Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-16
SouruaI artO Guurier.
Saturday Morning, July 16. 1881.
Local News.
[FOr other Local News see Second Psge.I
Tribute to General Garfield.

For other Local News see Second PsgeI
 
 Tribute to General Garfield.
 The following is a full sketch of an admir- able discourse given by Rev. Burdett Hart, of the First church, Fair Haven, on Sunday last
 It is a relief to turn from the criminal to the great sufferer. Lincoln, by his martyr dom, passed to 8 sublime apotheosis in the thought and affection of this great nation. If General Garfield should not die, it may not be given to him to reach the same exalted position, but he will take place in the love and confidence and loyalty of this responsive people which has never been filled by any living man since the days of Washington, and which will even surpass that which Washing ton held while he was alive.
 The wound and sufferings of General Gar field have brought to light characteristics of the man which are endearing him to the whole American people, and which are mark ing him as the man of the age. The nation needed some idealizing of it's chief citizen. We have sunken into materialistic moods and have measured men by low worldly metes. Our heroes have moved in low planes ot manhood. They have been worldly and sell fish and have lacked the greatness which 1n- spires example and exalts imitation. There has been little in them which we could com mend as high morality and which worked with uplifting and sanctifying energy on the national character. Our heroes have been only average men.
 But here is one who is showing the signs of rare nobility; who is ranking with the prominent leaders of history who is inspir- ing the nation by his example; who is exalt- ing the standard of American manhood.
 We knew something of General Garfield before. We knew him as a representative Of American growth, showing what apph cation and energy and ll-power can do in this free republic. For we had seen him starting from common life, in an ordinary home, With the average advantages of an American boy. lie inherited the blood of New England ances- try blood which has been proved to De equa. to any blood in the services and contests or human life He had noble mother, who be- lieved in God and who taught and trained her s'baby," as she still tenderly call James, to bow to Him as father and to love Him as saviour. We knew how true son he had proved himself to be- The boy who stands by his mother, who shares in the burdens and struggles of poverty, in the prlvatlons and ambitions of a family winning a way in the world, is laying the foundations of & true manhood.
 We knew how he had spurned his disad- vantages and risen superior to them; how he had toiled in manly fashion at manual service that would give him livelihood; how he had looked on to something better and higher to education, as to be gained; to manhood, to be won; to greatness of character, as to be achieved; toservice of God as the chief glory. We knew that he had accomplished already great results; that he had come forth with honor from college walls; that he had taken strong place in pro- fessional life; that he had won the confidence of his fellow citizens and had held the rank of victorious political leader, had repre- | sented his people in Congress after Congress, | and had been raised to the dignity of na- tional Senator We knew how sterling a patriot he was, how when treason defantly assailed the life of the nation he had re- | signed his professional pursuits and taken the field as soldier, willing to give his life, | if need be, that the country and the constitu- l tiOn might be saved. We knew how bra ve | he had been in war; with what indomitable | energy he had led his troops where danger was greatest, and with what force of determi- | nation he had commanded victory We knew l something of the great work he had done ] when the storm of war had passed to repair | it's desolations and to reconstruct the dis l ordered fragments of national life. Few men l among our statesmen saw so clearly what the nation needed; few worked so courageously l and successfully to make the right supreme and to amend the constitution in harmony with our altered relations, to prepare the nation for it's new life of freedom and union. We knew how unexpectedly to himself and when he had faithfully worked for another, he was himself called to the candidature for | the highest position in the republic. And | we knew how masterfully he had laid hold on the helm of State, as though he were the born and pre-ordained ruler of great repub- lie and how at the beginning of an suspicious administration he had gained the confidence of statesmen everywhere and of his country ! men throughout the land.
 But, with all this we did not know the se- cret of his life, the hiding of his character, the real greatness of the man. These have l been revealed in the experiences of trial, and 1 one short eventful week has shown us the true greatness of Garfield. Wounded. as was feared mortally, with many chances of death l and with but one chance of life, he said courageously, We will take that chance. With all thoughts of 5O,OOO,OOO of fellow l citizens, of inhabitants of many lands, cen Etering in him. his first thought was for his true and noble wife, and he sent his first message of love to her Surrounded by ablest physicians and sympathetic statesmen l and the members of his own household, his supreme confidence was in the almighty and merciful God; general who knew him l well has said 'EJames A. Garfield as man in every place of life in college as a l soldier, as member of Congress, as poll l tician and as President, has been constant, unfeigned, praying man. Looking death in the eye, he has placed his life in Gods care, and is fighting the battle of life
 for you and me- He is a firm | God, accepting it's statements authorita- 1 tive and so crediting the immortality of the 1 human soul, the eternal happiness of those 1 who believe in Christ and the eternal misery
 of those who refuse salvation by his blood.
 From his bed of suffering, and, as was SUD- posed. from deadly wounding, he calmly | looked the great facts of futurity in the face
 and expressed his readiness to meet them. He built his hope on the foundation which is
 the Rock of Ages He trusted in the divine Saviour of sinful souls. He looked up to God as Father reconciled to him
 through the atonement of the Lord Jesus. Great as he was in his nature high as he was in position, he was humble disciple and fol
 lower of Christ, and in that alone he gained confidence for his immortality: And this was no new experience. It was the method ot his life. He had not put off salvation to 8 time of danger. In the glow and strength o1 early manhood he had chosen the Redeeme1 as his friend and had lived by faith in Him. In that faith he had lived in student days and | in the early struggles of professional life. He 1 had carried that faith into the manly contests of politics and into the high debates of Con
 gress The path of public, as of private
 duty for him was that which was pointed out by divine wisdom.
 By faith he girded on the sword when trea l son threatened the national existence, an6 through the deadly perils of battle he bore the charmed life of a Christian hero. He knew no fear His bugles were never or
 dered to sound retreat. When on the field ot | Chickamauga, Rosecrans, brave as a hero
 despaired of victory, Garfield would no
 fall back but he led his troops forward | where, in the distance he heard the guns ot 1 Thomas laundering on the enemy, and there
 he contributed to the victory. It was always
 enough for him to hear on the field the roal
 of cannon to know where his presence and | k1--