The Republican journal., 1882-03-02
Blaine's Eulogy Of Garfield.


The Congressional memorial services in honor
of the late President Garfield were held in the
Hall of the House of Representatives on Monday
last. An immense throng was in attendance
upon the nations last official tribute to the mar
tyred chief magistrate. The assemblage was a
very brilliant one, comprising all the high Off
caS at the National Capitol The President of
the Senate occupied the Speakers chair. Prayer
was offered by Rev. Mr.. Power, Chaplain of
the House. and the presiding officer then pre-
scented the orator of the day. The eulogy of eX-
Secretary Blaine was listened to with deep at
tention and made profound impression. Its
delivery occupied about two hours. We can
only speak of it briefly. Mr.. Blaine gave an
historical sketch of Gartield's ancestry. traced
his early struggles with poverty and depicted
the majestic strides by which he passed in seven
years from the college platform to win hon.
ors in professional scholarship, in arms and in
the national legislature. The speaker was par
ticulary felicitous in his analysis of Gartield's
Congressional career. The manner III which
the lamented President conducted himself dur
ING the campaign which ended with his election
to the highest office in the gift of the people
was the theme of deserved communication.
Mention of what President Garfield intended
doing to reform the civil service and fix the
tenure of office was coupled with suggestions
of what needs to be done in these directions.
Two brief paragraph, in the address consti-
tute the only allllsions which Mr.. Blaine makes
to the old Conkling war and to the foreign poll
cy of the cN-Secretary. There is nothing in
these paragraphs that is aggressive or retalia-
tory In the former Mr.. Blaine epitomzr> the
foreign policy of Garfield. His anxiety was to
build up American commerce and to DO what he
might on this continent to beat the sword into
ploughShare and the spear into the pruning
hook. To this end he harbored the idea of a
Congress of American republics and the kindly
interpositiOn of our government to prevent con
tnucd bood>hcd in South American States.
Mr. Blaine'> illusions to the contest with Mr..
ConkIing are reserved and in the best of temper.
chastened by an obvious desire to Yindicate
rather than to punish. We are assured by these
words that not one act of Garticld's III the mat
ter of his appointments TO office was inspired by
animoSity and that the late President was only
too ready to Yield and to surrender when prin-
ciplc was not involved. no pride Of coneis-
tcncy" ever kept Garfield from fair play. 1t is
fitting that the embers of that old tire, now be
suffered to rep0Sc.
In the closing passages of his address Mr.,
Blaine pays an appreciatiNe tribute to the re-
ligiouS element of Garfield'> character. The
late President was close student of the Scrip
lures. He we'll knew the richness both OF the
literary and the spiritual legacies which prophets
and cyangeistS of the two dSpen>ationS have
left us. 1t was because he had 50 deeply diVin-
ed their inner spirit and was 50 deeply read bp-
tween the lines that Garfield. though i d,nonl-
nationalist was no >cctary; though church
member, was no bigot; though religious man,
was Christian man. A pious Catholic priest
and an honest free-thnker were among his
trusted friends only narrow men can fail to
appreciate and do justice to gentlemen who BEG
leave to differ. The speaker concluded with
these eloquent words
Great in life, he was surprisingly great in
death. For no call>r, in the very frrnzN of W;ul-
tonnesS and wickedneSs by the red hand of muir
der. he was thrust from the full tide of this
worlds interests. from lis hopes. its aspirations
its victories, into the visible presence Of death
and he did not quail Not alone for tho on"
short moment in which, stunned and dazcd he
could give up life, hardly aware of its rclinluish-
ment but through days Of deadly langUOr,
through weeks of agony, that was not less agony
because silently borne, with clear SIGHT and
calm courage. he looked into his open grave.
| What blight and ruin met his mgui>hed eyes.
whose lips may tell-What brilliant, broken
plans. what batfled. high ambitions what sun
Il, of
what bitter rendng of sweet household ties
Behind him a proud. eNpcctant nation Il great
| host of sustaining friends. a cherished and
happy mother, wearing the full. rich honOr> of
her early toll and tears: the wife of his youth
whose whole life lay in his: the little boyS MOI
yet emerged from chdhoods day Of froIic
the fair. young daughter; the sturdy sons just
eprnglng INTO closest companionShlp. claiming
every day and every day rewarding fathers
love and care: and in his heart the eager, rrioc-
ing power to meet all demand. Before him
drSoatiUn and great darkness, And his SOU
was not shaken. His cOuntrymcn We're thrilled
with instant, profound. and universal sympathy
MaStcrful i'll his mortal weakness, he became
the center of 4 nations love, cnshrncd in The
prayers of IA world. But all the love and all the
sympathy could not share with him his suffer
ing. He trod the wine-prcss alone. With UNI
falterlng front he faced DEATH With untaIlm9
tenderness he took leave of life. Above the
demoniac hiss of the assa>sin> bullet he heard
me voice OF Gou WIN simple resignation ~
bowed to the Divine decree.
A. the end drew near. his early craving for
the sea returned The stately mansion Of power
had been TO him the wearisome hospital of pain
and he begged to be taken from its prison walls
from IFS oppressive, stitfling air. from its home
lcssne>s and hopelessnes>. Gently. silently, the
love of a great people bore the pale sufferer to
the lUnged-for healing of the sea, to live or die
;l> God should will. within sight of its hcaving
pillows. within sound of its manifold voices
VI 18th wan. feyered face tenderlN lifted to the
cooling breeze. he looked out Wistfully upon the
oceans changing wonders: on its far sails
whitening i'll the morning light; ON its restless
waves, rolling shoreward to break and die be-
meath the MONDAY sun; 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 mean
ing which only the rapt and parting soul may
know. Let Us believe that in the silence Of the
recedimg world he heard the great waves break
inc on a farther shore, and felt already upon his
wasted brow the breath of the eternal morning.