Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-10-15

Swell might we make the same remark,
I. touching other events of life. This is no
Haccident, no chance event; it teaches us
8this lesson, TO trust in God, the Sovereign
1s;iler; who would ever impress upon our
Sminds the solemn truth that life is uncer-
3tain, but death is certain?
Il Secondly. Is not this sad calamity de
gsigned to bring a great nation to sober
srefection? A nation does not appear at its
Z best estate and in its most healthy condi-
3 ton, when engaged in war or when rush
Ring onward in mad career of worldly
gprosperity, and call hearts. are chilled in
the eager pursuit of wealth" and when
1.-THE motto is, to the victors belong the
Rspoils" Now this was Just the lamenta-
1ble state of political affairs when the
eattention of the whole country is sud
gdenly arrested by the terrible news of
President Garfeld's assassination. The
4 first burst of furious Indignation breaks
Jupon the doomed head of the man who
4 has dared to plot and execute so helish al
sdeed While the murdered President lies
isnffering and pining away, thoughtful
Jmen, and patriotic statesmen and humble
Il Christinns, enquire, " Is Guiteau the only,
ssinncr among the millions of America2 Isl
anot this odious and detestable deed shared
Gin by many others7" Many eminent
writers do not hesitate to declare in print,
Z" that this crime was the result OF the|
x spoils SYSTEM" God deals with nations
aon the principle that he deals with indi-
sviduals. National sins bring down Heav-!
sen's displeasure. "The assassination of
President Garfield was judgment uponl
J Our nation" Thus good and noble, patri-
2otic and true men reason. The nation isl
3made up Of individuals, now so far asI
individuals uphold the "spoils system u
for any other great national sin or crime,
leading to such crimes, just so far indivi
3duals are guilty of Garfield's assassina-
I tion. God has brought the nation to|
gserious and sober reflection, and if the!
gresult shall be to lead to national reforms,
sthen Garfield will not have died in vain.i
j How often has the assassination of Lin
Scoln been attributed to slavery? May we!
5not with equal propriety say, that Gar
fields assassination may be attributed toI
Sthat miserable system of spoliation, which,
Sis deplored by all good citizens and true
Spatriots? The American people are reflect
fling upon this subject, and not moment
atoo soon.
4 Read Assassination and The Spells!
System, in Princeton Rerieo for Septem-
q ber, 1881.
n 7hirdly The assassination and death of
APresident Garfield has led the Americana
gpcople- certainly-all true Christians of
Esevery denomination in that land, to reflect
Supon the subject of prayer. l do not
abeieve 80 many earnest and fervent
Sprayers were ever before offered in the
Espace of two-and-a half months, offered
Sfrom the I'd of July to the 10Th of Sep
stember. AS the long summer days have
sslowly passed away, how many earnest
-. - IL
spare the life of the beloved President.
spresents but few parallels like it. All believ-
cling in prayer have most earnestly prayed.
n Governors have called upon the people
Sof their Several States to pray. Religious
sbodies and Conventions have prayed.
millions OF private Christians have prayed.
EGod has not seen fit to answer these
sprayers, in exact accordance with the
u thoughts and wishes of the petitioners AS
sa rule, however, God either answers our
4 prayers in accordance with our petitions
Cor He gives us something better. We
Unjust remember the words of the text,
X" For my thoughts" etc The people
Shave prayed that President Garfield might
,ssbe spared. This was right prayer, but
Wifi God has seen fit he should die, may it
Anot be proved true that his death shall re-
tsult in far greater blessing than Garfield s.
4 life? Life and death are mysterious sub
y iects. Christ said, "And l, if be lifted
Cup, will draw all men unto Me-" What
!! marvellous words! How far reaching their
smysterious influence, have we not been
stold in eloquent words in Fort Street
!, Church, two days ago, how Garfeld's
sdeath had made the American people one b
q We are not living in universe of chaos
Sand disorder. ''As in the vast and mysteri-
Y Gus laboratory of the physical universe, y
Sremarks one who has long meditated upon
this subject-the Rev. I. Coan, "God is
sanalyzing, combining and centralizing all
gelements, all forces all changes, bringing
F3order out of apparent confusion, and shin
ding worlds out of chaotic darkness; so in
!. the moral universe, His unseen hand is
slever busy controlling all spiritual dyna-
Smics, evolving good out Of evil, light out of
E:darkness, allegiance out of rebellion, love
.out of hatred, peace ont of war and life
i,out of death. Above the clouds, darkness
'Sand tempest, above the ruin and wreck of
Siwars, of intemperance, of seltishness, of
oppression, of brutality, lof assassination
e above the awful darkness and superstition
sof our race, above the seething and surg
n ing of human passions, and above all, the
\ bad elements 4 fallen natures, Jehovah
= spcuhS III u VOICE WHICH, TeuSsuTeS nlS tOll-
ling, weeping, fainting servants amidst
sthe din and conflict of earth and which
bawakes echoing shouts ON the heavenly
shills,
\ behold make all things new" and
Hagain l repeat the words of my text.
81" For my thoughts" &c.
Il Fourthiy. The death of President Gar
Siield appears admirably designed to hum
\ BILE the nation. Humility in an individual is
Zone OF the noblest Christian graces, but
4 how much more when manifested in n
ygreat nation made up of fifty millions.
q Ninevah is an example, when humbled by
,sthe preaching of Jonah. The American
speople are inclined to pride and boastful-
Aness. These are their peculiar national
Esi rs. They are a rich people and becom.
u .g more so. The result is to foster ma
s.ional pride and vanity. How few in their