Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-07-13
GARFIELD ON LINCOLN.


One year after the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln the National House of
Representatives met in memorial session.
and, after listening to short address by
James A. Garfield adjourned as a mark
Of respect Mr. Garfield said:
Mr.. Speaker, | desire to move that this
House do now adjourn. And before the
vote upon that motion is taken, | desire
to say few words.
This day, Mr.. Speaker, will be sadly
memorable so long as this nation shall
endure, which God grant may be "till
the last syllable Of recorded time" when
the volume of human history is sealed up
and delivered to the omnipotent judge.
In all future time, on recurrence OF this
day, | doubt not the citizens of this Re
public will meet in solemn assembly to
reflect on the life of Abraham Lincoln,
and the awful tragic event of April IA,
1S65-an even unparalleled in the his
tory of nations, certainly unparalleled in
our own. It is eminently proper that
this House should this day place upon its
record Il memorial of that event.
The last five years have been marked
character Thousands of our people, be-
fore unknown TO fame, have taken their
place in history, crowned with immortal
honors. In thousands of humble homes
are dwelling heroes and patriots whose
names shall never die.
But the gretest among all these great
Developments were the character and
fame OF A braham Lincoln, whose loss the
nation still deplores His character is
aptly described. in the words of England's
greatest Characterization thirty years
ago--in which he traces the upward steps
Of some
'fDivinely gifted man,
Whose life in low estate began
And on 4 simple village green:
Who breaks his births lnvidious bar,
And grasps the skirts of happy chance,
and breasts the blows of circumstance,
And grapple with his evil star:
Who makes, by force, his merit known,
And lives to clutch the golden keys,
To mould mighty States DEGREES.
Ind shape the whisper Of the throne:
Aud moving upfrom high to higher,
Become. on Fortunes browning slope,
The pillar Of peoples hope, .r.
Tie center OF Worlds desire
Such a life and character will be treas
urel forever as the sacred possession of
the American people and of mankind.
II the great drama Of rebellion there
were two acts. The first was the war,
with It's battles and its seiges, victories
and defeats, its sufferings and tears
The act was closing one year ago to-
night, and just as the curtain was lifting
Oh the second scene and final act-the
restoration of peace and liberty-just as
the curtain was rising on new characters
and new events, the evil spirit of the re-
bellion, in the fury Of dispair, nerved and
directed the hand of an assassin to strike
the chief character Of both.
It was DO one man who killed Abra-
ham Lincoln: it was the embodied spirit
Of treason and slavery, inspired with
fearful and despairing hate, that struck
MIN Gown st the moment of the nations
supremest Joy.
Sir there are times in the history of
men and nations, when they stand so
near the veil that separates mortals from
immortals. time from eternity and men
from their God that they can almost
hear the beating.s and feel the pufsations
Of the heart of the Infinite.
Through such a time has this nation
passed. When 100000 brave spirits
passed from the field of honor through
that thin veil in the presence of God,
and when at last its parting folds admit
ted the martyr President to the company
Of these dead heroes OF. the Republic,
the nation stood so near the veil that
the WHISPERS Of God were heard by the
children of men.
Awe-stricken by his voice, the Ameri-
can people knelt in fearful reverence,
and made q solemn covenant with him
and with each other that this nation
should be saved from its enemies; that
all its gIories should be restored, and on
the ruins of slavery and treason the tenn
pies Of freedom and justice. should be
built and should survive forever.
It remains for US consecrated by that
great event and under q covenant with
God, to keep that faith, to 90 forward
in the great work until it shall be COM
pleted. .s
Following the lead of that great man,
and the high behests of God, let US re-
member that ,..e
HE has sounded forth a trumpet that shall
.. never call retreat;
He is sitting out the hearts of men before His
Judgment seat;
Be swift, my soul to answer him, be iubilant
my feet, .-.-
For God is marching on -
I move, sir, that this House do now
adjourn e
The motion was unanimously agreed
to, thereupon at fifteen minutes after II
9. clock the House adjourned.
DR. W. W. REED of Jefferson, is men
toned hr The dnnoocrahin 1,rnss as- q can-