Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-09-28

people are this day assembled to give
outward and fitting expression to their
utter adherence of the great crime
which has shocked civilization, and In
the midst Of profound peace and do
mestic tranquility deprived us of our
Chief Magistrate, and TO express those
tender sentiments of coincidence and
consolation to the living which ever
characterize tie trne and the brave.
And who shall say that these mani
festations do not spring from every
heart Who shall say that we are a
nation Of hypocrites? Who shall say
that this lesson, though purchased at
the sacrifice of a precious life and long
weeks of suffering and anxiety, where
the victim of the sacrifice, lowering
between life and death, displayed a
heroism in the struggle for life worthy
of his hopes of the future, is not freight
ed with good (? Who shall say that
these scenes which to-day we witness
the burying of the body of our Presi-
dent of the United States in cenOtaph
that shall embalm it SO long as memory
shall remain of the loving, the tender
and the true, the husband, the father
and the patriot-rnay not carry us to
higher plane of prosperity? Though
the price be great, may not the divine
object secured be correspondingly valu-
able-the perpetuity of our country,
the era of good feeling, the test Of the
devotion of our fellow-citlzens to our
form Of government, and the manifes-
tation to the world of the stability of
our institutions?
Nav not the second act of this bloody
drama be amid brighter scenes? With
the family of our deceased President,
by the liberality of his countrymen pro-
vided at Mentor, the home of his choice,
with all the surroundings which be
come the dignity of his great office
with the children upon whom his at
tections and his hopes had centered,
being led along the pathway of learning
and of patriotism by the teachings, the
inspiration and the devotion of the
heroic wife and mother /; his great trust
fallen upon the shoulders of his cOnsti-
tutional successor, and the government
moving onward in its accustomed
sphere, without jar or popular commo-
ton; with its credit unimpaired or in
the least affected with the masses of
the people, save their manifestations of
heartfelt sorrow, pursuing the paths of
peace and prosperity; will rot the de-
parted spirit, if such things can be,
look down from the skies and exclaim
" though man dies the government
lives" and the lesson of suffering, of
separation and of death is not in vain.
But how shall we learn and feel and
profit bv the influence of this lesson,
and these rude shocks which seem so
cruel and so hard to bear? How shall
we suppress that resentment that arises
toward the wretch who could perpe-
trate the deed whose recital leads US
horrifes civilization, Gefies the century |
in which we live and disgrace for the |
time the American name?
1t is proper on an occasion like the |
present to turn for a time from the |
topics of the hour and to commemorate |
in all love and reverence the genius
and virtues of the departed, the states
man, the political philosopher, the
soldier and the second martyr in Amer
lean public life.
Il is said that the dexterous Capu-
chins never choose to speak on the life
and miracles Of saint till they have
awakened the devotional feelings of
their auditors by exhibiting some relic
of him, thread of his garment, lock
of his hair, or drop of his blood, But
we, far removed from the sad scene of
his taking off, and from the vision of
his actual sculpture, need not take ad-
vantage of this discovery by holding up
before the people the blood-stained ha-
biliments of the suffering and dying
statesman, nor yet recur to the tears of
grief and sympathy which have to-day
the new-made grave beside
the lake, the ripping of whose waters
shall hereafter sing his requiem.
But we may say something about,
and emulate and bear in long remem-
brance, the great qualities of his mind,
the patriotic impulses of his heart, his
in the field, upon the
floors of Congress and as the Chief
Magistrate of this Republic.
In the brief hour of preparation which
has been accorded to me to submit upon
this occasion such reflections as might
occur to me touching the life and pub
lie services of President Garfield,
have been unable even to group to-
gether the leading and salient features