The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-01

keeneyed, sagaclous opponents could use TO
his prejudice, bearing himself with a sagaci-
" and ability that no candidate before had
ever exhibited in heated canvass. You re-
member his inaugural address, which elicit
ed the warmest commentator OF both
friends and foes; the wonderful success OF
his administration for the four months OF ITS
continuance. Questions of finance, which
had gwen rise to the most acrimonious de-
bate IN congress, solved without friction IN
manner acceptable to every one, and secur-
ing IN marked degree the prosperity OF the
country.
An then il Is impossible, IN our sorrow, to
refrain from asking the question, why should
this man have fallen IN the full glory OF his
manhood? | do not wish TO speak OF the
man by whose hand this ruin was wrought;
earnestly hope that 1t may conclusively ap.
pear in calmly and properly conducted le-
gal examination that the man was wholly
insane and irresponsible for his acts. This
would alone relieve us from the unspeakable
shame of knowing that IN our country, in
this day, man like Garfield could have fal-
len by political assassination although but
one heart conceived and one hand executed
the enormous wickedness. And, my coun.
trymen, whatsoever should be the desert OF
this man, his punishment should be the act
of the law administered without favor or
prejudice No American can afford to strike
down the guards of the law which protect
him and his, and besides is 1t possible that
any man can take so unwarranted view as
to imagine that any suffering that could be
inflicted upon Guiteau, even if he be respon-
sible, can in the slightest degree atone for
the life Of such q man as our dead President?
One word rs to the lessons OF his life ana
death. DO we not feel that country under
whose institutions such career IS possible
is worthy of the patriotic love OF all It's cltl-
zens? No boy, however humble his birth,
however hard his beginning OF lite, but may
rise to the highest position aud exercise the
most commanding lntluence-who can dare
to be indifferent or untrue to the land OF his
birth when it has been capable of producing
such men as Lincoln and Garfield! Would
not his cheek flush with shame whenever
their names were spoken In his presence?
In looking ut this life may not every Amerl-
can boy feel that what he shall make OF his
OVID life depends upon no surroundings, no
circumstances of hardship in which he may
be placed, but solely upon what he is. Look
at this wonderful progress from the log house
in the wilderness to the tow-path OF the
canal, from there to the institute as scholar,
whittier he went with only seventeen dollars
in his possession; from the position OF
scholar to that Of teacher; from there to
New England college-graduating in debt
five hundred dollars for his college course
from there to the presidency OF the lnstitu'
ton where he had been a scholar; to the
senate of the state; to the battlefield as
subordinate officer, then Major General, re-
signing his military command to take his
seat in congress- to which he had been elect
ed while in the field, doing this at sacrifice
the pay Of MAJOR General beng greater
and his chances OF distinction greater than
that of member OF congress, but doing it
because he telt the absolute necessity that
some one should be there who, by personal
experience had become acquainted with the
practical workings of our military system
and with the needs of the soldiers. For
eighteen years prominent in the discussion
OF every question of national interest, max
ing his way from the House of Representa-
tlves to the Senate of the United States, nom
mated for President without his seeking, and
elected to that high office; In his brief ad.
mlnlstration securing the confidence and at
fiction of his fellow men i'll such degree that
when the terrible calamity came the whole
nation watched over him in trembling ankle
ty day by day, and the voice of prayer for
him went up increasingly from sincere and
earnest hearts in all civilized lands such as
God for any ono of all the children of men
since time began. During the eighty days
of his suffering his calmness, self.possesslon,
patience and christian trust were so mani
fest that the hearts of men who admired
true nobility OF character were drawn to
HIM in an exceedingly tender sympathy.
His life was continual scene OF struggle,
selfdenal and triumph. Fitted by the disci-
pline of one experience for the duties of the
next higher station, may we not believe that
the discipline of PAIN and suffering was but
the precursor of the higher station and
grander development OF the life beyond. Ills
mortal body, once so great and strong, may
sink to dust and darkness, but the soul, the
mysterious principle of life, shall rise to
everlasting light. Here suffering IS the law
of progress, vicarious suffering the attrib-
ute of true greatness of life. Whosoever
will save his life shall lose it-and whose
ever loseth his life shall save it.
The foundations of so grand life were
laid first in mothers tenderness and faith
fulness Trained herself in the hard school
of suffering and hardship, she learned how
to train the noble boy committed to her;
what revelation has been made during
these days of suspense and suffering OF the
tender love which bound together this moth
er and this son, and the nobility of the char
acter of each, not only in the hour OF his
supreme triumph, when he turned to press
the first kiss upon her lips, but in the hoar
of pain and anguish, when he sent to her
only words of comfort and of hope have
heard that when she was preparing 10 at
tend the funeral of her son, dazed by the
greatness of her sorrow, in endeavoring to
iasten her satchel, and finding some difficult
ty in doing 1t, as if from force of long habit
she called out: James I can't unioose this
clasp" and then, memory bringing suddenly
to her the terrible truth, she burst into un-
comfortable weeping. Poor mother, for her
1.-THE strong staff Is broken ana the beauti-
full rod.'
The foundation for such a career was laid
in those early traits of trunfuness, help
fulness, industry and perseverance which
d,at;pouished hIs boyhoOd To HIM IL was