The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-09

the many, whether popular or unpopular,
James A. Garfield would do what
he thought was right. A person once said
to him: IF you do SO and so this man will
not like it, Garfield replied, Garfield is
the only man that have got to eat with
and sleep with, and / am more anxious to
keep on good terms with Garfield than
with any other man."
AS [ behold the tragedy ct Washington
am impressed with the thought that the
honors of this world amount to very little.
1t was my privilege to be in the Chicago
convention when Garfield was nominated.
Never have I witnessed scene so thrilling
as the one Immediately following the NOM
ination. Seats arranged in the form of an
ampitheatre were occupied by twelve thou
sand persons Below were the delegations
from the several States, each with the flag
of its State. When it was found that Gar
field had received the majority of votes,
the delegates arose, and rushing to where
he sat, pale as death, they held over him,
as crowns of victory, the flags of all the
States in the nation. The bands attempt
ed to play "The Star-Spangled Banner"
but their notes were drowned out by the
mighty outburst of song in which twelve
thousand voices sang 1.-THE Battle-Cry of
Freedom Alas! not thirteen months are
Gate flashes the news that makes the ma
ton stand with bated breath, Garfield is
deadr' How little avail is worldly honor!
This thought recalls an incident in Gar
fields life. When a general in the army
he received telegram announcing the
death of one of his children-a child a year
or two old. He FASTENED home to attend
the funeral. He had not a suit of citizens
clothing suitable for the occasion and he
wore the uniform of a Majo General
When the funeral procession reached the
church, Garfield, alighting from
the carriage, took the little
white coffin in his arms, and carrying it
into the church. sat through the service
with that precious burden in his lap. He
afterwards said that when he sat there and
glanced from the stars on his shoulders to
the little white face, in its marble beauty,
he thought, as never before, how empty
are the honors of this world.
People ask, "Does this deed indicate
condition of things which threatens the over
throw of this Republic?' do not so re-
gard this event 1t does not appear that
this act has any political significance. 1t
was not the work of political party, but
the deed of reckless man. Democrats
and Republicans are one in deploring this
outrage. Each candidate may strive hard
for election, but it is the glory of this last
presidential campaign that the announce
ment of the result of the contest was the
accepted signal for the discontinuance of
hostilities between the two rival candidates.
No brighter page of our history will greet
the eyes of coming generations than that
on which is recorded the participation of
Gen. Hancock in the ceremonies of Gar
fields Inauguration. Between the two
there was no longer antagonism. Could he
have struck down the assassin before the
contamination of this hellish deed, the
sword of that Major General on Governors
Island would have been one of the first to
leap from its scabbard. When great po-
litical contest can end in this way, say not
that our Republic is trembling on the verge
of ruin
Moreover, there is an Overriding Power
on whose arm we rely. In times like this,
people are more inclined to recognize Him
who establishes thrones, and o'erturns
them; hands out crowns, and withholds
them. When the news of Lees sur
render reached Wall street, New York,
the bankers, representing every shade
of political opinion, came out en- mass into
the street and standing with uncovered
heads, sung the doxology, Praise God,
from whom all blessings fiow,' Skeptical
the story of Appomattox they discerned
the coming of the Lord. In great crises,
when nation is passing through its
Gethsemane and sweating as it were great
drops of blood, men like to behold that
invisible leader and catch the sound of
His trumpet.
When the news of Lincolns assassna-
ton reached New York city, the excite
ment which followed beggars description. |
There was building in which dispatches |
were received from Washington, and around |
that building was crowd that pack |
ed the streets as far as the eye could reach |
This mob was uncomfortable. Several
men were hanged to lamp posts, and
the police were powerless to quell the dis
turbances Speaker after speaker appeared |
on the veranda and told the crowd to be
patient but they would hear to no word of
counsel. Soon cry was made 1.-The
World" The WorIdf"-meaning news
paper published in that city. The mob |
with loud yells surged down in that direc- |
ton, intent on tearing the build |
ing to the ground. At this
juncture man comes out on the |
veranda and with voice like trumpet |
cries The Lord reigneth. Clouds |
end darkness are round about him; right |
eousness and judgment are the habitation |
Oh HIS InbEOQQC-
ton to a speech attracted instant attention. |
The mob halted; it was hushed to silence
and listened to the counsel that followed |
Y on will see why l selected these words |
for the text tonight when | tell you that
the man who quoted them on that occasion
was none other than James A. Garfield. |
His speech differed from all that had pre-
ceeded it in this: it called the attention of |
that frenzied mob to Him who not only |
paints the bloom upon the peach, but |
rules among the nations Of the earth. |
Now he has fallen by the bullet of an as
sassin, and anxious hearts enquire what viii
be the result. 2 Has the death knell of the
Republic sounded In answer to these
queries that now spring from our aching
hearts can / do better than to again bring
forth the words that then fell like bene-
diction from his eloquent lips: 1.-THE
Lord reigneth. Clouds and dark
ness are round about him, righteousness
and judgment are the habitation of his
throne"
Rheumatic Diseases.
These ailments follow from torpid liver