St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-09-23

The Presidents Death.


To-day the American nation is over
whelmed with grief, and mourns the
loss of its beloved Chief Magistrate,
who, after eighty days of suffering,
died at Long Branch on Monday night.
For the past week hope has been grad
ually given up, and his death was not
unexpected nevertheless, upon mill
ions of the American people the blow
falls with all the crushing force OF
personal bereavement. He was our
President. We trusted him and loved
him as we know how to love and trust
our Executive. His days were full of
promise, and his administration was to
be one which the people should APP
prove. He was "A strong mana Chris
tian hero and statesman on whom the
nation could rely. But the hand of the
assassin was raised against him and he
fell, martyr in the cause of right gov
eminent. We are not without hope,
for we are strong people : but our loss
is great. We had hoped so much from
him, and he is cut down in the prime
of his manhood. Men of all parties,
who were not blinded by party preju-
dice, admired him; but the object of
their admiration is removed. The ma
ton sits in sack-clOth and ashes Ill the
presence of Death, who has laid his icy
A. III a1fN vol nf
ford to lose.
James Abram Garfield was born in
Orange, Ohio, in November, 1881, and
was therefore almost fifty years old !;
graduated at Williams college i'll 1856,
and took up the profession of law :;
member of the Ohio senate in 1889 and
1860; in 1861 entered the army as col
onel of the 42d Regiment Volunteers ;
appointed brigadier in 1862 in 1863
was appointed chief of staff to Gen.
Rosecrans elected to the 3Sth congress
in 1862, and was in the House of Rep
resentatives till January, 1880, when
he was chosen "a United States Senator
for the Presidency elected by rous-
ing vote in November, and inaugural
ed i'll March of the present year. His
ability as a statesman was unquestlon-
ed, while his character as a man and
"A Christian made him beloved by all
who knew him. His speeches dur
ing his long service in Congress were
always worth hearing, and he was fOI
many years the acknowledged leader
of the Republicans there.
President Garfield's death of course
the hands of Mr.. Arthur, towards
whom the eyes of the nation are now
turned. He has it in his power to gain
the good will of the people by refusing
to make any radical departure from Mr.
Garfeld's proposed policy, of which
the Cabinet are so well informed, and
which they are able to eXemplify II
permitted to do so. Or Mr.. Arthur
has it i'll his power to unsettle national
affairs by weak and vacillating ad-
ministration and by introducing
changes at the beck of those who will
no doubt endeavor to influence him
Which will he dO9 The coming
months will reveal it. Let us not pre-
judge him, but hold him up us best we
can till he shall prove himself unwor,
thy. We trust he will prove equal t.
the great responsibility thus suddenly
thrown upon him.
As for Guiteau, the law will dea
justly with him. No mob violence II
called for. The wretch will suffer al
extreme penalty; but however severe
his punishment, it cannot compensate
for the woe which is brought upon tn,
nation. He must be left to Him wh'
avenges all wrong, and who only cal
fifty punish Guiteau's damning crime