St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-09-30

ed that this trait might lead him into
difficulties as President.
After the close of the war Garfld
was made chairman of the military
committe in the House. The war left
us with an army of n million men, and
the question was, how to get rid of so
big an army without any trouble. The
regular army had become enlarged,
and 1t had got to be reduced. 1t was
delicate subject to handle, but by
Gartield's efforts it was reduced to
$1,000 men without any Earring. The
war left us with debt of 81, 900. OOO,-
600. Many in the North were broken
down, and portions of the whole South
were devastated, with every vestige of
property swept away. Our govern
ment paper was nearly 300 per cent
below par. How were we to get out of
it and pay the debt To no one man
is the country more indebted for get
ting out of this trouble than to our
dead President. Garfield, said the
speaker, was also instrumental in con-
verting the people to a belief in pro-
tectiOn-the protection of American
manufactures and industry.
After Ia years i'll Congress he was
elected United States Senator. He
never took the seat because he was
elected President. He was nominated
by convention of his own party, and
| have been told that his personal
presence and his speech in nominating
Sherman convinced the people that he
was the man. No man was ever elect
ed President when it was acquiesced
in so cordially by the people who did
not vote for him. There was conf
dence i'll him among both Democrats
and Republicans-tha he was the
right man for President. And when
his death came | believe tears flowed
from Democratic eyes us well as from
Republicans. He came to be President
by no effort of his own. | claim that
no place or station is to he compared
with that of President of the United
States. What is being king or an
emperor because you are born i'll par
ticular family, to becoming the ruler of
nation by their own choice To us
GaTtield's death seems almost incOm-
prehensible. 1t is hard to believe that
this was allowed by an All-wise Ruler.
We cannot see how it is going to be
brought outflow it can be that God
will override it to the good of this
nation, but still we do reverently be-
lieve it. The prayers of the whole
world availed not to avert this calami-
ty. We can only say that God is wiser
and stronger than prayer-that
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make il plain"
Rev. f.. T. Sandford was next intro
duced and gave an interesting address,
in substance as follows, on
GARFIELD AS A CHRISTIAN.
One truth has impressed itself upon
our hearts to-day-that no other nation
except Christian America could pro-
duce a Garfield. The light of Chris
tianity shone throughout the life of our
late President, and we can say: "They
took knowledge of him that he had
been with Jesus" Strong in well de-
velOped manhood, the secret of it all
lies in his Christianity. This was
largely brought about under the in
huence of pious mother, a woman
who was a descendant from that great
race who left their homes and came to
free America. From such a race on
Il
She found time to impress the truth
upon the hearts of her children. Here
was laid the foundation stone of that
greatness which to-day is capped by
his death. At lS years of age he be-
came Christian, and from that time
his course was straightforward, for he
feared not to have it known that he
was IA Christian. His character is seen
| in h. ~, tl.a
1t was quiet and unobtrusive; but as
from the sun there come heat and
warmth and light, so shining out
through the acts of the man, Christian
| ity was seen and felt. lie was accus-
toned to go out among his people rs Il
preacher, and in this way acquired con-
siderable fame. He still found time to
hold up the word of God. This is the
Christianity which the Bible teaches,
and which we ought to possess. We
see this i'll the incidents of this mans
life, to which | would call your atten-
ton. You have been told of the firm
ness and energy with which he filed
every position. During the war, while
in command of his brigade, he was
camped on a certain Sunday a little
distance from IL church, the members
saw them entering for worship, he put
on old and rough clothes as disguise,
and entered the church The people
eyed him darkly for some time, but
seeing that he was interested they
gathered about him after service and
discovered that he was Christian.
| He was invited to assist in administer
ing the communion. They forgot pO-
| litical enmity in "A common Christiani-
| ty. Mr.. Sanford then referred to
| Garfield's Christian conduct during
the Chicago convention, as compared
with the conduct of other men. He
read also from Gartield's speech at the
| time Lincoln was assassinated, to show
the gOdliness of the man in all places.
! He spoke feelingly also of the suffering
Presidents resignation and faith in
God, and Of the blessed example thus
! put before the world.
At the conclusion of this address, the
band played ''Nearcr, my God, to
thee" the audience joining in song.
The exercises throughout were very
impressive, and although the crowd
numbered about two thousand, there
was no disturbance of any sort. Ev-
erybody seemed imbued with the so
lemnity of the occasion, and when the
benediction had been pronounced the
multitude seemed 10th To leave place
to which a common sympathy had
brought them. The buildings on Main
and Railroad streets were pretty gen.
,,,I1,- J,,,,.J I,ug;nny, ,vaa guanen1aH