Synthesized answer
President Arthur's acknowledgment of President Garfield's death goes beyond a simple obituary by framing it as an "appalling calamity" that has befallen the American people [2]. He states that they must "bow in sorrow and submission" to the "mysterious exercise of His will" that took Garfield [1]. The memory of Garfield's "exalted character, of his noble achievements, and of his patriotic life" will be "treasured forever as a sacred possession of the whole people" [1]. This framing serves to unite the nation in shared grief and remembrance of a fallen leader, presenting a somber and unifying context for Arthur's own ascent to the presidency.
This framing likely serves a strategic purpose for the beginning of Arthur's presidency by emphasizing national unity in the face of tragedy. By highlighting the shared sorrow and the esteemed memory of President Garfield, Arthur positions himself as a leader who understands and shares the nation's grief. This can help to legitimize his presidency by associating him with the legacy of his predecessor and by presenting him as a figure who can guide the nation through mourning and into a period of renewed stability. The passage also notes that…
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
ese manifestations of His favor we owe to Him who holds our destiny in His hands the tribute of our grateful devotion. To that mysterious exercise of His will which has taken from us the loved and illustrious citizen who was but lately the head of the nation we bow in sorrow and submission. The memory of his exalted character, of his noble achievements, and of his patriotic life will be treasured forever as a sacred possession of the whole people. The announcement of his death drew from foreign governments and peoples tributes of sympathy and sorrow which history will record as signal…
Produced by James Linden. HTML version by Al Haines. State of the Union Addresses of Chester A. Arthur The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** Dates of addresses by Chester A. Arthur in this eBook: December 6, 1881 December 4, 1882 December 4, 1883 December 1, 1884 *** State of the Union Address Chester A. Arthur December 6, 1881 To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: An appalling calamity has befallen the American people since their chosen representatives last met in the halls where you are now assembled. We…
its good offices for preventing a rupture between those States and for procuring a peaceable solution of the question. I cherish strong hope that in view of our relations of amity with both countries our friendly counsels may prevail. A special envoy of Guatemala has brought to me the condolences of his Government and people on the death of President Garfield. The Costa Rican Government lately framed an engagement with Colombia for settling by arbitration the boundary question between those countries, providing that the post of arbitrator should be offered successively to the King of…
of vexed questions respecting Presidential inability are measures which may justly receive your serious consideration. As the time draws nigh when I am to retire from the public service, I can not refrain from expressing to the members of the National Legislature with whom I have been brought into personal and official intercourse my sincere appreciation of their unfailing courtesy and of their harmonious cooperation with the Executive in so many measures calculated to promote the best interests of the nation. And to my fellow-citizens generally I acknowledge a deep sense of obligation…
Arthur December 1, 1884 To the Congress of the United States: Since the close of your last session the American people, in the exercise of their highest right of suffrage, have chosen their Chief Magistrate for the four years ensuing. When it is remembered that at no period in the country's history has the long political contest which customarily precedes the day of the national election been waged with greater fervor and intensity, it is a subject of general congratulation that after the controversy at the polls was over, and while the slight preponderance by which the issue had…
More questions about this book
- Arthur states the nation experienced "rare prosperity" despite the "appalling calamity." How does he connect or separate these two seemingly contrasting conditions, and what message does this convey about the nation's resilience?
- Why would Arthur specifically highlight the "salute to the British flag" at Yorktown and the "Fortune Bay claims" settlement? What do these examples suggest about the immediate foreign policy priorities or desired image of the United States?
- Beyond mourning, what does the international sympathy for Garfield's death, described as a "kinship of nations," imply about America's perceived standing and role on the global stage at this time?
- If you had to explain the main takeaways about America's internal condition and external relations in 1881 based *only* on this excerpt, how would you summarize them for someone unfamiliar with the era?