The Owosso times., 1882-03-10

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that might result from surrendering
his position, had not feathers weight
with him. No man was ever less SUBJ
ject to such influences from within OF
from without. But after the most
anxious deliberation and the coolest
survey of all the circumstances, he
s0lemnly believed that the true prer0g
atives Of the Executive were involved
In the issue which had been raised, and
that he would be unfaithful to his su-
preme obligation If he failed to MAIN
tain, In all their vig6r, the constitu-
tional rights and dignities Of his great
office. He believed this in all the con-
victiOns Of conscience when in sound
and vigorous health, and he believed it
in his suffering and prostration in the
last conscious thought which his wear
led mind bestowed on the transitory
struggles of life.
Mr.. Blaine characterized Garfeld's
religious character as deep and strong.
In his early youth he espoused the faith
of the Disciples, sect Of that great
Baptist Communion, which in different
ecclesiastical establishments is so nu.
merous and 80 influential throughout
all parts of the United States.
The crOwning characteristic of Gen.
Gar6elds religious opinions, as, indeed,
OF all his opinions, was his liberality.
In all things he had charity. Toler-
ance was of his nature. He respected
Ia others the qualities which he pos
sessed himself--sincerity OF conviction
and frankness of expression. With
him the inquiry was not 30 much what
a man believes, but does he believe 1t ?
THE CLOSING SCENES.
Great in life, he was surprisingly
great in death. For no cause, in the
very frenzy of wantonness and wicked
ness, by the red hand of murder, he
was thrust from the full tide of this
worlds interests, from it's hopes, its
aspirations, its victories, into the visi.
BILE pesence of death-and he did not
quail. Not alone for the one short
moment in which, stunned and dazed,
he could give up life, hardly aware of
its REIMBURSEMENT, but through days of
deadly languor. through weeks Of agony,
that was not less agony because it was
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 baf-
fled, high, ambitions, what sundering of
strong, warm, manhoOd's friendships,
what bitter rending Of sweet household
ties Behind him a proud, expectant
nation, great host of sustaining
friends. a cherished and happy mother,
wearing the full, rich honOrs of her
early tolls and tears the wife of his
youth. whose whole life lay in his
the little boys not yet merged from
childhood's day of frolic the fair
young daughter ; the sturdy sons just
springing into the closest companions
ship, claiming every day and every day
rewarding fathers love and care and
in his heart the eager, rejoicing power
to meet all demand. Before him DESC
latiOn and great darkness And his
soul was not shaken. His c0untrymen
were filled with instant, profound and
universal sympathy. Masterful in his
mortal weakness, lie became the centre
of a nations love, enshrined in the
prayers of u world. But all the love
and all the sympathy could not share
with him his suffering. He trod the
wine press alone. With unfaltering
tenderness he took leave Of life. Above
the demOniac hiss of the assassin's bull
let he heard the voice of God. With
simple resignation he bowed to the Di-
vine decree.
AS the end drew near his early crav-
ing for the sea returned. The stately
mansion of power had been to him the
weary hospital of pain, and he begged
to be taken from its prison walls, from
its oppre 'sive, sitting air, from its
hOmelessness and its hopelessness.
Gently, silently. the love of great peo.
pie bore the pale sufferer to the longed-
for healing Of the sea, to live or die, as
God should will, within sight of its
heaving pillows, within sound of its
manifold voices. With wan, fevered
face tenderly lifted to the cooling breeze,
he looked out wistfully upon the oceans
changing wonders on it's far sails,
whitening in the morning sun; on the
red clouds of evening, arching low to
the horizon on the serere and shining
pathway of the stars. Let us think
that his dying eyes read a mystic mean.
ing which only the rapt and parting
soul may know. Let us believe that
in the silence of the receding world he
heard the great waves breaking on a
further shore, and felt already upon his
wasted brow the breath Of the eternal