The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-29
THE NATIONS DEAD.

shock surviving humanity. The loss of life
by accident or crime is never less than start
ling, ranging all the way from that degree of
emotion to appalling The loss of dozen or
hundred lives will send thrill of horror
through the spectators and those who read Of
the tragedy. But not in numbers alone are
the elements of the tragic. When tall man
falls among the people, man who has been
conspicuous as leader Of men, the effect is
much like the crash and reverbrations pro-
duced by the fall of a mighty tree in the
forest. Death in such shape is majestic.
Mankind humbly comtemplates it with feel
ing that does not attach to the demise of
an ordinary or obscure individual. When
Lincoln fell by the shot Of an assassin the
people were momentarily paralyzed with
feeling Of awe, and horror, and fear and
that overwhelming sorrow that finds no ex-
preston in words In manly hearts even his
enemies felt that his taking off was a crime
beyond the possibility of adequate punish
ment The American people will probably
never again be subjected to such a shock.
: The tragic death of Garfield was similar in it's
effect upon the people. It came with the
same awful suddenness, but lacked the unique
environment Of the death of Lincoln. The
sun of peace assured had but begun to beam
upon the country after an eclipse of four dire
full and bloody years. The people in thou
sand valleys had but begun to feel that
the strife was ended. The hope that
had wavered so often was poisoning into the
full flower of joy over the war so grandly
fought. the great achievements so dearly
bought. A shot in the night, the defiant yell
of the assassin, the leader laid low in the
agony of death, and all this land passed into
the shadow Of uncertainty. This cleared
away, the Nation suffered the agony of its loss
Of the gentle, patient, noble, martyred Presi-
dent, who fell as Moses fell, when at last in
sight of the promised land of peace.
The assassination of Garfield was even more
wanton and inexcus;lble than that of Lincoln.
With none of the bitterness of war in the
hearts of the people, but with all the land in
the enjoyment Of peace and plenty,
ne fell the victim of wretch
whose moral nature had been burned
to its socket by life deliberately and per-
sistently perverted from all that was whole
some and good. The patient suffering of the
dying President won for him the love and
sympathy of all the world, and humanity
everywhere was led to hope against the im-
possibility of hope that be might yet recover
from the cruel wound he had received. And
when at last his life went out at Elberon the
shock was felt in the uttermost parts of the
world.
The lingering death of General Grant like
wise bore all the elements of tragedy. In the
grip of a fatal disorder, suffering thousand
deaths but making no sign. he marched
deeper into the hearts of all the people than
almost any American that ever lived and
died. A hero in war, hero in peace. tri-
umphant in arms, victorious in death, he left
an example for oncoming genera tons to the
end of time. The death of these men shocked
the world and plunged the Nation into grief
because each was conspicuous as patriot and
as a lover of his country, in hours when 10y
atty was the GROWING virtue Of all virtues.
Their memories were revered because of the
great services they had rendered the people.
And now anotherdeath attracts the attention
of the Nation. The whole people feel his loss
because of the high and honorable station to
which they had called him. Not for
Thomas A Hendricks as the Individual,
or for him on account of eminent services to
his country but for him as Vice-president
the people mourn his loss. A tall man was
he among the people, conspicuous for his
abilities. A strong man by the power of his
eloquenae and the breadth of his acquire
ments, he won his way in the ranks of his
party to near its leadership. His personal
character was above reproach and he was
approachable--a man of the people. The
American people have been generous toward
him; to-day its charity covers him like pail.
The memories of the war are buried; the mis-
takes of the past are not remembered MAY
the better phases of human nature that have
come to the front at this hour find due appre-
citation and bear fruit many fold.
THE DEATH OF A CHILD.
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