The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-01

huSled utterly ana In moment all party
strife; that it has suspended the eager
whlrl and rush of business, closed the
marts of trade and made the day the
that ever passed on earth, for funeral
attended by fifty millions OF mourners
Is a wonderful spectacle.
Let us consider for moment the sig
nilicance of the strange events that are
passing before us to-day Six months
ago the man for whom we mourn tins
day seemed standing upon the very
highest summit Of human attainment.
He had been chosen by the people To the
highest Office in the nation. He had Just
taken the solemn oath that was his inl-.
tiation INTO his great office. He had
spoken words of hope and wisdom to the
vast throngs who were witnesses OF the
scene, and then had pressed upon his
mothers lips the kiss which was in that
hour of triumph the atfectionate ac-
acknowledgement that to her care and love
he owed his power of leadership among
men. And the great office whose duties
he then assumed was not, as in the days
when Abraham Lincoln entered upon 1t,
assumed with doubt and fear because
the heavy clouds of civil war hung over
the nation. All was peace. Prosperity
had returned to bless the land. The
the strongest nation on the earth. The
average of human happiness was higher
among us than among any other people.
He stood in the prime of manhood, erect
and strong, the foremost man OF the
foremost nation in the world. Alas in
this life of ours, :" How swift treads sOr-
row on the heels of joy"
In the ancient mythology we find a
Nemesis who brought sorrow to those
who seemed to be too happy. 1t was
but the embodiment in myths OF human
experience in every age. -Four months
of successful administration of the gov
eminent had secured the confidence OF
the entire people irrespective of party.
1t was seen and known that his highest
purpose was to secure an honest, pure
and intelligent administration OF the
affairs of the government, and that pur-
pose was being carried out with capac-
ity and intelligence that gave assurance
of success. On the second day OF July
he was stricken down by the hand OF an
assassin. All how many hearts that
felon blow has reached And for nearly
three months the nation has been watch
ing over his bed of pain with the ten
derest interest, hope and fear rapidly
alternating with each other until the sad
ending has come. During all this weary
watching and waiting the nation has
seen the character of the man illustrated
as perhaps it never could have been UNI
der other conditions. 1t was my privi-
lege to know him intimately for many
years, and | propose to speak to you OF
his character as it seemed to me. There
was in him a combination OF mental
qualities rarely combined in a single per-
son. He was a man of resolution and
courage proven in the battlefield and in
the strife of debate, and more perfectly
shown by the manner in which he has
borne the terrible agony of these last
weeks. 1.-The best patient that ever
was" said his physicians, "subnlitting
to painful surgical operations without a
word but certainly, if it is best " This
resOlute courage was combined with the
utmost gentenesS and tenderness such
as could only make home like his. |
have seen him, assailed maliciously, as |
thought, in debate by men with not a
1.-THE of his mental power, reply with
telling effect and yet with the utmost
courtesy refusing to be led into personal
vituperation. Such a combination of
courage, strength and gentleness is all |
too rare, and always where 1t exists con
stitutes gentleman. ..lBftc a % M. ms char
IrccttffSps farer among distinguished 'hle}H
He was a man of great mental power |
CoulDiuCu Will IAC iiIGhSco ihoi.si oSi''c'
There is often a pride connected with |
conscious strength and mental power |
incompatible with the humility which
strives above all things to keep a con.
science void Of offense towards God and
man. With all the greatness and brill
fancy of his mental power President
Garfield was a humble, sincere christian,
always ready in all proper places to avow
his faith and to give reason for it, and
SO he became the man he was. In his
character was that rare union of courage
and gentleness, conscious power and hui
mility of life which gave him power
dure with heroism long, weary months
OF torture, and which enabled him to
meet death without a murmur or fear.
In the presence of the influences attend
ing his life and death we may deeply
realize the truth, the memory of the
Just is blessed"
And who was this man who achieved
80 much, and what aids had he which so
enabled HIM to rise above his fellows?
No adventurous aid of birth or family
influence smoothed the distractions on
his road to the most exalted eminence
of position and to the highest place in
the affections of his countrymen. Born
in humble station, he had always to con-
to encounter. His father moved into
the woods of Orange, Cuyahoga county,
Ohio. in January, 1880, and purchased
upon credit fifty acres of forest land,
which he and his wife expected to clear
up and pay for by the labor of their own
hands. James A. Garfield was born No
vember 10, 1881, and was but one year
and half old when his father died from
Overwork and exposure. HIS family
were left 1.-THE widow and four small
chlldren) in exceedingly Strengthened
Twenty acres of the
small farm were sold at once to meet
their absolute wants, and On the remain
ing thirty Mrs. Garfield kept the family
together and reared her family to adult
age. She was a good woman, of intrepid
spirit, thorough christian character, and
well trained to self-rellant habits. She
met her difficulties with true heroism,
N.,s. al hos OBJ, 10