Huntsville gazette., 1882-03-04

der Campbell, the greatest preacher OF his
first, that Bethany leaned too heavily toward
slavery; and second, that being himself
Disciple and the son of Disciple parents. he
had little acquaintance with people OF other
beliefs, and he thought it would make him
more liberal, quoting his own words, both In
religious and general views, to go into new
circle and be under new influences. The lib
eral tendency which he anticipated as the re-
suit of wider culture was fully realized. He
was emancipated from mere sectarian belief,
tions in the direction of modern progressive
thought He followed with quickening step
in the paths of exploration and speculation
so fearlessly trOdden by Darwin, by Huxley,
by Tyndali, and by other living scientists OF
the radical and advanced type. His own
church, binding its disciples by no formulated
creed but accepting the Old and New Testa-
ments as the word of God. with unbiased lib
erality of private Interpretation, favored, If it
did not stimulate, the spirit of investigation
Its members profess with sincerity and pro-
fess truly to be of one mind and one faith with
those who Immediately followed the Master
and were first called Christians at Antioch.
But however high Garfield reasoned OF 'free
fate, free will. foreknowledge absolute" he
was never separated from the Church OF the
Disciples in his affections and in his aSpira'
tions. For him it held the ark OF the cove
nant. To him it was the gate of Heaven.
The crowning characteristic of Gen. Gar
fields religious opinions, and indeed OF an nus
opinions, was his liberality. In all things ne
had charity Tolerance was of his nature.
He respected in others Inequalities which ne
possessed himself, sincerity OF conviction ana
uuiry was not 50 much what a man believes,
but does he believe it? The lines CT his
friendship and his confidence encircled men
of every creed, and men OF no creed, ana, 10
the end of his life, on his ever lengthenlng
list of friends were to be found the names OF
a pious Catholic priest and OF an honest
minded and generous hearted free thinker
On the morning of Saturday, July :, the PreS-
ident was contented and happy man; not
in the ordinary degree. but joyfully, almost almost
station, to which he drove Slowlyin conscious
enjoyment of the beautiful morning, with an
un wonted sense of leisure and keen anticipa-
ton of pleasure, his talk was all i'll the CRATE
full and gratulatOry vein. He felt that after
four months of trial his administration was
strong in IT'S grasp OF affairs. strong IN popu-
lar favor, and deserved to grow stronger,
that the grave difficulties confronting him at
his Inauguration had been safely passed; that
the trouble lay behind him and not before
him: that he was soon to meet the vile whom
he loved, now recovering from an illness
which had but lately disquieted and almost
unnerved him; that he was going to his Alma
Mater to renew the most cherished aSsocla-
ton of his young manhood, and to exchange
greeting with those whose deep eninS interest
had followed every step of his upward prog
reSS from the day he entered upon his col
Iege until he had attained the loftiest eleva-
ton in the gift of his countrymen.
Much of happiness can ever come from the
hOnors of triumphs of this world. On that
quiet July morning James A. Garfield may
have well been happy man. No foreboding
of evil haunted him. Not the slightest pre-
monition of danger clouded his sky. His ter
rible fate was upon him in an instant One
moment he stood erect. strong, confdent In
the years stretching peacefully out before
him; the next he lay wounded, bleeding,
elpless-doOmed to many weeks OF torture,
to silence and the grave. Great in life, he
was unsurpassngly great in death. For no
cause, in the very frenzy OF wantonness
and wickedness, by the red hand of muir
der, he was thrust from the full tide of the
worlds interest; from its hopes, its aSpira-
tiOns, its victories. into the visible presence OF
the one short moment i'll which, stunned and
dazed, he could give up life, hardly aware of
its rclinquishment, but through days OF
deadly languor, through weeks of agony that
was not less agony becaust silently borne,
with clear sight and calm courage he looked
into his open grave. What blight and ruin
met his anguished eyes? whose lips may tell
what brilliant broken plans; what baf1ied,
high ambitions; what Sundering OF strong,
warm manhoOd's friendships; what bitter
rending of sweet household ties?
Behind him proud, expectant nation, ~
great host of sustaining friends, a cherished
and happy mother wearing the full rich hon
ors of her early tolls and tears the wife of his
youth. whose whole life lay in his; the little
boys not yet merged from chtldhood's day OF
frolic the fair young daughter, the sturdy
sons just sprnsins into closest companion
warding, a father s love and care, and in his
heart the eager, rejoicing power to meet all
demands, before nm ueSOiatlOn anu PreaI
darkneSS-and his soul was not shaken, ana
his countrymen were thrilled with instant,
profound and universal sympathy Master
full in his mortal weakness, he became the
center of a nations love, cnshrined in the
prayers of a world. But all the love aud all
the sympathy could not share with him his
suffering. He trod the wine press alone.
With unfaltering front he faced death. With
unfailing tenderness he took leave of life.
Above the demoniac hiss of the assassin's
bullet he heard the voice of God. With sim
pie resignation he bowed to the Divine
decree.
AS the end drew near his early craving for
the sea returned. The stately mansion of
power had been to him the wearisome hOspi
tai of pain and he begged to be taken from
his prison walls, from its oppressive, Sitting
air, from its homelcssness and its hopeless
ness. Gently, silently, the love of a great
people bore the pale sufferer to the lOnged for
healing of the sea, to live or to die, God
should will, within sight of its hcaving pillows,
within the sound of its manifold voice. With
wan, fevered face tenderly lifted to the cool
ing breeze, he looked out wistfully upon the
oceans changing wonders-on its far sails
whitening in the morning light, on it's restless
waves rolling shOreward to break and die be-
meath the MONDAY sum- on the red clouds of
evening arching low to the horizon, on the
serene and shining pathway of the stars. Let
us think that his dying eyes read mystic
meaning which only the rapt and parting
soul may know. Let us believe that in the
silence of the receding world lie heard the
great waves breaking on a further shore, and
felt already upon his wasted brow the breath
OF the eternal morning.