The National tribune., 1881-09-24
WASHINGTON, D. c., SEPTEMBER "a, 1881
God ReignS.

But a little more than sixteen years ago, in the
city of New York, upon the occasion of the death
of President Lincoln, General James A. Garfield,
then Representative in Congress, uttered these
memorable words:
"FELLow-C w-CITIzENs-Clouds and darkness are
around about Him. His pavilion is dark waters
and thick clouds of the skies Justice and Judg-
ment are the establishment of His throne! Mercy
and Truth shall 90 before His face! Fellow-citi-
zens, GOD REIGNs AND THE GOVERNMENT AT
WASHINGTON STILL LIVES"
On the 4th of March last General Garfield en-
tered upon the duties of the high Office to which
he had been but recently chosen, and began his
Presidential career under the most favorable au-
spices. The country was at peace prosperity was
abroad in the land, and all things, apparently,
conspred TO secure to him quiet and prosper
Gus administration. On the I'd of July, four
months after he had taken the Presidential oath
of office he was vilely stricken down at the Ma
tion's Capital, in the broad light of day and in
the very presence of the whole civilized world.
The shot that laid him low was felt in every
loyal heart, without regard to party feeling Or
personal preiudices throughout the length and
breadth of the United States; and the sharp report
of the assassin's pistol echoed from continent to
continent until it had spanned the globe.
Since that fateful and terrible event, and until
the night of the 18th of the present month, fifty
millions of people have been engaged in testing
for the Chief Magistrate of the Nation. The I'M
pulse to execute vengeance upon the foul MUIR
derer of the President and of the peoples peace
has been subjected to the universal respect for
the requirements of law, and individual sorrows
and sufferings have been merged in, and to great
extent overshadowed by, the greater public mis-
fortune.
The end, which many foresaw and all feared
has at length arrived. General Garfield, the de-
voted son and husband the loving parent, the
kind and sincere friend, the man of the people,
the scholar the soldier the statesman, the earnest
patriot and late the President of the United
States. is dead. The fell destroyer that so rude
1y severed the tender cords which bound him to
his family and to his trusted bosom friends, also
snapped the stronger chain Of duty that bound
him TO the State. His loss thus becomes double
bereavement His gentle, patient, and devoted
wife mOurns for him, and there is no comfort for
her outside of Him who ruleth the lives and for
tunes of all. His children sorrow as they only can
who have lost noble, loving and devoted parent
Friends weep because they shall no more see
his manly form, nor longer drink inspiration
from his words of kindness and wisdom as they
listen to the voice of his teachings. And then,
beside all these whose personal relations were
such as to bring them nearest to the great heart
now stilled forever, joining its grief with theirs
the Nation stands with bowed head struck dumb,
rs it were, by the great calamity that has fallen
upon the people There are clouds and darkness
all around. But justice and judgment are estab-
lshed in the land and in this all hearts may find
comfort. Mercy and truth shall 90 before the
face of the Lord, and the final ending whatever
it may be, of what now is shall be to His honor
and glory. God reigns, and the Government at
Washington still lives"