The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-28

would not gladly for the sake Of restor-
ing harmony, have retrsced any step
he had taken. if tucn retracing had
merely involved consequences personal
to himself. The pride of consistency, or
any supposed sense of humiliation that
might result from surrendering his posi-
ton had not feathers weight with him.
No man was less subject to such inAu-
ences from within or without, bat after
most anxious deliberstion and the cool
est survey Of all thescircumstances he
solemnly believed that the true prersgs-
tlyes of the executive were involvrd In
the issue which had been raised, aud
that he would be unfaithful to his su-
preme obligation if he failed to maintain
IN all their vigor the constitutional rights
and dignities Of the great office. He be-
lieved this in all the convictions OF con-
science, when in sound and vigorous
health, and he believed it in his suffering
and prOstrstion, in his last conscious
thought which his wearied mind bestow wed
on the transitory struggles of life. More
than this need not be said, less than this
could not be said. Justice to the dead,
the highest obligation that devolves
upon the living, demands the de
claration that Ii Atl the bearings
of the subject certain or possible
thu President was content In his mind,
justified in his conscience, immovable in
his COZ illusions. The religious slement
il Gsrfeld's character was deep and
earnest. In his youth be espoused the
faith Of the Disciples, @ sect of that great
Baptist communion which in different
eccle,ialtical esta blishments is so numer-
Gus and influential throughout all parts
Of the United States; but the DroodeniRg
tendency Of his mind and his active
spirit Of enquiry were early apparent,
and carried MIN beyond the dogmzs of
sect and tie restraints of association. In
selecting a college in which to continue
his education, he selected Bethany.
Though presided over by A exander
Campbell, the greatest preacher of mis-
church, bis reasons we characterized,
frat, that Bethany leaned too heavily
towards slavery, and second, that being
himself a Disciple, the son of Disciple
parents, he had little acquaintance with
thought 1t would make him more liberal,
quoting mis- own words, both in his re-
lIgious and general views TO go into
euces. The liberal views which be
anticipated, as the result of wider cul-
ture, were fully realized. He was emau
clpsted from mere sectarisn belief, and
with eager interest pushed his investiga-
ton il the direction of modern progress
sive thought He followed with quick
ening step IN the paths OF explorations
and speculation so feaIlessly trodden by
Darwin, by Huxley, by Tyndall and by
other living scientists OF the radical and
advanced type. His own church, bind
ing its disciples by no formulated creed,
but accepting the Old and New Tesla
ments as the words of God, with un-
biased liberty Of private Interpretation,
favored II it did not stimulate the spirit
OF investigation. His Inauguration had
been safely passed. Tcat trouble lay be-
hind him and not before him, that he
was 10 meet. The wife whom he loved
wss now recovering from an illness
which had lately disputed, and at times
almost unnerved him. He was going
10 his aims mater to reneW
the most cheerful associstit rs of his
young manhood, and to exchange greet
ings with those with whose deepening
interest had followed every step of his
upward progress from tie day he entered
upon his college eOur until be had at
teinei the lGftlest position IN the gift Of
his countrymen. Surrey, if happiness
can ever come from the hoLors or tri
umphs Of this world, on tina: quiet July
morning, James A. Gardeld may well
have been a happy man. No fJre5od-
ing OF evil haunted him, not the slightest
premonition of danger cloUded his star;
his terrible fate was upon him in so ia
slant. One moment he stood erect,
strong, confident on the years stretching
peacefully out before him; the next, 10
lag wounded, bleeding. helpless, doomed
to weary weeks of torture, to silence and
the grave. Great in life, he was sur
passIng!y great in death For no cause,
in the very frenzy Of wantonness and
wickedness, by the red hand of the muir
derer hs was thrust from the full tide Of
this worlds interest, from its hopes, its
aspirations, its victories, into the visible
presence Of death, and he did not quail.