Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-10-14

We have received a copy of the
Flint (Michigan) Globe, i'll which
is printed a sermon on "The
Death of President Garfield" deliv-
cred by Rev. A. w. Staircase. The
sermon was published at the request
of number of citizens of Flint.
The same paper also contains an
account Of the memorial services
heid in TINT place on the day of
the funeral of President Garfield
and 4 memorial address, by Rev. A.
w. Staircase, from which we quote
the following words of political wis
dom.
y I " 1t is largely, if not
generally conceded that President
Garfield has fallen n martyr to a
system of appointment that has
grown during the past half century
about our civil service. But he will
not have died in vain if out
of his death there shall come
the abolition Of vicious and dan
gerous practices, and the institu-
ton therefor of a rational. honest
and business-like organization of the
public service. There is no political
question to-day more pressing in its
Importance than this of civil service
reform. There is no question that
the people need more to take up
and agitate till it shall be made an
an established principle. We want
to bring the civil service back to the
custom of the fathers With the ex-
ception Of the heads Of departments,
when man Is appointed to office we
want it done on business principles,
such as will insure a faithful and con-
seientious performance Of specified
public duties, and we want the civil
arm of the service made as stable as
that of the army or the navy, SO
that it will be an impossibility for
any political party to remove men
from office for partisan causes and
thereby harm the public service.
This is 4 question in which the
whole people have an interest. With
it is connected the efficient and
economical administration of gov
eminent. That which is asked for
is the establishment of a method
regulating appointments that will
eliminate the element of favoritism
from the operation, and that will be
best calculated to give us office-hold-
ers Of thorough business training and
qualifications. The first of our states
men, irrespective of party names and
ties, are committed to these meas
ures Of reform. The public utter
ances Of the late President show that
it had his sympathy and support.
His administration was conducted
largely on this principle. The tragic
manner Of his death speaks more
eloquently than words in its favor.
His blood cries not for vengeance,
but for devotion to correct principles
Of administration Of government
God grant that it may give US re-
mission, that it may be the seed of
new and purified national life.
Oceans Of blood were shed before
the serf and the slave could win
their emancipation from either mas
ter or soil. The fires of the inquisi.
ton burned, the massacres of Alva
and the atrocities Of Cromwell, were
practiced before the principle of
religious liberation was won. Civil
wars, rebellions, revolts, revolutions,
have been necessary to break the
despotism Of sovereigns, ard to gain
the rights OF man. There is no hui
man suffering that is in vain. :" 1t
all seems to fill a great crueible,
whence issues pure gold. 1t wins its
merits, good, if not for the sufferer,
at least for others. We do no see
what each pang profits, but we may
be sure it is remedial somewhere.
There is, as it were, a great sea OF
tears, from which rise the vapors
that refresh the earth and produce
the flowers. The rivers Of sorrow
run down into the great reservoir
but return again in blessing 1t is
with this spirit that we to-day lay
our wreath on the bier of the dead
From his grave we look in hops
for harvest Of precious fruit fol
nation and people"