and his name grow brighter as the years roll
away.
To-day we are assembled here to do him
honor, while his stricken family and thou
sands of his mourning fellow citizens are
performing the last sad rites at his final rest
ing place.
"There sleeps the brave who sank to rest,
With all his country's wishes blest.
When spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck his hallowed mould,
She there shall dress sweeter sod,
Than fancy's feet have ever trod;
There shall Honor come, pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps his clay,