Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-07-21

Nth altthy getting get understand
ing.
For one week we have been a seri-
Gus anxious people. The thought of
the nation has been running largely
in single channel. Our national
anniversary was celebrated throughout
the country; but it was with flag at
half mast, with muffled drum and with
tears. Our patriotism was peculiarly
manifested; notin spread-eagle orations,
the boom of cannon and pyrotech-
mic displays; but in earnest cries to
Almighty God, and in anxious enquir-
les aud conjectures concerning the
condition of him who, as the people,
choice, occupies the highest position
in our nation. We are profoundly
thankful that our sorrow has been
turned to JOY. The portentous cloud
that filled the entire sky has disap-
peared; and from Canada to the Gulf,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific men
and women are singing the long met re
doxology. When those three magic
words, Garfield will live, ran upon
their iron track, over all this land
and through the waters Of the billowy
deep to distant continents; then per-
haps as never before in the world S
history, there was universal unison OF
thought and sentiment. And tonight
the gratitude of world ascends to
God ia one long loud hallilujah. But
in the exuberance Of our JOY we must
not forget to learn the lessons taught
by the sad occurance of the morning
of July I'd, 1881.
As a people we are grasping much.
Material wealth abounds, and our
numbers increase with wonderous
speed. Our illimitable mineral re-
sources are being developed, our mex
haustible forests are being utilized, and
thousands upon thousands of the fer
tile acres of our vast new West are
being reclaimed; SO that the desert
literally blossoms as the rose and the
solitary place is made glad. But
with all our enterprise we would 90
well to remember that ''wisdom is the
principal thing and therefore get wis
dom, and with all our getting get un-
derstanding God says this to nations
as well as to individuals, and unless
the voice is needed prosperity is Of
short duration. What are the lessons
taught by the late calamity? There
are many | might refer 30. had | time
and you patience. There is one for
the aspirant to presidential honors;
but as | presume there are but few
such here, [ need not dwell upon it
any more than to say, if Disappointment
be your doom you may well be content;
for uneasy is the head that wears a
crown. The position of President of
this Republic is not one to be coveted.
The man who is morally and intellect
ualIy qualified to fill the office, will
never seek it from selfish motives.
Nothing but the purest patriotism
together with loud call from the
nation, would ever lead him to accept
the burden of such tremendous respon-
sibilities. The right man will not
seek the Office; the Office will seek
him. This was finely illustrated in
the late election.
Another lesson, worthy of our
attention, is, the desirability of reserve
force, of latent energy, as necessary
to carry men through the criciS o!
life Had President Garfield wasted
his physical energies, and eneryated
his will by "riotous living" he would
certainly now be numbered with the
silent dead. But his excellent health,
his cxhaustless vitality, his reserve
force stored up through many years
of temperate godly life, is carrying
him safely through, what would have
inevitably killed the man whose whole
system is debilitated with vice, prop
ped up with opium, saturated with
tobacco and soaked in rum.
We may also learn from this terrible
affair the great need that exists fol
reform in our civil service. Such re-
form as will relieve our chief executive
officer from being thronged, embarrass
ed, troubled and harrassed by legior
of Office seekers the moment he reache:
the White House. A reform thai
will forever preclude the possibility o
his being the object of the petty per
sonal spite of any disappointed aspirant
like Charles Jules Guiteau,
Subordinate Offices should be filled
by parties who have shown themselves
to be of good moral character, fully