Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-05-15

term OF ONCE he retired to Buffalo
where he died in 1874
Franklin Pierce was the fourteenth
President of tine United States.
His entire administration was one of
intense excitement and party feeling
ran high In all parts of the country.
His term expired in 1857 and he was
succeeded by James Buchanan. The
country was in a ferment of agitation
on the slavery question, which broke
out into war Just as his term of Office
ended He was followed by Abraham
Lincoln, sixteenth President of the
United States, who was born in Ken
tucky, February u, 1909. His grandfath-
er was an emigrant from Virginia; his
father poor farmer, who in 1906 re-
moved from Kentucky to Indiana. In the
rude life of the backwoods Lincoln's en-
tire schooling did not exceed one year,
and he was employed In the severest
agricultural labor. By sheer persever-
ance and determination he succeeded in
making himself a land-surveyor, lawyer,
politician, and President. His simplic-
ity and honesty endeared him to the
hearts of the people, and his firmness
and prudence proved him a rare leader
during the dark years of his admins
tration- He was, above al, a good man,
'with malice toward none, with charity
for all, but with firmness IN the right.
He was reelected for a second term
but Just after the Inauguration was base
ly assassinated and his death plunged
the country in the deepest grief
He was followed by Andrew Johnson,
the Vice President who retired at the
close of his term 1869, and was succeed
ed by General U. S. Grant, the peoples
idol
President Hayes gave the country q
quiet and conservative administration,
notwithstanding that his political oppon-
ents, and no inconsiderable number of
his own party thought then, and still
think, he was not entitled to the office,
and, at the expiration of bis official term
he retired to his home at Fremont,
Ohio, were he still resides.
He was succeeded by James A. Gar
field.
1t is impossible, in the space at our
disposal, to give with any degree of
completeness, the career of Garfield.
The following incident, however, Will
prove the character of the man: The
day after the assassination of President
Lincoln, 30, 900 people assembled around
the Exchange building in New York
City. The cry of the vast crowd was
''vengeanceI Two men, one dead, and
the otb.r dying, lay upon the pavement
of one of the side streets, who, a mo-
ment before, had said that Lincoln
ought to have been shot long ago. The
people were in no mood for trihing.
A telegram had Just been read from
Washington: Seward is dying" 1t
was a critical moment. Already a move
ment of thousands was making, having
for its object the destruction of the
World building. just then a man step
ped forward on the balcony of the Ex-
change building, waving small flag
and reckoning 20 the crowd. Another
telegram from Washington. Taking
advantage of the mOmentary stiffness
of the crowd. and raising his right arm
heavenward, in a loud, clear and steady
voice he spoke:
Fellow citizens, Clouds and dark
ness are round about Himi His pavilion
Is dark waters and thick clouds of the
skiesi Justice and Judgment are the es-
tablishment of His throne. Mercy and
| truth shall go before His face! Fellow
| citizens. God reigns, and the govern
ment of Washington still lives"
Instantly the dark passions of that
| enormous crowd were subdued, as
rooted TO the ground 1t stood, gazing
with awe into the face of the inspired
| orator. 1t was a triumph of eloquence,
unsurpassed in the annals of American
/ history. The crisis had passed The
| hero Of the crisis stood there In the per
| son of James A Garfield. His charac-
| ter Is again shown IN his own words,
which speak for themselves: II would
rather be beaten IN Right than succeed
/ in Wrong" II am afraid to do a mean
| thing" II think the main point Is to
! l. Ii nf al a.
much good to others as possible. ="
| There is no American boy, however
poor or humble, that, If he have clear
| head, a true heart, n strong arm, may
not rise through all the grades of society,
/ and become the crown, the glory, the
pillar of the State. " This public life
\ is a weary, wearing one, that leaves one
/ little time for quiet reflection; but L
/ hope 1 have lost none of my desire to be
a true man and keep before me the
character of the great NaZarene.
| Saturday July ID, 1881, will ever be
memorable rs one of the saddest days in
our history, for 1t was then that Presl-
dent Garfield received his fatal wound
| at the hands of an assassin
1t was in the waiting room of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad.
Among the few waiting people was a
! T.
40 years of age, his name was Charles
Jules Guiteau. As the President, arm
in-arm with his Secretary of State,
James CT. Blaine, passed beyond him,
he turned about, advanced step IN
their direction, drew a heavy revolver
from his pocket, pointed 1t steadily, and
fired deliberately at the President. The
! President uttered no word, but turned
| with a gentle surprised look to see from
! whence came the murderous bullet;
Secretary Blaine sprang to one side;
| Guiteau re-cocked his revolver, and,
with the dehberation of death, again
fired at the President, who fell to the
floor with blood squirting from the
wound in his side. Gulteau fled after
having dropped his pistol
Secretary Blaine sprang after the mis-
crcant. but finding him already in the
hands of the law returned to the Presi-
dent.
The President passed two months OF
terrible suffering, augmented by the
fierce summer heat, and then was re
moved to Elberon, near Long Branch
New Jersey, where it was hoped that
the pure sea breeze would assist nature
in restoring him to health; but 1t Wa
not so to be; gradually he grew weaker
and wasted day by day, until on Mon
day, September 18th, he passed away.
He was followed by Chester A Arthur
his Vice President, September 1881 I'll,
performed the duties of the office witt
credit and dignity and with great honol
to his party.
He was succeeded in 1885 by Grove
Cleveland
President Cleveland, during his ad
ministration, strictly adhered to tn
policy foreshadowed in his letter of &C
. ceptance, his letter on Civil Servic
Reform, and his inaugural address
/ That his administration was carried ol
in the interests of the people the vas
majority are agreed Here and there
disgruntled politician comes to tn
. front in its condemnation, but tn
: people, to whom alone civil sdministrs