Smyrna times., 1881-09-28
The Lesson in President Garfeld's
Life.

Life.
Death has brought sorrow to mankind,
rest to a hero, and duty to the Nation.
Never before has death-bed been watched
for months by the whole civilized world.
No other death in history ever called
forth from men then living such universal
grief. In other times, when electric cords
had not knit all nations into one family,
men whose lives and characters have since
made them loved and immortal were
known in life at most only by the people
of a single State. But this land cannot
claim its dead hero as all it's own. The
civilized world has waited for months in
strained anxiety for each pulse-beat of the
dying President, and shares our grief to-
day.
For him death brought glad release and
glorious reward. His work and life are
done. From humble birth and hard for
tune, he had been lifted by his own royal
gifts and qualities to a level with the
greatest monarchs. Made immortal by
grand and useful deeds for country and
mankind, he will be loved while time lasts
for the brave, sweet and patient nature
shown while lying eighty days face to face
with death. Strong in will, and stronger
yet in Christian faith, having no fear of
death, and clinging to life only that he
might use for the good of others the vast
power trusted to him by the Nation, he
bore pain with the fortitude of a martyr,
brought rare self-oontroi to the aid of
surgical science, and kindled the hearts of
all mankind by his bearing, loyal to every
duty, and tender and true to all his loved
ones. In all modern history there is no
more touching, more ennobling or grander
example than our beloved hero's death.
bed giEes:
In four months, he did more as Presi
dent for the good Of the land than had
been done by most of our Presidents in
full terms of service. He lifted up the
Nations credit. He raised higher than
ever the aim and spirit of official life IL
opened the way for the settlement o
other questions Of the utmost Importance
But he yet lives. The truly great car
never die. He has marked out granC
course, and the people will try TO walk il
it, He has set a lofty standard of Execu
: tive duty, ky thal staGdard the Nation
. will judge all future Prcsidents. Possibly
j his power will be greater and higher thar
if he had lived, and his noble aims hat
} been dimmed by human imperfection O
' performance. The Nation sees what h
: meant to do, aad will demand not less O
: those who may hereafter take his place
$ In peculiar sense, the people rule
!. Higher than they point, their servants ar
Z not apt to go. The more they ask, tn
more party leaders may take heart to dc
J. So the ideals and the example Of Presi
) dent Garfield may have power for ages t
y = come.
We have prayed that this cup Nigh
5. pass from us. Never before has the Who'll
Nation bowed in prayer so fervent. O
E its knees, tlfe Nation has been strickeI
/ But God reigns, and He Is good. H
= knows what we need, and what the worl
needs. To us it seemed that we needle
the life of this pure and n9ble hero. T
Infinite Wisdom, perhaps, it was clea
that we needed still more his death, [
t chasten us, to knit us together as on
people, to rouse US to selfgovernment In
} larger and higher sense, to wean us frol
trust in leaders, and to kindle us to loft
aims. Possibly we should have truste
:, too much to man of rare gifts and virtu
s and 80 have lost some power rs peopl
for the attainment of the best and highei
;. ends. Possible the President himsel
y human, though hero, would have bee
swerved from his own high ideals by tn
5. resistless power which recovery. woul
g have brought to him. We cannot tel
g. He is gone, but his ideals and his exampI
70 live, and will live forever. He is gon
but his spirit will still rule through th
people who love him, and Yh9 VIII hpl
= their leaders sternly to higher and bette
=. aims. Oyer his open grave let this N,
y tion pledge itself to be true to his memOr!
by lifting higher the standard of publ
duty, by doing with more fidelity eaC
man his part in the State, and by firm an
patient effort to realize the purest an
loftiest aims of the President who hi
" gone.--M ], Tribune. T