Smyrna times., 1881-07-13
The Presidents Mother.

AHSlC HIS pccIl no more significant |
point i'll the history of the tragedy at |
Washington to the waiting. breathlcss |
Nation, than the part which his wife and |
mother have borne in il. Millions of men
and women TO whom the President was |
really but vague name, symbol of
power, and General Garfield, perhaps. a
political enemy, have felt their hearts
thrOb and eyes fill at the thought Of the
far and delicate woman, 50 dear to him,
whom he had with his own hands Just
faithfully nursed back from the borders of
the grave fastening to him on the flying
train TO hold him in her weak arms, to
help him with her prayer and love. in his
long and heroic fight with Death. The
sight brings the White House down to a
level with the poorest cabin in which
there is love and faith, and makes its in
mates the kin Of every household in the
land.
Nobody has forgotten, too, how on the
day of his Inauguration, when he took the
oath which made him ruler of fifty mil
lions of people, he quickly turned from
the waiting diplomatists hearing the con-
gratulations Of all other rulers and from
the applauding crowds, to little, plainly
dressed, Whitc-haired woman seated be-
hindhim stopped and reverently kissed her.
1t was his mother. Yesterday the news
OF his assassination, which had been kept
from her, was broken to her by her daugh-
ter. She heard it with kind of stunned
amazement. "How could anybody be so
cold-heartcd as to kill my baby?'' she
said.
lie was soldier to others; patriot.
the representative of certain far-reach-
ing national policy; to the world beyond,
the chosen ruler of a mighty people But
he was only "her baby still to her
james" whO as she so often while in
Washington said with simple dignity,
"has always been a good boy" 1t does
not seem so long ago to her since she held
him i'll her arms, or trained him to be a
true, obedient son. He might command
millions of people Of every race and
country, but he still obeyed the aged
trembling woman; who, when she heard
of his cruel wounds, cried out, Lord
help mer' "The sword entered her owl
soul also"
There is not a home in the land, We
venture to say, where the agOnized cry o
this feeble mother will be heard withou
profound emotion. Beyond everythin;
else, the American is domestic, home
loving man. He is a politician, Stal
wart, a Democrat but he is first of all anC
under all son, husband and father. Hi
ruler will never be to him as to the Euro
pcan, tyrant, vague power separated
from him by such a gulf of differing ranl
l and interests that he hardly recognize
5 him as human.
+ Yet while the Nation stands with awe
heart and barred head beside that couch Q
5 pain and mortal danger, it cannot wash it
l hands in innocency Of his blood. Amer
' cans will never become assassins, but the
| are office-seekcrs, greedy and vOracious
' they are factiOus politicians, savage an
f unscrupulOus; and James Garfield fell
t martyr to these national vices. From tn
G day of his nomination, his quiet home wa
t invaded and ruined by the merciles
hordes; he has struggled with them eve
1 since, and it was a disappointed Office
i seeker, set on fire by faction, who fire
$ the murderOus shot. AS his old mothe
e weeps over her good boy" and waits
t such be the will of God--tO lay him t
e rest for the last time, the country whic
# is given up to political greed cannot hol
c itself guiltless of her suffering and his
;. n. y. Tribune