Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-09-23
GooDwIN.s OBITUARY ARTICLE.
An Elegant Tribute TO the MANY
Wnoo nf ahn nnRnaaaA n~azs


dent.
Judge Goodwin, of the Salt Lake Tri
bune, enjoys the reputation Of being tn
best writer of obituaries connected will
the Pacific Coast press. Several Of hi
friends in Eureka have said to us hat the,
would be glad to see his article on the
death Of President Garfield. 1t is an ele.
CANT tribute. Following is the article en-.
tire:
The fear that has been in all true hearts
for weeks, has not been ~groundless. II
was a premonition. The magnificent vi.
tality, the nerve power which seemed mex
haustible, and the sublime courage OF
President Garfield, only availed to prolong
his sufferings.
After lowering for s~eventy-nine days be-
tween life and death, last evening, the an
gel which is the brother Of Sleep, touched
his lips and the strong, warm heart grew
still. 1t is the most fearful event in our
history, since the blood Of our great Lin
coin was demanded to cement and make
eternal a restored Union. And this death
OF President Garfield is more pitiable than
was that of Mr.. Lincoln. The fame of the
latter was complete. 1t would have been
almost impossible to add a single bay to
his brow. When his benumbed hand for
sock the helm, the hurricane had passed,
and around him were only the dying surges
which had been awakened by the storm.
They were dangerous it is true, but the
dawn had come, and the "cannonading"
OF the cyclone had ceased. But President
Garfield, strong in intellect, noble in pur-
nnon yra h,fnd NTH sntnroz x.&.t,c,, No.
fectly versed in the needs OF the country,
With mind and heart intent upon making
the people more happy and more loving;
Just as he was entering on o career which
seemed cloudless, and which was full Of
promises of im~measurable and lasting
triumphs; was stricken down, and now
after more than eleven weeks sf suffering
is taken away. 1t is pitiable beyond ex-
preston, and the memory Of the courage,
and patience and gentleness with which
the dauntless soul faced the approach Of
death, adds to the unspeakable sorrow
which, at this moment, drapes with Grape
the door Of civilization, and makes the
homes of SO. 0O0, 900 of people, everyone .
house OF mourning. (.
Voltaire, writing of Henry ", said:
"Should a faithful picture OF his ~illustri.
Gus character be drawn in the hearing OF
a Judicious foreigner who had never before
been acquainted with his name, and should
the narrator conclude that this very man
was at length assassinated in the midst of
his people by a person to whom he had
never done any injury, it would be impos-
sible for him to believe it."
The case has a gloomy parallel to u
own country to-day. Had the President
been seized by sickness and died; had he,
by rail or ship, met with q fatal accident,
the people, while they mourned, would
have remembered that Presidents, like all
other mortals, have no signet by which
death may be bribed to turn aside, and,
while Borrowing, would have been resigned.
But this assassination; this thought that
the Chief Magistrate of this free land, at
a moment. when his great, warm heart was
exulting with health and hope; that at
such a moment q miscreant should steal
up behind and murder him, ia one that
makes every man in the Republic feel that
he has been personally disgraced and
wronged; that his native land has been
dishonored before the world; that an in
jury has been inflicted for which no ade-
quate remedy or restitution is possible,
and that a loss has been sustained that Is
wholly ~irreparable. Through the clouds
which surround their narrow visions there
are nc kindly stars shining, and in their
darkness and sorrow they cannot fathom
why this tragedy was permitted.
At this moment It is sufficient to say,
the President is dead. That announcement
is sufficient to fill with tears the. eyes Of
millions, to put the Nation in mourning.
1t is the saddest message that has smitten
the ears of the American people for 16 years.
But there is a triumph even in this hour
Of grief, a triumph which each true soul in
the Republic feels as an undertone to the
niserere which it is chanting. 1t is the
thought that from the woods OF Ohio, a
boy could come forth, nameless and for
tuneless, without family, without influence,
with nothing but his strong arms. quick
brain and the bold hopes which are the
birthright Of American boys. and chal-
longing the rough world for q contest; at
the call of duty, as q soldier, he could win
for himself a glorifed name; that, follow
ing that same duty, he could for eighteen
years, as a Representative in Congress, so
bear himself as to become the acknowiedg
ed leader Of that august body; that lifted
still higher he could assume and wear with
a grace and dignity all his own, the high
est honors Of the Republic; that at the very
pinnacle Of his power, and with the full
~fruition OF his hopes almost within his
grasp, receiving the stroke of an assassin.
he accepted the decree without a murmur;
and while anxious to live. without a pro-
test or complaint, with the same gentle
ness and dignity which gave a charm to
his life, waited, with unblanched eyes,
whileedeath drew near. There is nothing
foftier than this in all history. 1t exalts
American manhood everywhere, and makes
men exult, even while they weep. The
country sorely needed more years OF the
life of its dead President; but he who has
gone needed nothing more. for though
from poverty and ~obscurity, he had not
fifty years in which to do his work, he so
lived and wrought that the measure Of his
life is full. Beside Lincoln and Washing
ton be takes his place, and around his
dust all Christian peoples stand as mourn
era.