Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-07-28
"ood Reigns and the Government
lives.'

ne American Sentry.
An incident that was mentioned
from many Of the pulpits of New
York last Sunday, will pass down into
history, and VIII constitute one Of the
watcnwords around which the people
Oh TINS republic win gather in other
times OF trial that may yet come. In
fact, those words are already being
sent everywhere by the press, and are
making a deep and strong impression
upon the public mind.
The day after the assassination of
PRESIDENT Lincoln, was day of terror
in New York. Some, perhaps many,
lives were crushed out; how many, was
not known, nor viii it ever be known.
Inc passions Of the populace were
aroused TO pitch that de6ed cohtrOl
IN any ordinary way. Crowds of from
nve to twenty thousand were gathered
mere and there, or surging from place
70 place. as IL propelled by tempest.
AS usual, in times Of great popular ex-
citement, the largest crowd was around
and near the Exchange, and there, also,
was the greatest number Of the men of
wealth and influence. but their councils,
though Needed, or at least respectfully
considered on all other occasions. were
now scarcely potieed. The wave of
popular indignation was continually
rising, and had In fact reached point
where at the next moment it might
break away from all restraint and come
down In relentless fury upon some real
or imaginary enemy Of the murdered
president. Two men, one dead and the
other dying, were lying on the side
walk, crushed to death for some heart
less and unsympathizing utterance.
by whom, no one knew or cared to en-
quire.
The name of a well known paper
was mentioned which. referring in its
morning issue to the president not
then dead, but mOrtally wounded, had
expressed its condemnation of the base
act in terms too mild and reserved to
meet the popular demand. Some ore
or more proposed an immediate descent
upon the building from which the OBJ
nOxious paper came. The suggestion
was met with a murmur of approval,
and larger portion of the immense
crowd was already beginning to move
in the direction of the contemplated
raid. At that moment aman, a strang-
er to almost every one there, was seen
standing on the steps Of the Exchange,
his right arm extended and a paper in
his hand. with which, by holding it
aloft and waving it, he arrested the at
tention Of the multitude. Then in a
clear and bold utterance he said:
CLOUDS and darkness are round about
Him. Righteousness and judgment are
the habitation OF His throne. Mercy
and truth go before His face. The
Lord reigns and the government lives"
No loud burst of applause greeted
those words, but it was as If a voice
from heaven had spoken to those men
and commanded them TO hold their pas
slons in restraint. Wiser and better
councils were Immediately passed
from one to another, and the work OF
destruction upon which they were
about entering was thought of no more
That man was James A. Garfield, at
that time one of the youngest mem
bers OF congress- And now the same
man, smitten down by the assassin's
bullet, is, through the agency OF the
press. repeating the same admonitior
everywhere: God reigns and the gov.
eminent lives"