Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-09-20
THE WEEKLY GLOBE
ST. PAUL, TUESDAY, SEPT. 20, 1881.
IN MEMORI4M

mas come. DeIWeen ten anu eleven CLOCK
last night the sad news was flashed from
one end of the land to the other in two
brief but suggestive words,
''President deod''
Better for the President personally if
the bullet had been more Immediately
fatal, but for the country the
prolongation of his life has made
preparation for the shock. Preparation,
so far as the human mind can be pre-
pared for so terrible an event, but
still shocked at the final blow
and made inexpressibly sad over
the intelligence that the brave fight for
life has ended; that the noble brain no
longer exists; that the great heart lies
pulseless and still.
The death of James A. Garfield plunges
the nation into deeper degree of mourn
ing than was ever before experienced.
When Lincoln was assassinated, the
country was divided by civil war and al
most glut of bloodshed had somewhat
blunted the sensibllities relative to any
one person. The fatal bullet which
pierced President Garfield on the second
of July, came like thunder clap from a
clear sky. Peace and prosperity were
reigning throughout the land, and the
chief thought at the time was relative to
the Joyous celebration of the nation s
birthday. In twinkling, all
this was changed. Preparations
for the jubilee ceased and what
ever of political difference or ami
mostly existed, was buried in the COM
mon grief and anxiety. There was no
divided sentiment anywhere in the land.
Prayers for the Presidents recovery
assembled. regardless of political or religi-
GUS creeds. Sympathy for his afflicted
family welled up and overfowed the
White House itself. All through these
dreary weeks the national sentiment has
fuctuated between hope and fear, as the
health barometer in the national sick room
went up or down. Blessings for the suf-
ferer and execration for the assassin, have
been the one sentime. not only here,
but throughout the eli, led world.
And now, in this l of NATIONAL
mourning, one who knew i'm long and
we'll, would fain lay .plet wreath
upon his pulseless brow, az :e last offer
ing which life can rende INTO death.
Like all mortals, James 4 field was
not faultless, but the county never
produced man who more closet desired
to follow his convictions of right. Over
quarter of century ago, before he had
ever held an Office or made political
speech, other than purely local, the writer
heard him in the pulpit, and
the earnest sincerity there exhibited
made an impress which time
can never efface. 1t was not the empty
mouthing of an insincere man, but
the manifest utterance of convictions
thoroughly considered and firmly plant
ed The death of the State Senator from
Portage and Summit counties, Ohio,
brought him Unexpectedly into the polit-
ical arena. He was with great unanim-
ity, called from the pulpit and the school
to political life, and he entered that new
field with the same firm, conscientious
convictions, characteristic of his other
callings. His term of service began
in the memorable winter of seces
sion, and he Immediately took a
prominent place among the public
men of the State. His eloquent utter
ances had given him such a position,
that though he had been scarcely six
weeks in public life when President Lin
coin and family halted at Columbus
en- route to the Inauguration, he was
chosen master of ceremonies and deliv-
cred the leading welcoming address to
the President elect. The legislature was
still in session when Sumpter was at.
tackled and Gov. Dennison rendered the
rising young man a Colonel's commits
sion. Having no military education
or experience he naturally shrank
from taking such command and of
choice accepted lieutenant colonel's
position. He left the legislature to raise
regiment, which was speedily accom-
pllshed, and took the field in West Vir-
glnia and Kentucky. His ability was
so marked that though he had modestly
shrank from assuming command of a reg
iment at the outset, within month af-
ter he was in active service he was placed
in charge of brigade. From this time
forward his history is part of the histo-
rv of the country and is familiar to all