Daily Republican., 1881-09-27
IN MEM0RIAM.
TRIBUTE TO THE
DEAD PRESIDENT.
The Services at the Opera House
Yesterday Afternoon - Pulpit
and bar Join in Rendering
Homage to the Deceased
Chieftatn.


noon. Long befor the hour announced
for the opening of the doors, an i'm
mense crowd around the front, blocked
Market stree and almost rendered it
| impossible; no sooner were the doors
opened, than the vast multitude surged
in, filling every seat and place in the
building, and if the capacity Of the
house had been four times as large,
there is no doubt but what it would
have been filled, as thousands were
turned away unable even to get in the
building The place was literally pack
ed with sweltering, perspiring mass
Of humanity, and it seemed al lmpossi-
bility for any more to get in.
The draping of the interior was done
in a handsome and artistic manner, and
| reflected great credit on the Young
Mems Republican Club, who designed
and executed the work. The whole
balcony and flies were shroGded in
black, while drapery composed of
flags iuterwoyen with mourning, al
most concealed the boxes; in the rear
was a mound surrounded by pillar of
flowers about fifteen feet high, on the
top of which perched d dove; in front of
the pillar was large cross of flowers
presented by the drum corps; spanning
over the top Of all, was an evergreen
arch, resting on two columns, around
which were American flags. AT the
front of the stage on the right, was
life size portrait Of President Garfield,
underneath which was the following
inscription, "God reigns and the gov
eminent at Washington still lives'
on the left side of the stage was a COM
panion picture of President Lincoln,
over the motto, "On God and Godlike
men we build our hope. Each Of
these pictures rested ON an easel, and
were almost covered with draping, over
one thousand yards being used. 1t was
about $40, when the immense meeting
was opened with prayer by the Rev.
Lafayette Marks, in which he COM
mended this great nation, North, South
East and West, to the great giver OF all
good. He prayed tervenfly tor Presi-
dent Arthur, and all our rulers, and
beseeched Our Heavenly Father for
|sblessings for the aged mother and the
stricken wife Of the President.
Judge Wales, then read from manu-
script an opening address, III which be
referred to tn large audience that had
assembled to honor the nations dead,
he spoke of President Garfield as from
the people, and of the people that he
had worked himself from ubscurity to
the highest place in the gift OF his fellow
man. He said that the death of GARFIELD
was not only a loss to this country, but
| it was a loss to the world, still if his
4 IL Il L, l,.,, ,f
ing the different sections aud parties OF
this country, with the bonds of synpa-
thy and love, it would be some small
recompense for his loss.
| AT the close of his remarks, the First
Regiment Band played beautiful piece
called "rhc Garland of flowers" Rev.
DR.. Wilson, of the Unitarian church
was the next speaker, and made a short
but forcible address, in which he said
that this outpouring CT such "a vast
mass Of people, was great credit TO
humanity. Every one here telt a share
of the great woe that has settled, not
only upon this nation, but upon the
whole world since the 2Dd Of last July,
and now this day the whole civilized
world Join with us in our sorrow, and
lullSlCo luCAl lCulo "Ath oNAS' Ala tAiAo
the uay of our bereavement, and grief.
He did not believe that the name of Gar
field will ever be forgotten, while the
world shall last, but on the contrary as
it goes down 10 future ages, II will
grow brighter and brighter, and become
the guiding star to many yet unborn.
The beautiful hymn 'Ner:r my
God to thee, WAS touchingly y and effect
lively sung by the Philharmonic society
accompanied by the band. Benjamin
Nields, Esq, was introduced and said:
We are to-day a sorrowlng people,
standing in spirit around the grave OF
our dead president Our great love Tor
him, the tears shed for him, the pray
ers of the whole people that he might
be spared to us. were unavalIlng, ana
we have come together to mourn his
death, TO lay sons tribute Of affection
upon his tomb, and out of The aound-
ance of the great grief of our hearts, 10
speak OF the untimely and cruel death
OF this son, husband, fat her, scholar,
soldier, great statesman, and Christian.
As a son, his III mother was among the
first to share his joys and fortunes; bis
first act after his Inauguration was 10
turn and kiss his aged mother, as au
evidence that he was inuebted TO |
her for his exalted position and that
she was the first TO whom that son gave |
homage.
Asa husband one event tells the
whole story OF that relation when he
received his death blow and was told
by his surgeons that there was but one
chance IN one hundred for his recovery
thai there were ninetynine chances IN
favor Of death to one in favor of life.
He directed message to his wife i'll
which there is not a word Of his own
suffering, but every word IN 1t intend
ing to shield her from a arm and |
shock. And while he lay growing weak
er day by dag and the death shadow
closing gradually around bin, there
never was mlrmur escaped MS llpS,
not word of complaint, nor word OF |
bitterness for the assassin VINO shot
him.
As a scholar we find him at 4 years
of age taking the prize as the best |
reade- in the primary class in his VII
lave school. Then at IL, cutting wood
for % cents per cord, then driving |
canal boat on the tow path between
Cleveland aud Pittsburg, then ambi-
tious to 60 to sea, to satisfy the long
ing of his great soul, then sick and
going down into the great shadow and
nursed back to life by this loving
mother;then she showed him the higher
planes and nobler walks of life, and
then he realized the truth of what has
been said by an eminent statesman in
our midst, that in this country under
our laws all are born with equal oppor-
,unities; then he saw that what others
had accomplished, what others had
gained, he to could accomplish, he to
could gain. He applied himself to
learning, became teacher, entering
Williams College, in New England. He
graduated, and by the time he was 90
years OF age,in less than ten years after;
he was driving boat on the towpath,
he was President of a College; by the
time he was % he was elected State
Senator by the people Of Ohio, and by