The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-08
Gen. Arthur's Gratitude for Kind
Words After the Death of Gar
field.

field.
TIE words of kindness and sympathy
which were spoken of and TO him during
the ordeal after Garfield's assassination
were never forgotten. They seemed TO
have been burned into his memory. He
often expressed his gratitude to Gen.
| prum, the adjutant-genera of the army,
| for two acts that he could not forget.
! When Arthur arrived at Washington
| the Sunday night after the Saturday
when Garfield was shot, he went at once
TO the White House and was conducted
TO the room of Private Secretary Brown.
/ All the Garfield cabinet and many
Others were gathered there. As the
door opened to admit the vice president
not one of them stepped forward TO wei
come him. He stood upon the threshold
alone, almost overcome by embarrass-
ment and modification.
"They all looked a. me, he used to
say, "as If | was wild beast -as if the
assassin himself had appeared among
them. Gen. Drum, who was standing
IN far corner of the room, happened to
turn around at the instant and, taking
IN the situation, sprang forward with an
| out-stretched hand and a cordial greet
ing. That broke the ice, and the others
followed the generals example"
Mr.. Arthur used TO say that no voice
ever sounded so gratefully in his ear
and no hand was ever so gladly pressed
by him as was Gen. Drums that night
1.-Two years after the same officer rem
dered another service which the Presi-
dent remembered with equal gratitude
The correspondent of a Pittsburg paper
At Washington, being piqued AZ some
fancied light, published a scandalous
story about the Presidents relations
with certain lady in Washington,
which was entirely without foundation
or excuse. Il was telegraphed back TO
Washington and republished in an after
noon paper that was bitterly opposing
the administration. The publication
reached the war department shortly
before the close Of Office hours. and
Gen. Drum sent his orderlies through
the building with request for all the
officers on duty there to come to his
room at once. He read the articles TO
them and then said:
I'VE ail know how untrue and malici-
GUS this is, and every one of you viii be
glad to testify with me to our respect
for the President and this lady. | aug
gest that we all call upon her this even
ing
Every officer in the room assented
promptly to the proposition and there
were fifty callers at the lady's house
that night.
When Gen. Garfield was lying i'll at
Washington a day of fasting and prayer
for his recovery was held, as viii be re-
membered, throughout the country. In
a small town near Gariield's home, in
northern Ohio, the several religious de-
nominations gathered in the Presbyteri-
an church, and the Campbeiiite pastor,
who had been educated at Hiram with
Garfield, preached a sermon. During
the course of his remarks he reflected
upon the character and loyalty Of Gen.
Arthur, aud said that one of the worst
features of the situation was that if Gar
field died he would be succeeded
by a man unworthy of confidence
and who, in his belief, sympathized with
if he did not inspire, the assassin. The
Presbyterian pastor here interrupted the
sermon, aud declared that he would not
permit such sentiments to be uttered
from his pulpit. He did not know Gen.
Arthur, but believed him to be a Just,
wise, and honorable man, and that if
Garfield himself had heard the words of
the preacher he was confident be would
rebuke them. A year or more later in
the same church the usual thanksgiving
services were celebrated, aud the
Campbellite clergyman delivered a ser
mon in which he took occasion to com
mend the administration of President
Arthur. The Presbyterian clergyman,
at the conclusion of the address, remind
ed the congregation of the incident that
had occurred the year previous, and
thanked the brother for his candor aud
honesty in recognizing and acknowledge
ing Arthur's worth.
This incident came TO the knowledge
of the President accidentally. He at
once sent note of thanks to him who
had defended him so couragsously, and
asked if he could render him any service
in return. The latter replied that he
only did his duty, and was already well
repaid Then Mr. Arthur sent him
large, handsomely framed photograph
of himself, and at the bottom of the card
wrote these words: 'To the Rev. --,
with the sincere gratitude of clergy
mans son, to a noble defender. he
who saveth a soul is greater than he who
ruleth nation
There were many other little incidents
like this in the late Presidents life
which might be recited to illustrate the
thoughtful and sympathetic gratitude
with which he acknowledged every SER
vice rendered him.