The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-19
the convention nominated Garfield
nv reclamation.

by reclamation.
He has no opposition since in his
own party. In 1872 the Liberals and
democrats united to beat him, but
his majority was larger than ever. In
1874 the Greenbackers and Democrats
combined and put up a popular SOL
dier against him, but they made no
immersion on the result. The Ash
tabula district, as it is generally call
cd is the most faithful to its repre-
sentatives OF any in the North. 1t
has had but four members in half a
century.
HIS WORKS IN CONGRESS.
Tn the Fourtieth Congress General
Garfield was chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. In the
Forty. first he was given the chair
manship of Banking and Currency.
which he liked much better, because
If was in the line of his financial
studies. His next promotion was to
the craftsmanship of the Appropria-
lions Committee, which he held
until the Democrats came into power
in the House in 1875: His chief work
on that committee was steady and
iudicious reduction of the expenses
of the government. In all the polit
ical struggles in Congress he has
borne leading part, his clear. vigor-
Gus and moderate style Of argument
making him one of the most effective
debaters in either house.
fKTLox. t. xrvnnt tn th %
Senate in 1877. the mantle of Repub-
lican leadershipin the House was, by
common, consent, placed upon Gar
field, and he has worn it ever since.
In January last, General Garfield was
elected to the Senate to the seat
which will be vacated by Allen g..
Thurman on the 4th of March, 1881.
He received the unanimous vote of
the Republican caucasian honor
never given to any man of any party
in the State of Ohio. Since his cleo
ton he has been the recipient OF
many complimentary manifestations
in Washington and in Ohio.
GARFIELD AS A LEADER.
AS leader in the House, he is
more cautious and less dashing than
Blaine, and his judicial turn of mind
makes him too prone to look for two
sides of a question for him to be an
efficient partisan. When the issue
fairly touches his con victions, how
ever, he becomes thoroughly aroused
and strikes tremendous blows.
In 10 f,an N mol Luz
harass the enemy by sharp-shooting
surprises and picket firing. Garfield
waits for an opportunity to deliver a
pitched battle, and his generalship
is shown to best advantage when the
fight is a fair one and waged on
grounds where each party thinks
itself strongest. Then his solid shot
of argument are exceedingly effective.
On the stump Garfield is one of the
very best orators in the Republican
party. He has good voice, an air
Of evident sincerity, great clearness
and yigor of statement, and way
of knitting his arguments together SO
as to make a speech deepen its i'm
preston on the mind of the nearer
until the climax is reached.
OF his industry and studious habits
a great deal might be said, but a
single illustration will have to suffice
here. Once during the busiest part
of very busy session at Washing
ton | found him in his library, be-
hind big harrlcade of books. This
was no unusual sight, but when |
glanced at tho volumes | saw they
We're all different editions Of Horace,
or books relating to that poet. 81
| find | am overworked and need rec
reation," said to General. "Now my
theory is that the best way to test
the mind is not to let it be idle, but
to put it at something quite outside
of the ordinary line of its employ
ment. So | am resting by learning
all the Congressional Library can
show about Horace and the variou:
editions and TRANSACTIONS of his
poems"
HIS PERSONAL APPEA RANCE.
General Garfield has five children
living and has lost two, who died in
infancy. The two elder boys, Harry
and James, are now at school in New
Hampshire. Mary, or Molly. as
everybody calls her, is a handsome
rosy checked girl of about II. The
two younger boys are named Irwin
and Abram. The Generals mother
is still living, and has long been g
member of his family. She is an in
telligent, energetic old lady, with a
clear head and strong will, who
keeps well posted in the news of the
day, and is very proud of her sons
career, though more liberal of criti.
cism than praise.
General Garfield's district lies in
the extreme moi theastern corner o
Ohio, and now embraces the counties
of AshtaSula, Trumbull, Geauga
Lake and MahOning. His old home
county of Portage was detached from
it a year ago. With the exception
of the coal and iron regions in the
extreme southern part, the district is
purely rual one, and is inhabited
by population of pure New Eng
land ancestry. 1t is claimed thai
there is less illiteracy in proportion
to the population than in any Other
district in the United States.
In person General Garfield is six
! foot hiUh hrnadShonIdarad onC