Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1882-03-18
Garfield.

The following is the conclusion of Mr.
Blaine's magnificent Grafton upon Garfield
in the House of Representatives on the
9th of February:
"Great in life, he was surprisingly great
in death For no cause, in the very frenzy
of wantonness and wickedness, by the red
hand of murder, he was thrust from the
full tide of this worlds interest, from its
hopes its aspirations, its victories, into tho
visii le 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 ianguor through
weeks of agony, that was not less agony be-
cause silently borne, with clear sight and
calm courage, lie looked into his open grave.
What blight and ruin met bis anguished
eyes, whose lips may tcll-what Brilliant,
broken plans, what haiIled, high ambitions.
what sundering of strong, warm, mrnhcod's
friendships, what bitter rending Of sweet
household ties Behind him a proud, cx-
pectant nation, great host of sustaining
friends, cherished and happy .mother,
wearing.the full, rich honofs Of her carly
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 frolic the
fair, Young g-daughterb the sturdy sons Just
springing into closest companiopShip,
claiming every day and every day reward
ing fathers love and care; aud in his
heart the eager. rejoicing power to meet all
demand Before him desola,ion and great
darkness. And his soul was not shaken
Ills countrymen were thrilled with instant.
profound and universal sympathy'% Master
lul in his mortal weakness, he became tho
center of nations love, enshrincd in the
Drawers of a world. But all the love and
all the sympathy could not share with him
his suffering. lie trod the winc-press alone
With unlaltering front he; faced death.
With unfailing tenderness he ,0ck leave of
lite. Above the dcmoniac hiss of the as-
sassin's bullet he heard the voice of God
With simple 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 wearisomo
hospital of pain, and he.beggcd to be taken
from its prison walls, from its oppressive,
sitting air. from its homolessncss and its
hopelcssncss. Gently, silently, the love of
great people bore the pale suilef.r to tho
long, dior healing Of the sea, to live or to
die, a. God should will, within sight ef its
hcaying billows, within sound Of its mani
fold voices With wan, fcvered face tender.
ly lifted TO the cooling breeze he looked out
wis;fully upon the oceans. changing won
ders on its FAR sails, whitening in the
morning light on its restless waves, rolling
shoreward, to break and die beneath the
MONDAY sun; on the red clOgds of evening
arching low to the horizon on the serene
AMI shining pathway of the stars. Let US
think that his dying eyes read a mystic
meaning which only the rapt and parting
soul may know Let us believe that in tho
silence of the reccding world he heard the
great waves breaking on a further shore,
and felt already upon his wasted brow tho
breath Of the eternal morning