The Columbus journal., 1881-09-28

The mortal remains of President
Garfield were consigned to their
resting place at Cleveland, Ohio, on
Monday last. Around the open
grave of the dead president nation
stood in grief. Never, perhaps, in
all the annals of mankind, was en-
peror, king or monarch 80 sincerely
mourned as was this chief magistrate
of the republic, and never, perhaps,
were all those qualities that make
man noble and godlike so conspic-
nous in one person.
Blessed in his youth, in being
compelled to rely mainly upon his
own exertions, he became capable of
immense toll, both physical and
mental pursuing knowledge for its
own sake, reverencing truth for the
love of truth, his ambition was de-
void of that small selfishness that so
often Is the characteristic of men in
public life. Msgnanimity,--a GER
tain but nameless spirit of noble
generosity, was both his impulse and
his guide. He was the very oppo-
site of all that is little or mean in
thought, word or deed. Like those
who start at the very beginning of
mOney-msking and acquire every
dollar by their own labor, toiling
early and late, saving and striving
honestly to accumulate of this
worlds goods until they gain i'm
mensc wealth, so was Garfield's
gathering of knowledge and the
spiritual graces.
Thus il was he became a splendid
orator, gifted with the power to
draw men toward him, and always
saying the right word, at the right
time, in the right way. How charm
ing were his utterances on all occas-
ions, purity of an Emerson, the
fullness of a Macaulay, the gracious
ness of an Irving, and with il all the
unslloyed simplicity of childhood.
While boy, he learned to do all
things well, and this carried him
through. The desire to be right and
do right being ever nprarmnst, his
mental powers were stimulated to
constant action, and thus his speech
es upon any subject were an illumi-
nation, which no words without
wisdom could darken.
All these qualities men realized in
Garfield before he was inaugurated
as president, but glimpses of him as
son, husband and father, showing his
fidelity, love and devotion have en-
deared him to the hearts of the peo-
pie. Human history will never
forget the little mother who cared
for the boy, watched his spiritual
growth, believed in him, trusted him
to the uttermost, her soul being
bound up with his; neither will it
be unmindful of his constant devo-
ton to her. On that day in March
last, at the Capitol in Washington,
when the assembled multitude had
listened to the inaugural address,
how much more than mere eloquence
of words, was the eloquence of feel
ing that prompted him, standing on
the very summit of human honor, to
turn away from the multitude and
salute his mother with the kiss of
Affection Instantly were recalled
the common struggles and trials of
other days, and the noble qualities
of the boy and son were manifested.
On that morning in July last,
going to the depot in Washington,
anticipating few days respite from
public cares, he remarked to Blaine
that be felt like boy just let loose
from school. In a very few mo-
ments the ssssssin's bullet pierced
his side and laid him low. By the
click of revolver, the course of his
earthly life was changed, and the
noble, upright form began to sink to
the grave but we must believe that
at that moment began the trsnsfigur-
alton of his spirit. Not unmindful
of his duty, when told by his physi-
clan that there was q chance for
recovery, he cheerfully said, 1--WE
will take that chance" But, man
proposes, God disposes, and it was
not so to be.
For eighty days, he suffered pain
and agony; for eighty days, was
there anxious watching at his bed
side, and most anxious inquiries in
every home of the land; for eighty
days all hearts were with his in SYM
psthy, none knowing how near the
fatal bullet lay; for eighty days he
was soothed and sustained by fond
wife, every way worthy such hus-
band; with more than Stole forti-
tude, with Christian resignation and
hope, through eighty long days and
nights he lay at the brink of the
grave, and all this time not single
word of enmity escaped his lips
toward the man whose murderous
hand had been raised against his life.
And thus he quietly, peacefully,
bresthed his last. His earthly career
ended, his spirit went hence in a
blaze Of glory, accompanied, let US