The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-07-28
[Examiner and Chronicle.l
President Garfield.

PCOPlC VI CNClJ C1NlllLCu
on the globe have joined with the peo-
pie of our own land in viewing with
mingled horror, Indignation and sor-
row the attempted assassination OF
President Garfield. This act is rightly
regarded everywhere as not only a
crime against this great nation, but a
crime against all nations, against all
government, against civilization itself.
The attendant circumstances make it
a crime without a parallel in our his
tory, If not in all history. God grant
that so it may remain!
No crime was ever more utterly un-
provoked. The American people were
proud of their President. He was
most emphatically man of the peo-
pie. His career was living illustra-
tion of the possible career open to
every American boy endowed with
brain and Drawn and pluck. Starting
in the race of life with prospects no
brighter, conditions no more favorable
than were those of the boy Abe Lin
coin, like that rugged son of toll and
perseverance he had by his own grit
and grip won his his way up, up-to
the highest place in the gift of the
nation. He came to it, too, fully
equipped for it's duties and response
bilities. The record of his character
and work during twenty years of pub
lie life was the guaranty of his ability
to conduct the Government wisely and
well. No man in the nation of fifty
millions of people stood higher in the
general esteem and confidence than
he. His long career in Congress had
marked him as one of the ablest and
most fearless of debaters, yet as one of
the gentlest and most amiable Of
men. He was nearly always on the
right side in every question, and his
voice gave forth no uncertain sound.
He became leader of his party by no
control of political machinery, by no
devices of the mere politician, but by
inherent right, by the power of his
mind and manhood. His experience
in public affairs at forty-eight was
such as few men attain. His views
and aims were on the high level of
the statesman and the patriot. He
was never among the class of self
perpetuating, spoils-seeking politi-
clans. And when he was raised to
the Presidency, it was with full recog-
milton of his work and worth, of his
splendid achievements as self-made,
high-minded, true-hearted Christian
man.
As President, few men not blinded
by partisanship will deny that he
oalo,,1o4ol 10 H1 ho
pectations of those who elected him.
All credit will be accorded his Admin
istration for the grand success at the
very outset, of the scheme for the re-
funding of the national debt, and for
the rigid investigation and following
up of the Star Route peculations. 1t
is safe to say that no Administration
ever accomplished more in like space
of time, or more thoroughly gained
the confidence and support of the
people as a whole. Not that the
President was so wholly different from
other men as not to be liable to err.
We believe that he did make mistakes.
But for all that, he was recognized as
one whose purposes and policy were
intended to secure fair treatment to
all, and to subserve the best interests
of the whole country as he saw them.
He was looked upon as broad enough
man to be President of the whole
people; and while thorough party
man, yet not partisan, nor the
leader of one faction against another,
but a ruler deserving the support and
favor of all good citizens, fit and
worthy successor of Washington and
Jefferson and Lincoln.
What makes the crime more start
ling, probably no public man in the
land had so few personal enemies as
President Garfield, so little reason to
apprehend or fear the assassin's bullet.
He was too large of heart to feed on
grudges or Willingly come to enmity
with any No man in Congress could
count so many friends, regardless of
party. His frank, open nature, his
unwillingness to infict the pain of a
refusal, his desire to be on good terms
with all the world-these are among
the best known traits of his character
He was a popular man in the best
sense of the word. His inability to
say No-not from a lack of moral
strength to do it, but from shrinking
to refuse a favor to anybody-has
been charged upon him as his most
conspicuous fault. Yet it was this
open-handed and open-hearted Presi-
dent that was made the murderer