Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-28


the battle of Chickamauga, where his
bravery won for him the rank of ajor gen
eral Having been elected to Congress, by
the advice of Lincoln, he took his seat there
in his thirty second year, only seven years
from his college graduation. He was the
youngest member but one in the House,
where he soon made his mark, and nine
times successfully he was elected TO his seat.
He studied public questions closely, and
ranked high as an orator and debater. He
was a steady worker, rapid and skillful in
selecting and absorbing facts and ideas. He
was fair and candid; took no mean advant-
ages, but treated adversaries with fairness.
The congressional records show that his
speeches were numerous, often brilliant, al
ways well studied, and often contained the
forecast of great measures. His prominence
in Congress and his solid reputation secured
his nomination president. Detraction set
in, but calm and confident he spoke no
hasty or ill-considered words, but there were
| instances in which the iron entered his soul.
At first, on assuming his duties, Mr.. Garfield
found their engrossing nature distasieful; it
was a change from dealing with ideas to de-
Gliding about persons. He wanted a
way out of the evils of overgrown patronage,
and had he lived he would have proposed
a comprehensive scheme of Improvement.
He was assiduous in his discharge OF duty
and showed administrative talent of a high
order, doing his work rapidly and orderly,
aided by his powers of analysis and his skill
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS uruCn c0uTu De
done to promote harmony in the country, and
therefore he desired to go down and speak to
the people of the South, and in April had
| endeavored to arrange a trip to Nashville,
/ and afterward to South Carolina, but was
disappointed; he meant to attend the cele-
bration at Yorktown and the opening of the
Atlanta Exposition. He was ambitious for
the success of his administration, favored
more attention to material and commercial
interests, thought our continental relations
could become profitable, believed that every
section of the country should be made con-
tented with the Union by experiencing its
benefits. OF the political events that dis
turbed his serenity, detail is not needed and
personal antagonism shall not be rekindled
by any word uttered to-day. This may be
said, however: he was actuated by no motive
of gain to himself or loss to Others; he har-
bored no revenge and rarely showed resent
ment; malice was not in his nature. At any
hour he would gladly have retraced any step,
where the consequences would be confined to
himself, for the sake of harmony. For the
pride of consistency he had no care he be-
lieved the true prerogative of the executive
involved, and that it would be unfaithful-
ness to fail in maintaining the consti-
tutional rights and dignities. So he believed
in health, and so he continued to believe in his
prostration. More need not be said, less
could not be said in justice to the dead. The
presidents religious convictions were deep
and earnest. In youth he espoused the faith
of the Disciples a branch of the Baptist
communion, but the breadth of his mind
carried him beyond the dogmas of sect.
When selecting his college he rejected Alex
ander Campbelrs Bethany; it leaned toward
slavery; he thought to go among those of
another creed would make him more liberal.
He eagerly investigated modern thought, the
speculations of Darwin, Huxley and Tyndall,
but he never separated from the church of
his affections; to him it was the gate of
heaven. After speculation and doubt he
always came back with delight to the sim
pier instincts of religious faith. But few
weeks before his assassination, conversing
with friend on personal religion, he said
he found the Lords prayer and the simple
retieinns learned in infancy restful to him.
not merely at stated times, but in frequently
recalling them during his daily duties.
Certain texts chung to his memory. A SER
mon he once heard from a Scotch preacher
in Edinburgh, on the eighth chapter of
Romans, had still its impression in his latest
years, especially the radiant promise and
hope that was persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor princi-
palities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor hight, nor
depth, nor any other creature, shall
be able to separate US from the love
of God" The browning characteristic of
General Garfeld's religion was its iberality,
in all things he had charity; he was tolerant,
always respecting sincerity; no creed or want
of creed limited his friendship. On the
morning OF Saturday, July ID, he was con-
tented. and almost boyishly happy. Enjoy
ing the beautiful morning, he drove slowly |
toward the railroad station. After four |
months trial he felt he had the grasp of |
affairs and was strong in popular favor. |
Difficulties had passed; he should soon meet |
the wife he loved recovering from her illness;
he was going to meet those who had watched |
every step am bis oarSvr.-S NJ forehcdiDa |
him, no premonition OF danger. He |
stood one moment erect, strong, confident in
coming peaceful years-the next he lay |
bleeding, helpless, doomed to weeks of tor
ture, then to silence and the grave. Great |
in life, he was surprisingly great in death.
For no cause, in the very frenzy of wanton-
ness and wickedness, by the red hand OF
he was thrust from the full tide of
his worlds interest, from its hopes, its
aspirations, its victories, into the visible
presence 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 be-
cause silently borne, with clear sight and
cAlm courage ne IOOkeO luIO MS open grave.
What blight and ruin met his aDguished
eyes, whose lips may tell-what brilliant,
broken plans, what baffled, high ambitions,
what sundering of strong, warm, manhood's
what bitter rending of sweet
household tioei Behind him . rrnud, ex-
pectant nation, a great host of sustaining
friends, cherished and happy mother, wear
ing the full, rich honors of her early toll
and tears; the wife of his youth, whose
whole life lay in his; the little boys not yet
emerged from childhood's day of froIic; the
fair, young daughter; the sturdy sons just |
springing into closest companionship, claim
ing every day and every day rewarding a
fathers love and care; and in his heart the
eager, rejoicing power to meet all demand.
Before him, desolation and great darkness!
And his soul was not shaken. His country |
men were thrilled with instant, profound,
and universal sympathy. Masterful in his
mortal weakness, he became the center of
nations love, enshrined in the prayers of a
world. But all the love and all the sympa-
thy could not share with him his suffering. |
He trod the wine-press alone. With unfal- |
tering 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 simple resig-
" atom ba hoWaJ 70 tba divine Jaoraa A.