The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-10-12

accident. no CUduCe eNtuOs ~ podSHOS III
this lesson, to trust in God, the Sovereign
Ruler; who would ever impress upon ou
minds the solemn truth that life Is uncer
tain, but death is certain?
Secondly. Is not this sad calamity de
signed to bring great nation to sober
reflection? A nation does not appear at It's
best estate and in its most healthy condi
ton, when engaged In war or when rush
/ ing onward in a mad career of worldly
prosperity. and all hearts are chilled il
] the eager pursuit of wealth." and when
1 the motto is, ito the victors belong the
spoils" Now this was just the lamenta-
/ bic state of political affairs when the
attention of the whole country is sud
sdenly arrested by the terrible news OF
President Garfeld's assassination. The
4 first burst of furious indignation breaks
supon the doomed head of the man who
has dared to plot and execute so hellish a
4 deed. While the murdered President lies
suffering and pining away, thoughtful
men. and patriotic statesmen and humble
Christians, enquire. " Is Guiteau the only
sinner among the millions of America? Is
not this odious and detestable deed shared
in by many others?" Many eminent
writers do not hesitate to declare IN print
+" that this crime was the result of the
4 spoils system" God deals with nations
on the principle that he deals with indi-
viduals. National sins bring down Heav-
TENS displeasure. 1.-The assassination of
President Garfield was a judgment upon
Tour nation" Thus good and noble, patri-
. otto and true men reason. The nation is
made up of individuals, now so far as
individuals uphold the "spoils system y
or any other great national sin or crime,
Heading to such crimes, Just so far lndlvi-
sduals are guilty of Garfeld's assassina-
/ ton. God has brought the nation to
serious and sober reflection, and if the
result shall be to lead TO national reforms,
/ then Garfield viii not have died in vain.
! How often has the assassination of Lin
\ coin been attributed to slavery? May we
I mot with equal propriety say, that Gar
Fields assassination may be attributed to
THAT miserable system of spoliation, which
/ is deplored by all good citizens and true
patriots? The American people are reflect
/ ing upon this subject, and not moment
too soon.
Read Assassination and The Spoils
System, in Princeton Re0ieo for Septem-
Der. 1881
Thirdly. The assassination and death of
President Garfield has led the American
people certainly-al true Christians of
every denomination in that land, to reflect
upon the subject of prayer. | do not
believe so many earnest and fervent
PRAYERS were ever before offered in the
space of two-and-a half months, offered
sfrom the I'd of July to the 18th of Sep
stember AS the long summer days have
slowly passed away, how many earnest
prayers have gone up that God would
sspare the life of the beloved President
4 The history of the world and of prayer
presents but few parallels like it. All believ-
ling in prayer have most earnestly prayed.
sGovernors have called upon the people
4 of their Several States to pray. Religious
sbodies and Conventions have prayed.
Millions of private Christians have prayed.
1God has not seen fit to answer these
prayers, in exact accordance with the
Thoughts and wishes of the petitioners. As
/ rule, however, God either answers our
prayers in accordance with our petitions
1 or He gives us something better We
must remember the words of the text,
|" For my thoughts" etc. The people
.have prayed that President Garfield might
be spared. This was right prayer, but
lif God has seen fit he should die, may it
not be proved true that his death shall re
/ suit in a far greater blessing than Garfield's
life? Life and death are mysterious sub
iects. Christ said, And /, if / be lifted
i up, will draw all men unto Me-" What
marvellous wordsl How far reaching their
mysterious influence, have we not been
told in eloquent words in Fort Street
Church, two days ago, how Garfield's
death had made the American people one -?
We are not living in universe of chaos
and disorder. "As in the vast and mysteri-
Gus laboratory of the physical universe, y
remarks one who has long medltated upon
this subject-the Rev. L. Coan, God Is
sanalyzing, combining and centralizing all
elements, all forces, all changes, bringing
order out of apparent confusion, and shin
/ ing worlds out of chaotic darkness; so in
the moral universe, His unseen hand is
ever busy controlling all spiritual dyna-
mics, evolving good out of evil, light out of
darkness, allegiance out of rebellion, love
lout of hatred, peace out of war and life
out of death Above the clouds, darkness
and tempest, above the ruin and wreck of
wars, of intemperance, of seltishness, of
oppression, of brutality, of assassination
labove the awful darkness and superstition
Iof our race, above the seething and surg
ing of human passions, and above all, the
bad elements of fallen natures, Jehovah
speaks in voice which treasures his toll
ling, weeping, fainting servants amidst
the din and conflict of earth and which
Iawakes echoing shouts On the heavenly
Ehills,
"Behold / make all things new," and
again repeat the words of my text.
t. For my thoughts" &c.
Foaqhly The death of President Gar
field appears admirably designed to hum
BILE the nation. Humility in an individual is
one of the noblest Christian graces, but
how much more when manifested in a
great nation made up of fifty millions.
Ninevah is an example, when humbled by
the preaching of Jonah. The American
people are inclined to pride and boastful-
ness. These are their peculiar national
S; IS They are rich people and becom-
d " more so. The result is to foster ma
uional pride and vanity. How few in their
pride and success stop to reflect that God
rules and governs the nation. Remember
those words of Moses, in the 18th of Deu1
|teronomy, Beware that thou forget not
the Lord thy Coolest when thou hast
eaten and are full, and hast built goodlyI
houses, and dwelt therein. And when thy
herds and thy focks multiply, and thy|
silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all
that thou hast is multiplied. Then thine
heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lore
thy God. IS And thou say in thy heart
my power, land the might of mine hand
hath gotten me this wealth. But thou
II I +