The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-10-04
MEMORIAL MEETING.
The Citizens OF WOOdsleld Assem-.
BILE at the Court House.
Remarks of Hon. j. r.. Morris, the
Chairman, and Other Speakers.

mOurnIul Cauence OF tOlllnS Deils, 70 pay
their tribute Of respect to the memory
of the deceased President, JAMES ABRAM
GARFIELD.
A large flag, appropriately draped,
hung over the front entrance to the
building.
On motion of Dr.. T, H. ARMSTRONG,
Hon. JAMES R. NORRIS was called to
preside, and on taking the Chair stated,
briefly, the object of the meeting; after
which he spoke substantially as follows
The head OF great and mighty peo-
pie has fallen. The chief magistrate Of
one of the most powerful nations Of
earth has been stricken down in an ILL
fated hour by the hand OF miserable,
wretched assassin.
In all human probability, neither sa-
cred nor profane history affords an ex-
ample OF more people bowed in profound
grief than are to-day testifying theifl
sorrow at our bereavement. All the
civilized nations Of the world Join with
us in mourning
l cannot say that I was intimately &C
quainted with JAMES A. GARFIELD. but I
knew him we'll personally: first as a
member OF the Senate of Ohio, and az
terward, when 1t was my good fortune
to serve with him in the 38,h Congress
Of the United States. In all the rela
tions OF life l found him the true pat
riot, the active philanthropist, and the
Christian statesman. All is embraced in
these words-the patriot, the philanthro-
pist, the statesman, the Christian.
While our warmest and most heartfelt
sympatbies are extended to the immedi-
ate family OF the dead President, they
mourn not as those without hope. They
feel and know that away beyond life's
turbulent river, his blessed spirit is beck
oning them to the bosom Of his Master
and his God: But their sorrow is our
sorrow; their tears are our tears; their
loss is our loss. Fifty millie ms OF peo-
pie, to-day. implore the blessed God to
soothe their sorrows and dry their tears !;
for they know that
AFTER life's ftful fever, he sleeps WELL"
My friends, 1t is not 10 my power to
impress upon you, in fitting words, the
great lesson taught as by this affecting
dispensation. l can but say that "the
ways Of Providence are inscrutable and
past finding out" When it is said a
whole nation, without distinction Of re-
ligion. language, or race, mourns in griet
too great for utterance, it is but to ex-
press what oil feel, and, in some sense,
| realize.
How beautiful, how glorious is the
death OF the righteous when he dies.
What lesson to US is the death OF our
beloved President. Do we appreciate
fully our good fortune in that our lots
are cast in pleasant places, and, notwith.
standing our bereavement, what glori-
Gus heritage We possess The humblest
child in the land may aspire to all it's
dignities, and resp the rich rewards Of q
well.spent life.
In monarchies and despotisms It is
held that the king can do no wrong, and
never dies. When reignine monarch
expires the populace exclaim, "The king
is Dead" and in the same breath cry
aloud, "Long live the king" In this
blessed land, when the people are called
to mourn the, death Of the chief execu.
tive officer. they, in deep humility, ex-
claim. "The President is dead, but the
Government at Washington still lives
Is not this then favored land2 We
can rightfully say that no people on the
face OF this beautiful world are more su
premely blest
One of the Charles. of Franco be-
lieve it was-ouce said, "Je sxis l'et0t,'
II am the State" Here we recognize
no man as the State or Government. All
our officers-from the highest to the
lowest-are but the servants of the peo
Pile; and yet the people yield ready
and cheerful obedience to all the rightful
behests of those to whom they have, fol-
the time being, delegated power and au'
thority.
twithstanding the fearful and terri.
BILE afiliction that the nation has sustain
ed In the death OF President Garfield
vet in his own language, in speaking o.
the assassination of President Lincoln
"the Government still lives"
Ny friends. / will add nothing more
except to beg of you. while We are min
Cling our tears with sorrow-stIicker
nation, to renew our VOWS to maintain
the government in its purity, integrity
and unity.
Rev. WEIsINGER. Of the r. G. Church
Rev. WINrEkIcK, of the Lutheran Church
W. F. HUsrER, Esq, Judge R. X. WAL
TON, DR. T. H. ARMSTRONG. j. B. DRIGG,
ESQ.,, and Hon. JAMES WATSON, spoke
briefly and appropriately of the states-
manship sad virtues Of the deceased,
and the overwhelming loss to the Na'
ton, brought about by his untimely
death.
Rev. WrNTER1cK offered up prayer in
which he invoked the blessings of God
upon the bereaved mother, wife and fam
lily, and upon the future of our country
At the close the meeting was adjourned
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