Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1881 — The Closing Scene. [ARTICLE]

The Closing Scene.

Tbe Last Sad Rites in Honor of our Nation’s Dead. flow The Day Was Observed In Renssalaer. Pursuant to a proclamation issued by President Arthur recommending the people of the United States to observe Monday, Sept. 26th, as a day of humiliation and mourning in honor of our late President James A. Garfield, the people of every city, town, village and hamlet in the Nation congregated at their various public halls and places of worship and there listened, with heads bowed low in deepest grief, to eloquent tributes to the memory to the memory of, and eulogies upon, the murdered Chief Magistrate. Words have failed to express the bitter sorrow and gloom that are seated deep in the heart of every true American citizen over the untimely and horrible demise of him whom we have all learned to love for his unswerving integrity as a statesman, for his noble devotion to his family and country, and for his unexampled courage, heroic bravery, and Christian bearing during the eleven long weeks he lay upon a bed of pain, suffering the most excruciating agonies, desperately striving to keep away from the grim monster death, not that he feared to die, but because he believed that his work on earth had not been finished. And every day since the fatal 2d of July, when this great man was stricken by the hand of the beastly assassin, have the prayers of the whole Nation, yea of the whole civilized world, gone to Heaven,’ beseeching Almighty God to spare this one precious life. But the

All-wise Judge has decreed differently. And let us learn a lesson of life from the earthly career of James A. Garfield, let us emulate his virtues, and strive as he did to bring about that “period to which hope looks forward with ardent joy, when one law shall bind all nations, tongues and kindreds of the earth —and that law will be the law of universal brotherhood.”

THE FUNERAL IN RENBSELAEK. The programme announced in our last issue for the memorial exercises was carried out in full at the oj3era house. The hall had been beau ifully draped and a fine portrait of Garfield, wreathed about with evergreens, entwined with crape, underneath which was a an engraving of the martyr after death, stood on a frame work at front of the stage, in plain view of the whole audience. Long before the hour announced for the commencement of exercises, the hall was filled and by the time the exercises ha-1 commenced standing room was at a premium and many were compelled to remain outside. The school children were arranged in order from the primary department to high school, and under direction of their respective teachers, marched to the opera house, where they occupied the gallery. The house being called to order by M. L. Spitler, chairman, service opened by a beautiful dirge by the choir, followed by reading of the 46th Psalm by Mrs. R. S. Dwig‘gins. Funeral Hymn —“When Our Heads Are Bowed With Woo” —by Choir, followed by prayer by Elder' D. T. Halstead. Hymn—“ Asleep In Jesus” —by Choir. The Rev. A. Taylor being absent, F. W. Babcock read,the address prepared by the former, which is as follows : The highest eulogy the living can bestow on those who have crossed the river of death is pronounced when the living can trfitlifully point to the life work oi the dead and in noble deeds read such panegyrics as the heart, unaided by these noble exploits, could not conceive, nor human lips pronounce. Apply this rule to the late President Garfield and we will, in some measure, realize the greatness of the nation’s loss, and why he was so greatly loved and honored by all classes of people. President Garfield -was, pre-emi-nently, one of the people. In early life lie did not have the advantages pf wealth and influential friends to give him a start in the world, but was indebted chiefly to bis inherent manhood, his industry and Christian integrity, and, above all, to the advice and example of his noble Christian mother. His industry, his truthfulness, liis obedience and filial affection as a boy, encouraged his mother, his teachers and intimate friends to expect great things when he should become a man. And most grandly did the boy, on becoming a man, more than fulfill all their hearts ever dreamed, or their highest expectations ever pictured. In all the relations of life, as son, brother, husband, father, statesman and friend, he merits our highest praise. And when we remember that his noble heart and brilliant intellect were sanctified and consecrated to God and to liis country by the power of prayer, and a living, active, practical Christianity, it would be marvelously strange and cruel if we did not deeply mourn liis loss.

Having to contend with the hardships of poverty in his youth and early manhood, gave him, in all after life, a most kindly fellow feeling for the honest poor and a disposition to help them bear their burdens and encourage them to ascend that ladder which starts from earth but whose top reaches to heaven. A gentleman gave me the following incident which illustrates a marked trait in President Garfield’s character, and shows why the common people •so truly and justly loved him: “A few months before the convention at Chicago,” said this gentleman, “I was waiting for a train in the depot at Chillicothe, Ohio. There was an old lady there poorly clad, who seemed to be in trouble about her baggage, when a plainly dressed gentleman, whom I supposed to be a farmer, stepped up to the old lady, answered her questions and gave her such help as her necessities required. Soon after I entered into familiar conversation with the old farmer, and presently asked his name, when he quietly answered, ‘my name is Garfield.’ This kindly treatment of that old lady,” said the gentleman, “made me love him as I never loved a stranger before.” But while we honor and love him for his manhood and Christian deportment in the common walks of life, we know him best and are chiefly indebted to him for his life work as a Christian statesman. In his honest differences with others on national and political questions, he disagreed like a Christian, and as a Christian statesman he ever towered far above the ambitious and self-seeking politician. No one, even in the hight of political excitement, was ever able to successfully charge him with bribery or with the use of any dishonorable means in the accomplishment of his purposes. I doubt if there has ever been a statesman in our government who could point to a more unspotted life, or to a record purer and freer from blemish than James A. Garfltft.

But this great and good man, in the prime of life, and when his great intellect and unflinching integrity were most highly prized and most needed by his country, is suddenly cut down by the fiendish hand of the assassin. We do well to meet here to-day to show this tribute of respect to one who was so . eminently worthy of our love, our sorrow and our praise. But, my countrymen, shall we stop here and forget the words and deeds of our martyred President because he is no more with us? On the contrary, let it be henceforth the aim of every American citizen to cherish his good name, to imitate his high and noble example, and prove to the world that our sorrow is sincere and our praises genuine, by practicing the instructions of his inaugural address in forgetting and blotting out the bloody scenes of the past and henceforth “know no North, no South, no East, no West,” but glory in being known and recognized as American citizens. By so doing we will honor the teachings and perpetuate the memory of our beloved dead, and also hand down our blood-bought liberty and our priceless institutions to future generations, and others may then say of us as wo can now truly say of Jambs A. Garfield : “He being dead ye*£«peaketh.”

Following Mr. Babcock, the REV. J. W. LODER spoke as follows : President Gatileld is dead! and a nation Is plunged in grief. The dark death cloud that so lone hovered around him, has at last enveloped him in its sable folds,and a nation mourns to day tor the loss of her Chief Magistrate; and let us not think it untmißlyor unpatriotic if our grief finds expression in tsars. The gieat heart of the Nation beats heat ilv at the portals of the tomb, for Garfield—the nation’s honored, yea, revered President—is no more.— For days, and weeks, and mouths, we have watched and waited, hoped and nrayed for Ills recovery. But au allwise God has ruled it otherwise. Then let us bow with leverential awe, and humbly say—Thy will, Oh God, be done. For we must not forget that God rules ainoug the Nations, and doeth as it pleaseth Him. It makes the flesh creep, and the heart shudder with horror, as we think of that fatal 2d of July, when the news came quick, sudden and appalling, as the blinding flash of lightning *it midnight, filling the heart of the nation with consternation and sorrow.

President Garfield is dead! Stricken down by the hand of the assassin. But before the nation had time to recover from the great shock it had received, the*tidingß was flashed along tho wires: “He is not dead—he may live.” And during all the intervening weeks we have watched and waited, hoped and prayed, while the terrible struggle for life went on. With what noble heroism and mauly courage he met the monster at’the portals of the tomb, and for eleven long weeks sustained the unequl oontest, while we watched the progress of the conflict. How we learned to love him! "We loved him not simply from the common dictates of humanity: not because he desired to live for himself alone—but for humanity, his country, and his God. His whole iife.-from bovhood up to the last hour of his lifo, is worthy our highest admiration, u'is noble and manly energy, his unswerving integrity. his humble piety, his veneration for his aged mother, his tender love for his noble wife, and his affection for his childreu. his high and noble patriotism in public life, all have endeared him to the hearts of the Amer ican people. There is not a mother in all the land but what feels th it by the death of James A. Garfield she has lost a noble son. Not a man but what feels ho has lost a true friend. Not a wife bit mourns him as a husband. Not a child but feels that it has lost a protector. And not a Christian who does not feel that he has lost a brother; and a nation weeps because we know we have lost a noble and beloved Chief Magistrate. The bells that chimed so joyfully on his inaugural morn, now toll the mournful funeral dirge for he whom a nation loved, and for whom they now mourn, has passed from eurth. But “he being dead yet spealteth.” Generation after generation shall arise and pass away, and be forgotten, but the name of James A. Garfield will never be forgotten. Nations may fall, and crowns crumble, and those who wore them pass into oblivion. But brightest among the stars in the galaxy of nations will be that of James A. Garfield. For he was a blessing to his family, his country, end the world. To his family, by his tender, loving care. To his country by his noble patriotism. And to the world by his humble piety. “Blessed aie the dead who die in the Lord, they rest from their labors and their works do follow them.” “Nearer My God To Thee,” the martyr’s favorite hymn, was finely executed by the choir, following which H. E. JAMES delivered the following address : Mb. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: —For the hour, the barriers of race and of language are removed, the differences ofreligion and of politics have disappeared, the distinctions of rank, of title and of social condition are forgotten. To-day, the spirit of common brotherhood asserts its supremacy over all these, and wherever there is civilization there is reverence for the memory of our dead president, regret for his untimely end, and sympathy for his bereaved family and mourning countrymen. For no other man, certainly for no other American, has the fountain of human sympathy been stirred so deeply as it is stirred to-day by the funeral of James A. Garfield. The assault upon his life was so wicked, was so wanton, so without provocation, was so causeless and eo cruel; his dissolution was so prolonged and attended with such fluctuations of hope and altema tions of despair for those who prayed for his recovery, that the eyes of the whole world were drawn irresistably to his bed. Then followed the study of the man. His origin was so humble, his attainments so high, his character was so gentle and refined, his life so hope-

ful and pure; bis accomplishments were so varied and graceful, his intellect so great; his ambition was so lofty and unselfish, his career was so brilliant and stainless; his domestic life was so beautiful and instructive; he was so patient under affliction and so brave in the presence of death; that all hearts were captivated, and by universal impulse proclaimed him the embodied genius of his nation, the typical man of the Anglo-Saxon people. It is an honor not shared by another. It is a position above and beyond the reach of mortal ambition, not to be compassed by the plans of puny man. God, ana God only, for His own wise purpose, prepared and conferred the distinction.

3. A. BURNHAM spoke as follows: When the tender blossoms are blighted ty the ehiliing winds of early spring-time, we have learned not to murmur. When thOjboughs—shaken ny Autumn winds—let fall their ripened clusters, we feel that we have no cause to complain. But when the stately tiee- bearing aloft Iht clinging vine—under whose spreading branches wo have sought shelter from tho drenching rain, or the scorching noon-tide heat, and on whose fruitage in the constantly recurring seasons we have plueeu high hopes, lies prostrate—riven by the by the lightnings and uprooted by rude tempests—we feel that our loss can not easily be replaced. Death, the dread “King of Terrors.” grim and ghastiy, is a messenger that each, at some time expect to meet—for it is the common lot of man. But when passing the cradled infant and the hoary head of age, he places his seal upon the brow of the strong man in his prime—one around whom cluster dependent and dear ones, and on whose shoulders are placed by u confiding people, the cares, responsibilities and interests of a nation- we then feel that our loss is indeed irreparable. Earth to earth—dust to dust—ashes to ashes. To day. all that remains of James A. Garfield, is, by friendly hands, tenderly consigned to the rest ing place of tho dead—and a nation is in tears. How often we have seen in tho private family cirole, members contending, one with another, and some times proceeding so far as to give and receive blow for blow. But when the Angel of Death has darkened the threshold with his shadow, the voice of contention is hushed—the bickerings and strifes have ceased • with saddened eye and bated breath, each with loving tenderness Has done what he could for the stricken one till the dread summons was executed and the sufferer passed beyond human aid. Then who could depict the anguish of heart when in the performance of the last sad riles, was heard the falling earth as it descended like a mantle of charity upon the coffined sleeper?— So we, in the days that are past have had our differences and contentions. But to-day I see before me no Republican—there is not a Democrat in this hall—a National can not be found in this assembly—but members of one family we have met at a common shrine to pay the last tribute of respect to our fallen brother, the late President of our country. It has been said Death loves a shining mark. While the ship of State was battling with the billows of secession, brave Ellsworth, intrepid Lyon and gallant McPherson heard the pale bugler’s summons. When that noble ship bad outridden the storm of rebellion and was entering the port of peace, our noble Lincolnresponded to the roll-call of ihe an gels, and now, General Garfield, elevated to preside over 50,000,000 of civilized, enlightened and refined people, nas laid down their 9ceptre in obedience to a superior power, and the people mourn.

CHARLES H. PRICE followed with an eloquent and feeling address, delivered in like manner, as follows : ME. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS: No evont in the history of the American republic since the dark day when the illustrious Lincoln was stricken down by the dastard hand of John Wilkes Booth, has caused such deep gloom, profound sorrow and overwhelming grief among all classes of society, as did the sad and agonizing intelligence that James Abram Garfield, twentieth President of the United States of America, after a grand struggle for life with the grim tyrant death, in which heroism of the most sublime character was displayed, had finally succumbed to the fatal bullet of the red-handed, hell-deserving and hellbound ruffian which went crashing through the bone and blood of the nation’s honored and illustrious chief on that black and never to be forgotten second day of July. The Supreme Ruler of the Universe, in Ilis infinite mercy and unbounded goodness, may forgive that walking, talking monument of corruption and chief of sinners, Charles J. Guitteau, for slaying the chief magistrate of this great republic, when he stands before the grand tribunal of unbiased justice,.but so loug as America occupies a place apon the map of the world and is peopled by patriots and freemen as it is today, so long as the glittering stars of liberty shall twinkle, and the effulgent sun of freedom shine, the American people will not forget the stupendous crime which has deprived the nation of a noble and patriotic president; and they ought not, and by the gods they never will forgive the damnable wreteh whose hands are yet dripping with the pure bright blood of James A. Garfield. The echo ot the assassin’s bullet had scarcely diod away when the appalling news that the head of the nation had been shot was carried on the wings of lightning to every part of this country, and with one accord the earnest, sincere and heartfelt prayer, '‘God save our president/’ went up to the great white throne from fifty million throats, in which was blended the voices of republicans and democrats, nationals and prohibitionists, as well as the patriot men who wore the loyal blue and the determined ones who wore the grey. And from the moment the stricken chief w-s laid upon his couch of pain and suffering by brave and tender hands, the world almost held its breath as it watched with deep solicitude the result of his gaping wounds. And as the pulse and temperature of the great patient indicated that ho was bettor we were thrilled with joy and gladness, and the great heart of the nation, which General Garfield said would “help the old soldier to get well,” was correspondingly depressed and saddened when the bulletins announced that he was worse; but, finally, when the too sanguine surgeons pronounced the president convalescent and inspired the country with the belief that he would bo restored to his family and the republic, th« American people deep a deep sigh of relief* whiiefrom the forests of Maine, from the grandmountains of the Pacific slope,from the magnificent prairies of the great Northwest, from the green hills and granite cliffs of New England, and from the fair fields of the sunny South, the people, without regard to party or sect, race or oolor, sex or condition, reverently thanked God that the nation’s chief had been rescued from the iaws of death. For eleven long and weary weeks the nation watched and waited, hoped and prayed that the president might be restored

to his sorrowing family and stricken country; but iu spite of all our prayers «ad tears, our hopes and fears, in spite of the untold sympathy to which the American heart lias given expression, in spite of messages of condolence from kings and queens, and in spile of a retinue of surgeons who are reputed to stand in the front rank of the profession, the light of James A. Garfield’s life has gone out forever, and because of his untimely death the nation weeps and the people monrn. And to-day, my countrymen, in common with fifty millions of people who wear the proud robes of American citizenship, we have laid aside the cares of business, left, our farms, abandoned our workshops, closed our stores and quit our offices to pay a deserved and fitting tribute of respect to the memory of the dead chief magistrate of the republic, and to express our horror of the crime which caused his death. Though not affiliated with the political school of which tho dead chief magistrate was the great teacher, yet iti common with nearly four and a half millions of sovereigns who worked and voted to confer the proudest of earthly titles upon another, we can Bsy to-day of General Garfield, as he said of the msrtyred and immortal Lincoln sixteen years ago: “He has gone, but though dead, he is your president and mine, and we mourn him.” General Garfield had hi 3 faults and made mistakes as well as every man who ever walked and breathed, bnt when his history shall be impartially written, his record as a man, a soldier and a statesman, will shiue with such lustrous brilliancy that the few errors which he committed during the quarter of a century he served his state and' nation as a public servant will be dwarfed into insignificance. We loved Garfield, the boy, for his sublime devotion to his aged mother. We admired Garfield, the young man, for his scholarly attainments which he won single handed and alono. We revered Garfield, tjie general, for the patriotic services he rendered his country on the battlefields of the republic in her hour of supreme peril. We honored Garfield, the representative in the American congress, for his championship of the grand cause of human liberty. We respected Garfield, the great chief magistrate of the grandest and fairest republic beneath the stars, for his wise and conservative administration of the American government ;*and so long as reason is enthroned we will cherish his memory, while his name and fame will be held sacred and dear to every American heart. Before yonder sun goes down all that is mortal of James A. Garfield will bo consigned by loving hands to tho besom of the grand old commonwealth he served so long and loved so well, and there ho will sloep honeath a “wilderness of flowers,” which will be moistened and kept fresh with the unbidden tears of a sorrowing and weeping nation. Ilis clarion voice will never more be heard in 'he councils of the nation. The faithful sword which flashed in the sunlight at Chickamaugua is forever sheathed. But though death has triumphed over the master mind, the splendid heart, matchless brain and powerful constitution of James A. Garfield in the noonday of life, he lived long enough to win for himself a fame as high .as heaven, as wide as the world, ns bright as the stars and as enduring tie the everlasting hills, and we ought to rejoice to-day, my countrymen, that though our honored and illustrious chief magistrate he dead and the land tilled with mourning, that the words uitered by tlie departed hero when the martyred Lincoln was so foully slain, are true to-day: “God reigns, and the government at Washington still lives.” Unlike some, I do not. have dire forebodings of the future of the republic, for it securely rests upon the eternal rock of human liberty, while tho great clock of freedom is swinging in the hearts of tho people; and I rejoice in the faith that it will emerge from the gloom which now hangs over it like n pall, stronger, better, and purer, if possible, than ever before, and go forward with the stalely steppings of a giant, until her star shall be the brightest iu Ike galaxy of nations.

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