HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 205
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PRESS.
The press of Zanesville and Muskingum county, maintains the freedom of discussion, so peculiarly American. In its editorial ranks have ever been found men of talent and energy, and, with all the divergence of political opinion, they are among the most fraternal to be found in any community. The following recitals of the history of the papers that have flourished, and now exhibit " the power of the pen," are examples of the modesty, as well as tenacity, of opinion of-the editors, touching their record, and appear in alphabetical order, the living papers being designated by " small caps," as : THE WEEKLY ADVOCATE, THE ZANESVILLE COURIER, The Daily Democrat, The Daily Era, THE ZANESVILLE POST, THE ZANESVILLE SIGNAL, The City Times, THE DAILY MORNING TIMES, THE DRESDEN CHRONICLE, NEW CONCORD ENTERPRISE, and to this record is added what the press and the people said, in universal sorrow, when President Garfield died.
THE WEEKLY ADVOCATE.—This paper was first issued, May loth, 1870, and then called
The Farmers' and Mechanics' Advocate," which title was abandoned in 1879, on account of its length. It is a nine-column sheet, and, at that time, was the largest in Southeastern Ohio. Politically, it was independent ; the object of the founder, Mr. John T. Shryock, who is now editor and publisher, was to make it a political informer of the people, on all important issues. The editor has aimed to produce an instructive paper, that would be welcomed to every fireside. In 1872, he decided to espouse the principles governing the Liberal Republican party, and he has done what he could to promote the currency reform movement, and to advocate Government protection to Home industries, in opposition to free trade.
The ADVOCATE does not pretend to be a brilliant, gossippy newspaper, preferring, rather, to invite its readers to the consideration of such matters as more directly tend to advance the interests of the social fabric.
THE ZANESVILLE COURIER—T. J. Newman.— In all governments of " the people, by the people, for the people" there must be two parties. Ever since the organization of the Government of the United States, there has been two parties. Washington was a candidate without a party, but his supporters became known as Federalists. Alexander Hamilton was the head and front of this party. Thomas Jefferson had views of government very different from Alexander Hamilton, and he soon became the leader of the opposition—the Republicans. This Republican party, in after years, became the Democratic party. Each party, in all the counties of each State of this wide realm, had, and still has, its organ. The Federal party was weak, especially in tbe west. In 1808, its candidate only received the electoral vote of four States, out of seventeen, constituting the Union.
In 1810, when Zanesville was a small village, and the greater part of Muskingum county an unbroken forest, " The Express" made its appearance among the people of Muskingum. It was a little sheet, published by J. H. Putnam & Co. The Republicans then were supreme in this western country, and the Whigs had not yet commenced talking about internal improvements. Jefferson was still living, and was a power in the land. And yet, the " Express " came out as the exponent of the principles of the Federal party. The field was uninviting, and became more so during; and immediately after, the war of 1812. The " Express " was the beginning of the Republican organ of Muskingum county. That changes in proprietors should take place, amid such trials as war brings, need only be hinted. Accordingly, in 1812, the " Express and Advertiser" appeared, published by O'Hara & Bennett, and continued to exist until 1822, or 1823, when the first number of the " Ohio Republic " appeared, with that old pioneer politician, Colonel. David Chambers, as editor, and Adam Peters as publisher. It opposed the election of Andrew Jackson, to the Presidency. It advocated the doctrines of the great Whig leader of that day, Henry Clay.
On the 22d of July, 1824, David Chambers retired from the editorship, and Adam Peters became editor and publisher. William C. Pelham purchased an interest in the paper, January 5th, 1825, and the paper was conducted under the firm name of Peters & Pelham, until August 3d, 1833, at which time Pelham retired, and Adam Peters again beCame sole editor and publisher; and continued to furnish the Whigs of Muskingum suitable diet, until 1842, when the establishment was sold to Lambert Hara and John A. Beaty, the latter formerly of the " Guernsey Times." In 1843, Beaty retired, and H. P. Bristow became part owner, and, with Hara, continued to edit and publish the paper, until November 1f, 1845, when David H. Lyman purchased the establishment. On that day, the " Ohio Republican" ceased to exist, and the " Zanesville Courier" made its appearance. The " Courier," under the control of David H. Lyman, became one of the leading journals of the State. Mr. Lyman was a brilliant journalist, even a little ahead of the times.
THE TRI-WEEKLY COURIER.—On the 3 1st of March, 1846, the first number was published, and June 21st, of the same year, it was suspended, and the " Zanesville Daily Courier" was born. All of these papers were ably edited by Mr. Lyman, but the time for the " Daily Courier " had not yet arrived. Sufficient support could not be found, and it was suspended, November 1st, 1847, and the publication of the " Tri-Weekly Courier " resumed. After a brief career, on the 19th of October, 1849, David H. Lyman sold the establishment to Edward Ball and Imri Richards. Mr. Lyman was one of the most brilliant writers who ever sat upon the tripod in the ." Courier " office, but was not a successful financier. De-
206 - HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
cember 6th, 1850, the Zanesville Daily Courier" again made its appearance, and has been making its daily round among the people ever since.
Edward Ball was a good politician, one of the best who ever stepped into the arena, in Muskingum county, but was not a success as an editor. The drudgery of the sanctum was not suited to his tastes, and Mr. Richards, though a thoroughly honest man, a good and true friend, was a great failure as a financier. The Courier," while under Ball & Richards, was a failure, and passed into the hands of J. Carrel, H. J. Mercer, W. H. Ball, and William Buell, as editors and proprietors. Their career, however, was short. W. H. Ball discovered that nature never intended him for an editor, and severed his connection with the Courier." In 1852, George Weaver and N. S. Kauffman became editors and publishers, under the firm name of Weaver & Kauffman, and continued the business until March 4, 1858, when U. P. Bennett, becoming owner, editor, and publisher of the "Zanesville Gazette," a paper started about 1830, by Uriah Parke, bought the interest of Mr. Weaver, and the two papers were consolidated, The weekly was issued un-
der the name of the WEEKLY COURIER AND GAZETTE, and the daily under the name of the
ZANESVILLE DAILY COURIER. In August, 1859, Mr. C. H. Upton and John T. Shryock became editors and publishers. .On the 21st of June, 1861, Mr. John T. Shryock became sole editor, publisher and proprietor of the COURIER establishment. Up to this time, the COURIER had never been a financial success. Many a dollar had been lost by the different proprietors. There were no dividends—never had been. When the war of the rebellion got fairly under way, there was a mint of money in a newspaper office, if properly conducted, and Mr. Shryock made money.
On the 15th of November, 1865, M. D. Leggett and J. C. Douglass purchased the COURIER establishment, of J. T. Shryock, and published the COURIER until July 1 st, 1866, when T. J. Newman purchased a one-third interest in the establishment. The weekly journal was published, under the name of the COURIER AND GAZETTE, until Dececember 18th, 1868, when the "Gazette" was dropped, and ever since, the weekly paper has been styled the WEEKLY dOUR- IER. In May, 1863, Mr. Leggett sold his interest to J, H. Dodd, and, January 1st, 1872, Newman and Dodd purchased the interest of J. C. Douglass, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Newman & Dodd, until 1876, when R. B. Brown purchased a part of the interest of J. H. Dodd, and became a member of the firm. The COURIER is now one of the leading papers of Ohio. It finds its way to all sections of the Union. It advocates the principles of the Republican party, believing that those are the best for the patriotic freemen of this great Union.
DAILY DEMOCRAT.—This paper was published in the interest of the Democratic party, and first appeared August 18th, 1879. The editors and publishers, were W. V. Cox, W. L. Maginnis, and W. C. Crawley. October 3ist, of the same year, it was deemed expedient to "pull down the blinds" and close the office.
THE DAILY ERA was an advocate of Democracy, first issued March 24th, 1880, by W. L. Maginnis, W. C. Crawley, and George C. Thompson. July 28th, this firm was dissolved, Thompson and Crawley retiring, and the paper passed into the hands of 0. K. White, J. F. Tracy, and T. J. Maginnis, Jr. October 26th, ensuing, W. L. Maginnis and T. J. Maginnis, Jr., withdrew ; the paper passed into the hands of a receiver, and was published by 0. K. White and J. F. Tracy, until November 29th, 1880, when the office was closed.
ZANESVILLE POST.—The Zanesville POST is the only German newspaper published in this part of the State. The first number was issued March 28th, 1872, by Adolph Schneider, the present publisher and proprietor. The office, for the first five years, was in Werner's block, near the Court House,; it is now located at Nos. 41 and 43 So'uth Sixth street. It is a seven-column sheet, twenty-four by thirty-six inches ; the first number was issued to six hundred subscribers ; its patrons now number eight hundred.
The POST is non-partisan in politics, but keeps its readers alive to their interests, and well informed in political affairs. Its editor has the satisfaction of knowing that the patrons approve his plan, never having had occasion to change or modify his course—a sufficient guarantee of the ability of the editor to conduct a first-class family newspaper.
THE ZANESVILLE SIGNAL.—This is one of the most pronounced Democratic journals in the State ; edited and published by James T. Irvine, the compiler of the following ably written article. which will be found remarkable for fidelity to the record of the times :
The history of the Democratic press of Muskingum county begins with the "Muskingum Messenger," which was also the first newspaper in Zanesville. The "Muskingum Messenger" began its career in February of the year 1810, and continued during some twenty-five or thirty years to be one of the most prominent journals then published in Ohio.
The Democratic party, at that time, was called "Republican," or "Democratic Republican"—these political terms being used synonymously, to designate the party founded by Thomas Jefferson, in opposition to the "Federal" party, founded by Alexander Hamilton. The "Muskingum Messenger," therefore, represented and advocated the "Democratic Republican" principles and policies of Government, as defined, inculcated, and established, by Jefferson and his school, until its course was changed toward the end of its race.
The first publishers of the "Muskingum Messenger" were Messrs. White & Sawyer. Shortly after its publication began, Mr. David Cham-
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 207
bers (afterwards well known as Colonel Chambers, and also as a member of Congress), purchased the interest of Mr. White, and became the sole proprietor, in or about the year 1812. During the "war of 1812," the "Messenger" occupied a prominent position as an able and efficient supporter of the war and the administration of President Madison. It "carried the war" into the "Federal" ranks, with many a sharp criticism and pungent paragraph.
About the year 1815, Mr. Josiah Heard became editor and proprietor of the "Messenger," and continued as such until the close of the year. 1818. In February, 1819, Mr. Kzekiel T. Cox purchased and took possession, and was the publisher of the paper until February, 1822, when he transferred it to his brother, Horatio J. Cox. The latter continued to edit and publish the "Messenger" until February, 1824, when he transferred it to his two brothers, Ezekiel T., and Samuel J. Cox. The latter, in 1825, became sole owner and editor. In May, 1828, owing to his conscientious refusal to support General Jackson as the Democratic-Republican candidate for President, he disposed of the "Messenger" to Mr. Thomas Anderson.
During the period of the "Messenger's" greatest prosperity, there was no newspaper published in the adjoining counties of Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan and Perry ; and all of the official publications of those counties were made through the '.'Messenger," as being the most available medium of communication with the people of those counties, as well as Muskingum.
Mr. Thomas Anderson conducted the "Messenger" as a Democratic-Republican journal, and a supporter of President Jackson's administration, until the year 1832, when he took the side of Calhoun and the "nullifiers," and thus broke with the main wing of the Democracy. The "Messenger" continued thus until the year 1837, when it passed into the hands of Joseph Moorehead and Michael P. Brister. This closed its career as a Democratic journal, and soon afterward its existence was terminated.
In the year 1833, the "Democratic Union" was started, by Messrs. Charles B. Flood and Frederick W. DeKrufft, to take the place of the "Messenger" as the Democratic organ.
Their successor in the "Union" was William Crosby, who changed the name of the journal to the "Aurora." Mr. Crosby's direct successor, (we believe,) was Colonel David Robb, from whom Mr. Jacob Glessner purchased and took possession, January 1st, 1838. Mr. Glessner continued as the editor and publisher of the "Aurora" during six stormy political years, until 1844, when he disposed of it to Mr. John Brandt. From him it soon passed, and within a few years it was transferred consecutively into the hands of the following named persons : McCann & Camp, Chauncey Bassett,.Henry Beard, Roberts & Adams and Henry Beard. Mr. Henry Beard was, however, the editor of the "Aurora" from the year 1845 until August 18th, 1852, when he conveyed it to Mr. R. W. P. Muse. November 15th, 1853, Mr. Albert O. Wagstaff became a partner, with one-third interest in the concern, and remained one year. January 2d, 1854, Messrs. Muse and Wagstaff started the "Daily Commercial Aurora," the publication of which was continuous for from two to three years. July ist, 1855, Mr. Lewis Baker took one-third interest in the whole establishment, and held it until July 1st, 1857, when he retired. In the meantime, Mr. Muse, July 6th, 1856, disposed of his interest to Dr. James W. Gaily, then a practicing dentist in Zanesville. When Mr. Baker retired, July 1st, 1857, Dr. Gaily became sole proprietor, and continued as publisher and editor of the "Aurora" until April 3th, 1860, when he sold it to Thomas W. Peacock. From November 23d, 1860, Mr. Joseph McGonagle was associated with Mr. Peacock, until November 3th, 1862, when his interest was taken by the "Ohio Farmer's League," Esquire Jacobs, editor, and the "Farmer s League" was thus merged in the "Aurora."
The division of the Democracy in the Presidential contest of 1860, led, in this county, to the starting of the "Citizen's Press," in September, of that year, by Messrs. Samuel Chapman and.
Anthony Deffenbaugh, in support of John C. Breckinridge for President. Messrs. Chapman and Deffenbaugh continued to issue the Citizen's Press" until July gth, 1863, when it was merged with the “Aurora." The paper then appeared with the names of T. W. Peacock and William Ewing, as editors, until January 1st, 1864, when Mr. Peacock transferred his interest to Mr. Ewing, who retired a month afterward, February 4th, 1864, and thereupon the "Aurora" disappeared, its new purchaser having decided to change the title of the paper.
February 11 1th, 1864, No. 1, of "The Ohio Signal" was issued, with the name of J. Milholland & Co., as publishers, but in a few weeks this name was withdrawn. In the year 1865, various amounts were subscribed as stock, by prominent Democrats, in what was called the "Signal Printing Company," with Daniel B. Linn, Elias Ellis, William Pringle and 'Gemmil Arthur, as Trustees. In August, 1865. this company, with a well equipped office, containing a full supply of new type, a new Hoe power press, a steam engine, job printing materials, etc.. began the publication of the "Zanesville Daily and Weekly Signal," in the regular style of city journalism. Mr. D. B. Linn, a lawyer, who had had several years experience in editing a newspaper, became the editor of the "Signal." In October, 1865, Mr. Linn was elected to the Ohio Senate, and re-elected in 1867. In the spring of 1867, negotiations for the purchase of the "Signal" and all its appurtenances, were entered into, and concluded with James T. Irvine, who took possession June 10th, 1867. The "Daily Signal" was continued by him until January ist, 1870, when it was suspended, with the intention to resume its publication as soon as favorable circumstances would permit.
The Zanesville " Signal" (weekly) is contin-
208 - HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
ued by the last named purchaser, and is a newsy paper, with a circulation of about twenty-four hundred copies.
THE CITY TIMES was a folio weekly paper, of seven columns, with a picture of the Triple Bridge sandwiched with the name. The style of type was burgeois, and the pages very neat. It was started by J. Glessner and J. B. Roberts, September 4, 1852. Mr. Roberts was appointed Postmaster, April 29, 1853, and retired from the paper, selling his interest to Mr. Glessner, who continued its publication for twelve years, never failing to issue the paper on the regular day of publication, each week. The office was then sold to George H. Logan, who soon after associated with J. H. Dodd, and continued to publish the paper for some months, then sold the office to Messrs. Cooper, Evans and Ehrman, who were succeeded by Governor John Greiner. R. C. Brown succeeded Greiner, and, after running the paper two years, sold it to W. W. Pyle, who published it for five years, during the last of which it was issued as a Sunday paper. Mr. Pyle sold the office to E. B. Hayes, who continued it as a Sunday paper until the fall of 1875.
During Mr. Glessner's editorship, the paper was independent in politics, and eminently a family newspaper ; the subsequent career of the paper was varied, as the frequent changes in editors would indicate.
THE DAILY MORNING TIMES was started June 12, 1877, by W. W. Pyle, E. R. Sullivan, D. P. Mercer, Alonzo Shoemaker, Edward Mercer and Harry M. Parsons, practical printers,'under the firm name of "The TIMES Publishing Company." W. W. Pyle, editor, and E. R. Sullivan, Business Manager ; these gentlemen continue to fill those positions.
The TIMES was a neat six-column sheet, and soon after enlarged to seven columns. In politics, it was independent, until the Gubernatorial campaign of 1879, when it espoused the Republican party doctrines, and with such vigor as to attract the attention of the leaders of that party, of which it was recognized as a powerfully and rendered signal service in bringing about the Republican party triumph ; the Democratic party having been the victors in political contests, prior to that time, in Muskingum county.
May 12, 1879, Alonzo Shoemaker transferred one-fifth interest to Sullivan and Parsons. November 20, 1880, D. P. Mercer and Edward Mercer each transferred one-fifth interest to the same parties ; and the establishment was owned by W. W. Pyle, E. R. Sullivan and H. M. Parsons, the two latter owning their interest jointly, under the firm name, of Sullivan and Parsons. October 20, 1881, the partnership between W. W. Pyle, and Sullivan and Parsons, operating under the name of the "TIMES Company," was dissolved, Mr. Pyle retiring ; the business is conducted by the remaining partners, Sullivan and Parsons.
In the beginning, the establishment was run on the co-operative plan, and the success of the enterprise is doubtless due to the energy and economy with which the work was conducted during the weeks of experiment.
The TIMES is the only morning paper published in Zanesville. Its dispatches are furnished by the National Press Association, and, as a wide-a-wake newspaper, it is a welcome exchange throughout the State, and elsewhere. It reaches daily every postoffice in the county, where there is a daily mail.
THE WEEKLY TIMES, a handsome eight page sheet, was started August 6, 1877, and, like the daily, at once became a favorite, rapidly extending its circulation into the adjoining counties of Licking, Morgan, Perry and Guernsey.
The foregoing recital might be greatly extended, by elaborating the system of securing the news, and pointing out the advantages of classification, which renders the TIMES of such peculiar value to the reader, but this would necessitate a detail that would be of more interest to the journalist than the reader, and hence, we refrain, and invite the public to profit by the results in reading the TIMES.
The office and business facilities have lately been greatly enlarged, and are still in the Maginfiis Block, near, the Postoffice, No. 25, North Fifth street.
THE DRESDEN CHRONICLE, A. Deffenbaugh, publisher, was issued July 30, 1838, and continued to 1842, when the name was changed to the JOURNAL ; under this name it was published for two years, when it disappeared.
"The Visitor," put in appearance in 1848, and retired, having issued but one number ; John W. Wallace, the publisher, thinking one visit would do.
The "Advocate," under the management of Rev. Wallace and Mr. Agnew, entered the newspaper arena in 1850,and flourished about two years, when Mr. Wallace died, and Mr. Agnew associated with Mr. Sygford and issued the "Intelligencer." This paper twas continued until 1855, when it passed into the hands of Bently Gill, who sold it to M. B. Lovett, in 1857.
The "Dresden Monitor" appeared in 1868, published by Thomas B. Peacock & Son, who continued their sanctum a little more than a year and sold out to J. A. Jackson, who, in turn, sold to L. M. Murphy, and he, after a year's effort, transferred the office to W. H. Conkling, who, in a short time, sold out to J. T. Shryock, under whom the paper revived and continued about two years, when he sold out to John W. Martin. How long Mr. Martin owned the office does not appear, but the "Herald" was doubtless a child of that office, with Hunt and Springstead as guardians, and when the scion was half a year old, it was committed to the care of Mr. Spring- stead, who abandoned the waif to take care of 1tself, and it disappeared.
The "Dresden Doings," a fortnightly quarto, published by James W. Wheeling, appeared in 1874. In September, 1878, Mr. Wheel-
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 209.
ing sold out his interest to Will E. Smith, who continued the paper as a bi-weekly about nine months, and then changed it to a five- column weekly, and continued its publication until about the middle of. November, 1879, when it was enlarged to a six-column folio, and has been continued by the same publisher ever since.
[The foregoing is compiled from data furnished by W. E. Smith.]
NEW CONCORD ENTERPRISE—Princip. a, non Homines.—The first number of this paper was issued July 22, 1880, edited and published by McKee & Hutchison. In their salutatory, it is announced to be a journal devoted to home interests, embracing education, morals, Christianity and temperance ; open to free and full discussion of all questions pertaining to the best interests of society ; regarding every man's politics, just as every man's religion, as his own, they do not propose to attack or antagonize any class of citizens because of differences of opinion.
UNIVERSAL SORROW.
The President is dead ! No sadder news ever fell upon the American people. Throughout that memorable day there was a painful expectancy depicted in every countenance, and direful forebodings, uttered in subdued tones, as the wires told of the condition of the beloved President ; and shortly after the final struggle was over, and ere those who had so constantly watched the bulletin-boards could carry the sad news to their anxious friends at home, the bell in the tower of the court house rang out in solemn tones the death of him the people loved so well. " The President died, at 10 :35, at Long Branch, New Jersey." It was not necessary to add ,"P.M. ;" the people knew but too well, and painfully, the time of that eventful loth day of September. What a mournful night was that, and how still the air—and yielding to the tongues of the church bells, as they chimed in with the court-house bell.
Unconscious Bell !
Oh, break ! Oh, break !
Refuse the listening
Air to shake !
For thou dost shake
Our hearts—they swell—
They break ! They break !
Break with them, Bell !
Thy jarring tones,
Thy harrowing moans,
We may not quell—
Break hearts, and Bell !
Thus the people their painful vigils kept, and the remainder of the night was spent in draping homes and public places with the emblems of the woe unutterable.
And when the day dawned, and the ." Daily Morning Times," with its darkened columns, came, we conned o'er and o'er the sad; sad story renewed, and freely excused the editor for not attempting anything but reproductions. And. we looked again and again at those wonderful headlines, which read as follows :
" Safe in the Arms of Jesus—After Seventy- eight Days of Suffering, the President Passes Serenely Away, like one who draws the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams—A Nation mourns a great and good man's death, who departed this life as the hands on the dial pointed to ro :35—The midnight air saddened by the mournful tolling of thousands of bells, and strong men weep bitter tears at the fall of a friend of humanity—' But earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure'—Angels will rejoice at the reception in Paradise of so pure a soul."
[OFFICIAL BULLETIN.]
LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, September 19.— The President died at 10:35.”
"And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave,"
While we gaze through tears on the life gone out, lifting our hearts in thankfulness for the triumph of Christian faith, for the end of tbat man was peace.
Zanesville, robed in black, and the lamentations of her people over the death of our Chief Magistrate, marks an epoch in history that time will never efface.
A small printed hand-bill, distributed in the foreroon, called a public meeting of citizens, in Black's Music Hall, at two o'clock in the afternoon. In response, the Hall was filled at that hour with a concourse of men. The meeting was organized by the election of Rev. W. M. Mullenix, of the Second Street M. E. Church, as President, Hon. John O'Neill and J. T. Irvine, as Vice Presidents, and Messrs. 'n J. Newman and (Captain) D. B. Gary, as Secretaries.
Rev. Mr. Mullenix, as Chairman, opened the proceedings with a terse and expressive statement of the solemn circumstances, under which the meeting was held, an impressive sketch of the high character and services of the Nation's departed statesman and Chief Magistrate, and the overwhelming sorrow with which his own countrymen, supplemented by the generous sympathy of all the people of all other civilized countries, received and lamented over his untimely demise, by the foul hand and crime of a brutal assassin.
The Hon. John O'Neill was called upon, and. spoke words of rare eloquence, depicting the love and grief of our fifty millions of people for their. chosen and worthy head ; their burning indignation at`" the deep damnation of his taking off by a fiendish assassin's cruel and senseless murder ; and the genial, friendly nature of the man who had ascended from the humble cottage of bis widowed mother, through various gradations of trial and success, to the highest position of honor and power in the government of his country, and in the hearts of his countrymen. Mr. O'Neill spoke most feelingly from his own
210 - HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
personal acquaintance with James A. Garfield in Congress, and rendered a high eulogium to his fame and memory.
J. T. Irvine endeavored to respond by speaking of the tragical death of James A. Garfield as having at once wiped out, for the time being, all factions, parties, sections, sects, races, or other lines of divisions among the people, and united them all as one family, mourning over the woeful loss of its head, and thus demonstrating, in this epoch of National calamity, the oneness of the American people. The fatal striking down of the chief ruler in the Government, by a vile assassin's fiendish blow, was a causeless, horrible crime, not only against the President and Government of the United States, but against society and the whole people, each and all. * * * Mr. Irvine sought an illustration of the universal popular sentiment, by quoting the saying of David on the assassination of Abner, in Israel :
"And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And King David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the King lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner ; and all the people wept. * * And the King said unto his servants : Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ?"—II. Samuel, iii, 31-38.
He concluded by referring to the rule of Presidential succession, provided by the Constitution, which must be obeyed and respected, and that, as General Garfield himself had publicly said in New York after the assassination and death of President Lincoln, " God reigns and the Government at Washington still lives."
T. H. Southard, Esq., was then called out and responded briefly in remarks highly appropriate to the occasion.
Hon. M. M. Granger was next called for, and, in words that breathe and thoughts that burn, pictured the fallen hero, and left the subject with the people, feeling too deeply to do more.
Hon. A. W. Train then addressed the audience, and declared his firm belief that General Garfield was, by far, the greatest man of this epoch.
The Committee on Resolutions made the following report, which was unanimously adopted by the whole audience, on a rising vote :
RESOLUTIONS.
"The people of Zanesville, called together by tidings that the Nation's President is dead, with one heart and mind, join their countrymen as mourners to-day. We meet in deepest sorrow, because the Nation's chosen head is slain ; and,
"Resolved, That we, the people of Zanesville, learn with deep anguish and profound sorrow, of the death of James A. Garfield, President of the United States.
"Resolved, That in President Garfield we recognize the highest type of American character. As a statesman, he has no superior ; as a citizen, none was more faithful and patriotic ; as a soldier, distinguished for capacity and gallantry.
"Resolved, That by his death, the Nation has lost a great ruler ; community an exalted citizen and cultured scholar ; Christianity one of her brightest ornaments.
"Resolved, That we detest and abhor the crime and the criminal by which this precious life has been sacrificed, and demand that the full measure of punishment, provided by law, shall be promptly meted out to him.
"Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with his aged mother, his devoted and heroic wife, and his fatherless children, in their great bereavement.
"Resolved, That the President and Secretary of this meeting forward an official copy of its proceedings to the widow of the deceased, and also a certified copy to the State Department at Washington."
The Committee on Resolutions was continued, to report suitable observance in this city during the funeral ceremonies of interment at Cleveland, on Monday, and the following is the report of said committee, which is taken from the Zanesville "Courier :"
HONOR TO THE DEAD-HOW THE BURIAL OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD IS TO BE OBSERVED THIS CITY.
At a meeting of the Committee on Resolutions, appointed at the Citizens Meeting, held in Music Hall, on the 2oth inst., and also a Committee from Hazlett Post, No. 81, Grand Army of the Republic, held at the office of A. W. Train, Esq., at 2 p. m., yesterday, on motion, A. W. Train, Esq., was chosen Chairman, and R. S. Mershon, Secretary. On motion, it was
"Resolved, That a public procession be had between the hours of 12 and 3 o'clock, of Monday, September 26th, in the afternoon, and that the procession shall move at 1 :15.
'"Resolved, That Gen. Robert S. Granger be requested to act as Grand. Marshal, with power to appoint assistants, and arrange a line of march.
"Resolved, That all the City and County Officials, all Military, Religious and Civic Associations, and all other organized bodies, together with the teachers and scholars of the Public and Private Schools, and all citizens be, and are hereby, invited to join the funeral cortege ; and that there may be proper arrangements made, all bodies be, and are hereby requested to report immediately to Gen. R. S. Granger, Grand Marshal, the name of each association or organization, and numerical strength of the same, to whom official communications can be addressed.
"Resolved, That in accordance with the Proclamation of the Governor of Ohio, the people of this city be requested to close their respective places of business for the day ; and that the clergy of the several churches be requested to open their churches for religious services, at 3 p. m.
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Resolved, That the following committees be appointed and requested to serve :
"On Finance—John Hoge, J. T. Irvine, Geo. L. Phillips.
“On Music—James A. Cox, H. Waller, J. J. Ingalls.
"On Ordnance—H. C. Van Voorhis.
“On motion, adjourned to meet to-day(Friday) at A. W. Train's office, and that the Grand Marshal and the several committees be respectfully requested to be present.
"R. S. MERSHON,
"Secretary."
The following are the editorial remarks of the Zanesville "Courier" on the death of President Garfield :
THE DEAD PRESIDENT.
"Monday all that is mortal of James A. Garfield was laid away to rest in Lake View Cemetery, at Cleveland, Ohio. He will sleep while ages pass away, along by the side of the beautiful lake he loved so well. He will sleep in the county- where his eyes first saw the light of day. When suffering at Washington City, his mind wandered back to his native State of Ohio, and to the modest, comfortable home at Mentor, where, surrounded by those so near and dear to him, he had passed so many happy hours. After the spirit had taken its flight to the God who gave it, his body was carried back to the shores of the dear old lake, to rest there until time shall be no more.
"Around the grave where the remains of James A. Garfield will be laid at rest to-day, in spirit, fifty millions American people Will be present. Never since the dawn of creation, has any man been so mourned. Those who live in the palace, and those who live in the humble cot, alike mourn the great and good man who has been cut down in the prime of life. By the poor of the land, in those humble homes where there is a stuggle all the year round for bread, James A. Garfield was mourned, as never man was mourned before.
In the humble homes of the land, where want is often felt, and where there is never an abundance, and to spare, some method has been found to inform the outside world, that in those humble cots, there are those who mourn the loss of a friend, good and true. And when the great and good man, who has gone to Heaven, looks down upon the people he ruled so wisely and so well, there is nothing that will gratify him more than the signs of heartfelt grief on the humble cots of the poor. He never forgot that he was a poor man. His great soul went out to those who struggled for an honest living in the lower walks of life. He, in life, was one of them, knew how to sympathize with them in their troubles and trials, knew how honest, true and patriotic they were. He knew that their strong arms and stout hearts saved the Union. And because he didn't forget the honest masses, but fell in the discharge of the duties assigned him by them, the honest masses mourn him so sincerely to-day. He died at his post, as a good soldier always does, and in the hearts of a grateful people, he will live as long as the American people love honor, truth and virtue."
The following are the editorial remarks of the Zanesville "Signal" on the death of President Garfield :
PRESIDENT GARFIELD'S DEATH.
"The last sad scene, the death of President James A. Garfield, in the national tragedy wrought by the passion and bullet of a vile assassin ,took place at Elberon, near Long Branch, New Jersey, last Monday night, at 10 :35, when his spirit passed quietly away from his wounded and suffering body. He was assassinated on the morning of the 2nd of July, and having died on the night of September 19th, he thus endured eighty days of intense pain.
"The departed President lacked two months of attaining the fiftieth year of his age, but he died at the very pinnacle of earthly station and honor, most deeply and uni4rsally sympathized with, and lamented.
"The surgeons' autopsy revealed the fact that the wound from the assassin's bullet was inevitably fatal from the first, against all that could be done to avert this dread result.
"The obsequies, at Washington City, are now in progress, and the final ceremonies, and the interment, will take place at Cleveland, Monday next, September 26th."
The following are the remarks of the "Weekly Advocate" on the death of President Garfield :
" ONE EVENT HAPPENETH TO ALL."
"The tall, the wise, the reverent head,
Must lay as low as ours."
"The President is dead ! James A. Garfield was, in 1861, a State Senator ; 1862 and 1863, a General in the army of the United States ; subsequently, for sixteen years, a Representative in the Congress of the United States ; at the commencement of 1880, made a Senator in Congress by the Legislature of Ohio ; in 1880, elected the President of the United States—is NOW DEAD.
"He who filled the most exalted political position of any man among all the peoples of the world. The most honored, and in whom reposed, to a greater extent than in any other man, the interests and destinies of fifty millions of people —has passed away. 'One event happeneth unto all.'
With the cause of his death, and with his condition and sufferings for the last seventy-eight days, our readers are generally familiar.
"Less than one hour before he died, which was at 10 :35 P. M., on Monday, September 19th, he awoke from an apparent sleep, and complained of pain in the region of the heart. He soon after began to sink, and his spirit passed away into the hands of the great God, who 'giveth to all the measure of their days.'
Mrs. Garfield, Miss Mollie Garfield, Colonel
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Rockwell, General Swaim, and Drs. Bliss and Agnew, were present during his dying moments."
The Zanesville "Post" (German), of Wednesday, September 2ist, contained the following editorial remarks on the death of President Garfield :
The following is a translation of the above, which is given for the benefit of the English
reader :
OUR PRESIDENT 1S DEAD.
"Garfield's last words were, "It hurts !' And 'It hurts !' groans the whole Nation in gloomy sorrow.
“After eighty terrible days of suffering, the 19th instant, at 10 :35 P. M., death snatched our twentieth President from his people. His wife and two children were with the physicians at his death-bed. At ten minutes past ten, a severe pain had suddenly siezed upon his breast, and soon made him unconscious. With the anxious eyes of his faithful wife on him, the sufferer breathed forth his great soul. But he will survive all of us, in history and in the hearts of the people, by the side of a Washington, a Jefferson, a Jackson, and a Lincoln, as a genuine model of a great American, wh0 had risen from the dust of a lowly country house, into the light of the highest place of honor in the world ; working from station to station, as laborer, mule- driver, country school teacher, student, citizen, soldier, Congressman, and Senator ; as brilliant orator and learned statesman, always with iron energy and gigantic will-power. Ovations are tendered to his memory, so sincere, as no hereditary" king, or "ruler by the grace of God," could have procured for himself; and the most fervent sympathy is offered to his.aged mother, and his noble wife, with her five children.
"The corpse is to-day taken, first to Washington, and will, on Monday, be buried near Cleveland. The immediate cause of his death, was a secondai'y bleeding from an artery touched by the bullet, which, amounting to as much as a pint, pressed upon his heart and caused his last great pains. At the autopsy a pus cavity was found, six inches long ; and a pus canal, leading down to the groin. His breast was badly affected, but no pus in the lungs ; but there was an affection of tbe left kidney. Pus had also been found in the soft matter of the lumbar vertebra, where the bullet had passed and driven small pieces of the gristle into the soft parts near. The bullet was found encysted, about two and a half inches to the left of the spine. It had taken two hours to find it.
‘rom the whole country the news comes of the most general participation in the mourning, and its profound sincerity. In many cities, not only public, but also private and business houses are draped in black ; and yesterday, activity had almost entirely ceased."
‘The following remarks on the death of President Garfield are taken from the Zanesville
"Courier," and appeared in that paper the day after the funeral :
" IN MEMORIAM.—Amid the gloom which . enshrouds the Nation at the death of James A. Garfield, the citizens of Zanesville assemble to do honor to the .memory of thel illustrious dead—A funeral pageant of mournful grandeur traverses our streets, and touchingly tender memorial services are held, participated in by the whole people !"
The mortal remains of James A. Garfield have been committed to the tomb, there to rest until the last great day, when earth and sea shall give up their dead. In every city, town, and hamlet, throughout the United States, habiliments of mourning, for days. past, have betokened the grief of a stricken people. Long, mournful funeral processions, yesterday, marched through the streets, and the last sad tributes of respect
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due from the living to the dead, were rendered with becoming solemnity. In all these. duties, the citizens of Zanesville and the Muskingum Valley, from the moment the grand, heroic battle for life was ended, to the hour when the loved form of the illustrious dead was committed to its kindred dust, have not been lacking, in the smallest detail. The solemn memorial services of yesterday were fitting evidences of the love and affection borne our late lamented President by the people of this city, and the success attending every feature of the mournful ceremonies, must have been highly gratifying to the various committees in charge, as well as to the community at large.
‘The Grand Marshal, General R. S. Granger, had issued an order for the various civic and religious organizations to take part in the memorial parade, to march, promptly to the rendezvous appointed for the three divisions, at one o'clock, so as to be ready to move a half hour later, but a furious rain storm swept over the city at the hour named for assembling, and a change of programme seemed necessary. The storm threatened to continue throughout the afternoon, but, owing to a want of means of communication with the various bodies, no concerted action could be taken, so that nothing could be done but await developments. The Lodges and societies continued their preparations for the parade, hoping that the storm would break and fair weather render the consummation of the programme possible. At half-past one, the dark, lowering clouds began to part, and patches of clear sky were revealed, in the southwest. Fifteen minutes later, the sun reappeared in his majesty, and at two o'clock, amid tolling bells, and the firing of minute guns from Putnam Hill, the tread of battalions marching to the rendezvous notified an expectant public that the parade would take place. The thoroughfares over which the column was to pass were extremely muddy, but no one complained. At a quarter of three o'clock, the signal for the start was given, and the First Division, under command of Colonel C. C. Goddard, filed out of Seventh into Market street, moving eastwardly. Then followed the Second Division, under command of Alexander McConnell, from its rendezvous, on Fifth street, and Colonel G. D. Munson's Third Division, from Sixth street. The order of formation was as follows :
FIRST DIVISION.
Garfield Guards, leading their horses.
Bauer's Band.
City Postmaster, and Employes at the Postoffice.
County and City Officials.
lCyprus Commandery, K. T.
Hazlett Post, No. 81, G. A. R.
Ex-Soldiers and Sailors,
Officers and Orators of the Day in Carriages.
SECOND DIVISION.
Drum Corps.
Ancient Order of Hibernians.
St. Patrick Benevolent Society.
Father Matthew Temperance Society.
St. Thomas Benevolent and. Literary Society.
Knights of Labor.
St. Nicholas Society.
St. Joseph Society.
Young Men's Hebrew Association.
Members of the High School.
Pupils of the Public Schools.
Guiding Star Lodge, G. U. of 0 F.
THIRD DIVISION.
Barlow, Wilson, Primrose & West's Minstrels.
Barlow, Wilson, Primrose & West's Band.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
McIntire Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
Independent Order of Rechabites.
Patriotic Order Sons of America.
Citizens on foot and in carriages.
City Fire Department.
LINE OF MARCH.
The line of march, as announced by the Grand Marshal, was strictly adhered to : East on Market to Underwood ; south to Main ; west on Main to Third ; south to South street ; east to Sixth, and north on Sixth to the McIntire Academy lot. The funeral pageant, of deep. and mournful grandeur, moved quietly through the streets, the silence only being broken by the weird notes of the funeral dirges and the muffled beats of the drums. Every man and boy in the line seemed to be impressed with the deep solemnity of the hour, and the quietness which reigned was in striking contrast to the order maintained in funeral processions under the most favorable circumstances. The column moved in sections of eight, a most difficult order, even for trained troops, but the alignments were well preserved, and the spectacle thus presented was grand beyond description. Scores of flags and banners were carried at the head of the various orders, all draped in sombre hues. A banner, worthy of special mention, was that borne aloft at the head of the brigade of Odd Fellows. It was executed by Jacob Hinig, and represented the Goddess of Liberty, rising from a cloud and in the act of crowning Lincoln and Garfield. The portraits were faithful to nature, and the conception so clever that when the banner appeared in sight, the beholders reverently lifted their hats as it was carried by. Bauer's Band, near the head of the First Division, discoursed splendid music, and the famed musical organization of Barlow, Wilson, Primrose & West's Minstrels, attracted' very general attention. By the courtesy of Prof. John Bauer, this band was supplied with the score of appropriate funeral marches, and the musicians only began the rehearsal of the music the morning of the parade.
All along the routes of march the sidewalks were densely packed ; the spectators looked on in painful interest, and hundreds were affected to tears. Never in our history had such a scene been presented. The procession arrived at the McIntire Academy lot a few minutes before four o'clock, and the column was massed in front of the heavily draped stand. A chorus of seventy-
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five voices, selected from the church choirs of the city, under the direction of Prof. Lilienthal, rendered a special programme. Chas. E. Munson and Robt. Miller presided at the organs. The singing was grand beyond description, and reflected credit upon the committee, Messrs. James A. Cox, Hiram Waller and J. J. Ingalls, in charge of that department.
THE OFFICERS OF THE DAY.
The officers of the day were as follows :
President-Hon. W. H. Ball.
Vice Presidents—Mayor W. N. McCoy, Thomas Griffith, Judge H. L. Korte, Joseph Quales, Robert Lee, H.C. Van Voorhis and T. S. Murphy.
After order had been restored, Judge Ball arose, and with great emotion, which he could not restrain, said : "I am called to preside over this meeting, and it is no ordinary duty, but it will be one off no difficulty. You are called upon to perform a solemn service in the presence of a great calamity, such as has never befallen this people. The late President Garfield has been called to his Maker, in the heighth of his usefulness, and while the people mourn with saddened hearts, they are ready to say, amen. When President Garfield was called hence, he had, in an unlimited degree, the confidence of the whole people. He was stricken down by an assassin whose crime reached fifty millions oI people, whose venality is without a parallel in history. When a man like President Garfield is stricken down by a villain like Guiteau, the people do mourn. More than this, I, perhaps, ought not to say now, but allow me to add that since that fatal shot was fired, I have been south of Mason and Dixon's line, and have talked in all confidence with men who served in the Confederate army, and with women who sympathized with the rebellion. Allow me to say, that their sympathy for the stricken President was as great as yours, and their horror at the awful deed as intense as any people on earth. I have often wondered why one scoundrel was permitted to commit such a crime, and inflict such a disaster upon a people, but I suppose some good will come from it. It must be so, I suppose. Guiteau had the power, but it must never again be so under any circumstances of power. The choir will now sing
"Nearer My God, to Thee."
The great audience bowed in silence, as the beautiful hymn was sung with marked effect, and the Rev. J. McK. Pittenger offered an eloquent prayer, which was published in yesterday's "Courier."
"Asleep in Jesus,"
by the choir, followed, and then Judge Granger was introduced by the President. He said :
“On the 26th of September, 1881, a spectacle is presented, the like of which no other day in the history of the earth and man has seen. A nation of fifty millions of people, occupying more than half of the habitable portion of a continent, is assembled to bury its dead ruler. Other great nations from beyond the oceans of the east and the west are spectators of the funeral rites, and sympathize with the bereaved people, as mourners for the great dead.
" When Abraham Lincoln's funeral cortege passed amid sorrowing millions from the sea coast to his prairie home, our fellow men beyond the Atlantic were yet ignorant of the crime that had slain our second Washington. Three of the Southern armies had not surrendered, and the Southern people still yielded allegiance to Jefferson Davis. But almost before the dwellers at Elberon were sure that the soul of Garfield had gone to God, the midnight bells were tolling the sad news in Europe, as well as throughout America. It is to-day the wires that cross the continents and underlie the great seas that enable us to realize as-a living fact how a "touch of pity reaches the whole world's kin."
"As we look upon him dead, it is fit that we think of the life and of the death. Although cut off before he was yet fifty years old, he had not lived in vain. Born in poverty, and compelled to labor in order that he might learn, before his forty-ninth, year had closed he was the chosen Chief Magistrate of the strongest Nation of the strongest race of mankind. This rise came not by revolution, nor was it the result of the fickle choice of any potentate. Such causes gave to Rome Emperors who were born at the foot of the social hill ; but Garfield, by a steady tread. walked upward from laborer to student, teacher, State Legislator, General, Congressman, United States Senator and President. His life is a shining example for the youth of our land. It does not teach that every poor lad can become the ruler of his country, or even one of the great men of his State ; but from it we know that intellect, supplemented by industry, study, energy, temperance, courage, and a heart full of kindliness, mark out a broad highway for all who wish to be useful and happy in their lives, and to be followed to their graves by the loving sorrow of their fellow men.
"As James A. Garfield lay in bodily weakness and pain these many weeks, whatever of grief came to him was because future usefulness to his country seemed forbidden. His backward gaze saw days, and weeks, and years of duty faithfully and ably done, as a pupil, a teacher, a Legislator, a Soldier, a Statesman, a Rifler ; and also as a son, a husband and a father. The essence of the happiness given him by such a retrospect, as well as enjoyed by, him while days and years were being lived, consisted in what he had done, and done for others ; not in the possession and the holding of offices by him ; not in the being a teacher, a General, a Statesman, or a Ruler, but in the faithful and successful doing of the duties of each post so long as he held it. And so doing, doing well the work and duty imposed on him by his relations to others, he won success and happiness for himself, as well as for them. So doing, and doing for others, he lived a Christian life, for the essence of Christianity, as exemplified in the life of Christ himself, is the doing good for others."
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The speaker here presented a masterly analysis of the dead President's character, which a want of space only prevents printing in full. His closing words were :
"God permitted death to remove our President. The assassin's shot disarmed prejudice. The Southern people saw that a man born at the North, trained in opinions the opposite of those most dear to them, elected Chief Magistrate by a party deemed by their record hostile to their interests, was a man of great heart as well as of intellect ; of great magnanimity, as well as of great industry; in a word, that he was a man worthy of love and admiration, and not at all a man to be hated or condemned.
And so Garfield—dead—will still live, a proof that there is no such difference between men of the North and men of the South as will prevent the earnest union of all Americans in love for their common country, and in patriotic effort to make theAmerican people the noblest Nation on the earth.
"Under God's will, Garfield did not die in vain."
CHANT-" Remember Now Thy Creator,"
was sung by the Barlow, Wilson, Primrose & West Quartette—Messrs. Howard, Kelly, Radcliff and Belknap. The first demonstration of applause offered at the Memorial Services followed this matchless performance.
Owing to the illness of F. H. Southard, he could not be present, and the audience was deprived of what all knew would be a tender tribute to the memory of a great man.
Bauer's Band rendered the beautiful hymn,
"Thou Art Gone to the Grave,"
with great feeling.
A. W. Train spoke substantially as follows : " Mr. President—A brief review of the sickness of General Garfield will call to mind some very peculiar circumstances. The great distinguishing feature of the sorrow that hung around the President's bed, was the unusual interest taken in him by the people. He was not watched over alone by persons high in authority, and officers of great rank. The distinguishing feature was that everybody had an interest in the life of the President. There is some good reason for this. There was never anything before like the solemn funeral train from Washington to Cleveland, that turned out to do reverence to the illustrious dead. The Mechanic in his shop, the farmer in his field, the laborer at his toil, paused in their work and looked on in mute sorrow, as the funeral cortege rolled on. It was the most remarkable exhibition of feeling ever witnessed in this country. The people do not sorrow because a President is gone, but because Garfield is gone.. I .undertake to say, that General Garfield was the most complete type of American character and American growth ever produced. If I address the carpenters, they will say, he represented us ; with the jack plane and saw, he worked at the bench. If I address the workingmen, they will say, he represented us ; with his hands, he chopped wood at twenty-five cents a cord, and made a hand in the harvest field, at one dollar a day. If I address the students, they will say, he represented us, because he was a seeker after knowledge. If I address the literary people, they will say he represented us. If I ask the statesmen, they will say, he represented us. I undertake to say, that in general average, he was above all. Is it any wonder that the whole people bow in sorrow, and in mourning? The life and character of General Garfield will not be fully understood for many years. Like the lofty mountain, its grand dimensions are not appreciated until its solid base is uncovered. As long as General Garfield was in public life, he did not utter a proposition that did not meet the approval of his conscience. He was a politician, but without craft. Read him as you will, he was a most remarkable man. During the eighteen years of his public life, he discussed more matters of public interest than any man in the House of Representatives. His public utterances make volumes of records, and no man ever questioned the honesty of his statements. I saw General Garfield in Congress during a great discussion, when the entire North and South were looking on with almost breathless interest. General Garfield was the representative of the North,. and Senator Lamar of the South. The debate rivaled in intensity and power the famous discussion between Webster and Hayne, and yet the first man to congratulate General Garfield at its close was the vanquished chieftain of the South. They never hated General Garfield : he never insulted one of their representatives, or that people. General Garfield will be mourned as long as the Republic lives. It makes it a little bitter to reflect that he fell by the hand of an assassin, but our Government and institutions are not dependent upon the life of any man. Whenever any Government depends upon the life of any single individual, it will go down. In the language of the fallen hero : " God reigns, and the Government at Washington still lives."
A double male quartette sang the hymn, "Integer Vitae," with wonderful effect, and then .Rev. George F. Moore delivered the closing address, which was as follows :
"Mr. President--My fellow-citizens :--As I listened to the eloquent tributes which have been paid by the preceding speakers to the memory of our lamented President, I felt the force of what an old time preacher said, " what can the man do that cometh after the King? Even that which hath been already done.
"I shall not, therefore, speak in any extended way of President Garfield's life ; I shall attempt
no eulogy of him, whose highest praise is the silent grief of the civilized world to-day. But
there is one light in which I would set his death. We may regard it as a monstrous crime, in
many respects without parallel in history ; we may regard it as an overwhelming calamity, but
I would rather look upon it as a great sacrifice.
“He gave his life for his country. If he had
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fallen on that September day, eighteen years ago, while riding into the jaws of death, he ran the gauntlet of Longstreet's sharpshooters to save Thomas and the army, all would have said : He laid down his life for us. To-day the offering is more precious ; the sacrifice is not less real.
"There are two senses in which he died for his country : First, in that it was through no fault of his that he fell. The assassin had no grievance of his own to avenge. He represented an idea which is the curse of American politics—the idea that offices, which are public trusts, should be the reward of party service. And you and I are in our measure responsible for the existence of the state of things which made it possible even for a mad-man to conceive such a crime.
"Then Garfield died for his country in another sense—for the good of his country.
"If all good citizens are brought to see the evil of the spoils system, and to unite their efforts to overthrow it, the death of the President will have done for the reform of the Civil Service more than even he could have accomplished in his life.
The way in which the weeks of watching over the sick, and in these days of mourning for the dead, party and sectional division have disappeared, has been already remarked.
"But there is, I think, something more than this. The last few weeks have shown that in the heart
of the. American people there lay unsuspected, even by themselves, the possibility of a magnificent personal loyalty. It has been often said that the practical turn of the American mind prevented that idealizing, that hero making and hero worship, without which personal loyalty is impossible. Men have even said that loyalty is one of the chivalric virtues which is dead in the modern world. But what monarch in the palmy days of chivalry ever received the tribute of a loyalty as spontaneous, as splendid as that which this American people has displayed in these last weeks?
“Where was there ever such a triumphal progress as that journey of the wounded President from Washington to Elberon? And that loyalty will not be buried in the grave by the lake side. It will be transferred to his successor in office, and will insure him the generous confidence and support of all good citizens.
"It is a costly sacrifice, but if, by it, long established abuses are overthrown ; if a long prayed for reconciliation is cemented in his blood ; if a new and generous loyalty is born, he would not count it too costly. When, at the beginning of the war, he resolved to offer his service to his country, in the field, seeing how completely that step broke up all his plans, he wrote : "It is not without regfet that I look upon the ruins. But if, as the result of the broken plans and shattered individual lives of thousands of American citizens, we can see on the ruins of our old National errors a hew and enduring fabric arise, based on larger freedom and higher justice, it will be a small sacrifice, indeed. For myself, I am con tented with the prospect, and,, regarding my life as given to my country, am only anxious to make as much of it as possible, before the mortgage upon it is foreclosed. Be it ours to see that this precious sacrifice is not in vain!"
The solemn memorial services were appropriately closed with the National anthem, " America," and as the choir repeated the words of the first line,
"My country, 'tis of thee,"
a great hush came over the audience, and many eyes were suffused with tears.
General Ball asked the people to disperse quietly, and feelingly requested that the good order which had characterized the services throughout, would be maintained during the evening. Rev. Mr. Willifer pronounced the benediction ; the various societies then marched back to their halls, and the memorial services in honor of the late lamented President, James A. Garfield, were ended.