Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-27

| EiCdt iCooOh W ubt Uy
which we ought to become
wiser and purer and better men, and
wsat to say therefore, first OF all, tha,
there comes a voice from the dead tO
this entire nation, and not only to the
people, but to those in places OF trust
to our legislators and our governors
and our military men, and our leaders
OF parties, and all classes and creeds in
the Union and in the States, as we'll as
to those who dwell in the humblest life
qualified with the dignities and privileg
| ed OF citizenship. The great lesson to
| which desire TO point you can be ex.
| pressed in Q few words-James A. Gar
field went through his whole public life
without surrendering for single mo.
ment his Christian integrity, his moral
integrity, or his love for the spiritual.
Coming into the exciting conflicts OF po.
litical life with nature capable ss any
OF feeling the force OF every temptation,
with temptation to unholy ambition,
with unlawful prizes within his realm,
with every Inducements to surrend er all
his religious faith and be known merely
a. successful man Of the world, from
first to last he has manfully adhered to
his religious convictions, and found
more praise and gathers to him in his
death all the pure inspirations Of the
hope OF everlasting life. l am very well
aware Of 4 feeling all over the land
by those who engage in political
life that man cannot afford to be q
politician and a christian. That he
must necessarily forego his obligations
30 lNal and 10 ha ohoArhaA -, l;TaxaHk
measures OF policy may be necessary to
enable him TO achieve the desired re.
suit. Now my friends call your atten-
ton to this grand life as teaching les
son altogether invaluable. Just at this
point | want you to look at that man. !
want you to think OF him when in his
early manhood be was openly committed
to Christ and the principles of the
christian religion, that he WA found
among people who allow large liberty
in occupying q pulpit, and you are
within a few miles OF the spot where
great congregations gathered when he
into manhood, and week after week
hung upon the words that
fell from his lips with ad-
mration, wonder and enthusiasm. 1t
was that when he was known to be oc.
cupying this position, they invited him
to become Q candidate for the Ohio State
senate. 1t was with the full knowledge
OF all that belonged to him in his Chris
tian faith, and his efforts to live Chris.
tian life that it was rendered to him, and
without any resort to any dishonorable
hn Uo alnnta1 onH caruaI hio
State and began his legislative career.
When the country was called to arms,
WIN the Union was in danger, and his
great heart leaped with enthusiasm and
was filled with the holiest de-
sire and ambition to render some
service to his country. 1t required no
surrender Of the dignity.o or nobleness OF
his Christian life to secure to him the
honors that fell upon him 30 thick aud
fast, and successes followed each other
80 rapidly as to make him the wonder
of the world. Though he entered upon
that career wholly unacquaintel with
military life and could only win his way
by the honesty of his purpose and the
diligence and falthfulness with which
he served upon every opportunity to
accomplish the work before him, follow
him from that until called from the ser.
vice in the field. The people Of his dis
trict sent him to Congress, their hearts
gathering about him without any effort
on his part, and they kept him there as
long as he weuld stay, and they would
have kept him there yet If he had
said 80. He remained there until by
the voice OF the people OF this State,
when there were other bright and strong
and grand names s-men who were emit
tied to recognition and reward, and al
together worthy every way to bear Sen
atorial honors, yet there were such cur
rents OF admiration and sympathy and
trust and love coming in and centering
from all parts OF the State, that the &C.
ton OF the Legislature at Columbus was
but the acts Of the popular voice when
by acclamation they gave him that place,
and every other candidate gracefully re-
tired. And then again, when he went
to Chicago to serve the interest OF an.
other When, as | know, his ambition
was fully satisfied and he had re-
ceived that on which his heart was
set and looked with more than gadness
to path in life for which he thought
his entire education and culture had
prepared him. When wearied out with
every effort to command majority for
any candidate, the hearts OF
That Great Convention
turned on every side to James A. Gar
field; and in spite Of himself and against
every feeling, wish and prayer Of bis
own heart this homer was crowded upon
him, and the nation responded with
holy enthusiasm from one end OF the
land to the other, and in the same hon.
orabie way he was elected 70 the chief
magittracy under circumstances which.
however bitter the party conflict, caused
all hearts Of all parties not only TO &C.
quiesce, but to feel proud in the con-
seriousness that we had chief magistrate
of whom they need not be ashamed be.
fore the world, and unto whom they
could confide the destinies OF this
mighty nation. Now, gentlemen, let
me say to you, all those OF you occupy
ing great places OF trust, who are here,
and the mass OF those who are called to
discharge the responsibilities OF citizen.
ship, year by year, that the most inval-
liable lesson that We learn from the life
of our beloved and departed President
is this, that it is not only compatible
with success, but it is the surest means
OF success TO consecrate the heart and
life to that which 10 true and right, and
rises above all questions OF mere policy,
wedding the soul to truth and right and
the God OF truth and righteousness in
holy wedlock, never to be dissolved. !
feel, first, at this point that We
need this lessor, this great and vondrous
land OF ours, this mighty nation in its
marvellous upward career, with its
ever increasing power, opening its arms
to receive from all lands people oil all
languages, all religions and all condi-
tions. and hoping in the warm EN- brace
OF political brotherhood to blend them
with Us, to melt them into . common
mass, 90 when melted and run over
again it becomes like the Corinthisn
brass, and in one type OF manhood thu.
incorporating all the .arious nations of
earth in one great brotherhood, present
ing before the nations Of the world .
spectacle OF freedom and strength and
prosperity and power beyond anything
the world has ever known. But let me
say the permanenos OF the work and Its
.nA