Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-07
4 YEAR AGO.

A YEAR AGO.
heard round the world was fred which de-
prived the Nation OF its Chief Magistrate.
So rapid has been the course Of events and so
crowded have been the intervening days
with significant happenings that the dreadful
tragedy seems to belong to the remote past
rather than to the last twcvcmonth and ii
is almost difficult to believe that il was OF
date so recent. And yet how well rcmem-
bcred arc those sad days which followed the
shoo,ing-the public excitement and the gen.
crous sympathy which followed the news as
it circled around the globe the cbb and flow
of hope as the news from the sick bed was
more or less encouraging the manifestations
of the Nations grief on those September days
which witnessed its rulers death and burial
For the first three weeks following the shoot
ing President Garfeld's physicians
were sangune and his ultimate re-
covery was confidently expected. On the
9Th of August au operation was performed
upon him by DIR. Agnew, and from that time
on, though there were alterations of hope
and despair as the President rallied or sank,
the public feeling was very Respondent. On
the 9th OF September President Garfield was
removed to Elbcron, to the now famous
Francklyn cottage, and there he died at 10:45
o'clock ON the evening of September 10Th.
All these things are of course very familiar
But of the late Presidents life and public
service what remains as u vital force to-
day? In our opinion, very much.
In the first place his career is not only a
perpetual encouragement for our young men
In its well earned triumph over material oh.
stacles too often accounted as absolutely in
superable, but it glorousy illustrates the
possibilities of our plan of government. In
| his long sickness the innate nobility of his
nature shone with splendid brightness, and
of the sting of death. And so living and
| dying he was a representative product of our
| institutions of whom the whole country was
| justly proud and whose name will be held
principles for which he contended are win
| ming the day, and they have gained vastly
in strength from his espousal and advocacy
OF them. The reform Of the civil service,
which he constantly advocated both with the
tongue and pen, is making sure progress and
can not be long delayed. lie stood in the
foremost ranks Of the advocates of honest
money, and his views on this question are now
almost universally accepted. In his inaugural
and by his official actions he preached the
gospel of reconciliation with the South, and
from his accession to the Presidency may
almost be said to date that new birth of the
South which we are now witnessing and
which is so full Of glorious possibilities. In
these and other respects President Garfield
was leader, and his advocacy of the prin-
cip!es he cspoused gave them an impetus
which still exists, even though ten months
have elapsed since his death and though the
country has witnessed radical change in
governmental affairs so far as party politics
| are concerned.
The world is better for President Gar
fields having lived in it ; the cause of good
government has been advanced by his Of.
forts; the progressive element Of the party
has been strengthened by his leadership.
From this it is not of course to be assumed
] that the late President was faultless He was
| far from it. His mistakes were many, and
grave. But taking broad grounds and look.
| ing at principles and results, the man and
his influence were such as we have said. And
on these anniversary days it Is well to turn
our eyes backward to that grand figure and
take fresh courage and hope.