Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-07-02
MEMORABLE DAYS.
The Days We Remember aud Their signif-
canoe and Meaning.
Contributed to THE TIMEs.l


The day, marked by the history of this
nation, as the birth of its independence,
is at hand; and loyal enthusiasm finds
expression in thousand ways, as varied
as the genius that makes plans, and the
ability that puts them in force. 1t some
times seems to the quiet loving citizen
that the peals from the old "Liberty
bell" are still ringing, as the clangor of
"FOurth of July" reaches his ears Let
the boys "enthuse" and their noisy
demonstrations be carried on, in law
full manner. Surely if the European
people can cry "God save the Queen or
"Vive rEmpereur" whenever royalty
shows it's pageant, our boys can hurrah
for liberty in their own way on the glOri-
Gus "Fourth." Keep the flag flying,
only let it be the flag. Let the echoes
of the cannon reverberate among the
hills. The smoke of powder will as well
commemorate the deeds of the revolu-
ton and of later time, as many poem,
unread save by the few. A boys heart
is mans heart some day, and the noise
of patriotism will waken the soul of
patriotism as the years pass.
July has another day sacred, and sad
as well, in its remembrances. In July
of 1881, on the second day, the chief
magistrate and president of the United
States was shot by an assassin. Wound
ed unto death, and yet dying only by
inches: suffering the fortunes of the bat
tie victims, yet without the satisfaction
of meeting his foe face to face in honora-
BILE fight; stricken in the power of his
manhood, in the dignity of his office; a
trusted and doubly-needed leader, on the
eve of tour through the very New
England places and scenes familiar to
his ancestors. 1t shocked the country
to the verge of a paralyzing grief. 1t
seems but yesterday, as | review the
days-those first days, when the only
question of any import was, "Does he
still live?" g Is there any hope that Gar
field will recoverY' How wildly | re-
call the first day of July, when the head
of the family said "Gartield will be at
Concord this week, and l shall see him,
if | live" Again the second morning,
swell, shall go to Concord to see Gar
field" and how we all wished we could
go, also, and see "real live presi-
dent" as a young daughter EXPIRE ssed it.
Before tea-time that same day, the same
voice said " Well, | shall not go to see
has been shot, "Assassinated?" was
our next question. eyes. after he had
got started for his trip east" All how
like those old days in '65 seemed these!
Those mean, when Lincoln was sacri-
feed by the hand of an assassin. How
swiftly sped the messages from wire to
wire through city and town, and the re-
hottest mountain hamlet. Twelve miles,
on hot Sabbath afternoon, we rode
from church to the nearest telegraph
Office, for the evening dispatch, "Still
alive" and how the people came out all
along the route to ask g What's the latest
news from Garfield?" So on, day after
day, when the end came and the noble,
patient life went out, in darkness for the
nation, but into light for the hero, the
statesman, the Christian. No grander
eulogy can be pronounced than just the
one grand name, James A. Garfield.
Will you permit me to quote an Incl
dent related by Edmund Kirke in his life
of Garfield? When the news came to
New York city of the assassination of Lin
coin, the place seemed rife for the scenes
of the French revolution. Men were
frightened when they thought of the fate
of the government, as a rumor came, that
Seward had been murdered and attempts
made on the lives of the government Off
Gals. New York, Brooklyn, Jersey
City and neighboring cities, summoned
all loyal citizens, to meet around Wall
street exchange, and "give expression
to their sentiments" Kirke says, $780,
600 people were crowded there, waiting
for General Butler, who was on his way
from Washington. In the reception
room of the exchange building, 100 men,
prominent as generals, editors, lawyers,
judges, statesmen and clergymen, were
awaiting his arrival. He came. Not
hurrah rose from the people, but the
one cry, to know how their president
died.
''These were his words: Gentlemen,
he died in the fullness of his fame
Down his cheeks swiftly ran the tears
and his lips quivered as he spoke, The
fluttering Grape on the Generals arm, in
striking contrast to the countless flags,
waving, in token of the nations victory
sent the surging crowd wild with excite
ment. Men were frantic Daniel Dick
enson of New York shouted from bal
cony railing: Burn up the rebel seed,
root and branch!' Two men had already
paid the penalty of shouting Lincoln
ought to have been shot long ago. One
was dead on the pavement, the other dy-
ing! The cry of vengeance, y says Kirke,
surged up from every quarter. Sud-
denly the shout arose, The World, the
office of the World' Eight or ten thou
sand turned their faces and made move
ment toward that building. 1t was a
critical and terrifying moment. Police
power and military authority would have
availed nothing! At that moment a tel
egram was read, Seward is dying
What was to quell the angry fury of in
tent, that governed the vast and frantic
throng. Look! A man steps forward,
with small flag in his hand and beckons
to the crowd. Expecting another tele-
gram from Washington, they were
hushed in an awful stiffness. The man
lifted his right arm skyward, and in a
voice clear, steady, loud and distinct,
said: Fellow citizens: Clouds and
darkness are round about him! His pa
vilion is dark waters, and thick clouds
of the skies Justice and judgment are
the establishment of His throne. Mercy
and truth shall go before His face! Eel
low citizensi God reigns and the gov