Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-08-05

and take up Gen. Garfield where left him
TO notice his competitor. He had none of
the fostering care of the government to
take him from the household of his we'll
to-do father and educate him Nor did he
have rich friends and relatives A father
less boy,-the son of widowed mother, he
took his destiny in his own hands, and
from traversing the tow-path of a canal.
with whip in hand with which to press
forward the mule which he was assigned to
drive,-from the carpenters bench. with
saw, and chisel, and hammer he made his
way through the schools and colleges of
the country, until he stands almost with
out an equal as scholar.
When the war came, without contrast of
years before; without legal obligation rest
ing upon him; without any previous prom.
lse or other inducement, except the prompt
ings Of patriotism, he voluntarily assumed
the duties and responsibilities of an Ameri-
can soldier, and devoted the self-developed
powers of his great mind to the military
suppression of the rebellion, and by his
own superior qualifications and energy he
attained ,ne rank of Major General in less
than three years; while Hancock. backed
by free professional education as a sol
dier, was more than thirty years in reach
ing, the same distinction. Applause
But 1t is not as a military man alone
that fame has rushed upon him. AS al
ready suggested, he has long been in the
public service, having, for eighteen years,
been a representative in congress. For
the greater portion of this time he has been
regarded as one of the principal men of
the many great men of the republican
artu q hos ba
of the republicans in the house of rep
resentatives for many years. He is recog
nlzed everywhere as a statesman! His
fame as such is not confined to his own
country. Applause. His speeches and
writings on matters of state and political
economy are reproduced and published all
foreign land; and his ability as a states
man is a theme for the admiration of
the people of any country in the world.
Applause.
And the climax of his greatness was
reached and is forcibly illustrated in the
fact that no other man has ever SO distin-
guished himself by services alone in the
house of representatives. [Applause.l ]
Others have attained greatness, but it has
been in broader fields and with better op-
portunities. Applause. James A. Gar
field, the republican candidate for the
presidency, is the only man who has ac-
complished so much and made such a rep
utation by service in one single depart
ment of the government. Uproarious APP
phase.
When you look at the parties represent
ed and the parties representing them, you
cannot fail to see that the republican party
has the advantage of just principles in
contrast with the democratic policy of
II Il .fo I,4o
of broad capacity and great capabilities
over that of candidate without qualifica-
tions and destitute of experience. Ap-
plause.
And | tell you we are going to succeed.
The pharaoh Of democracy will be over
thrown and destroyed. [Applause.l |
have no doubt of republican success. If
you ask me why, [ answer / know it like
you know the trees grow, and the roses
bloom, and the lilies blossom. | know il
because the forces of nature,-the provi-
dence of Coda at work. Applause.
As the Egyptian monarch was defeated
and drowned in the Red Sea, while the
children of Israel passed over on dry land
and dry shod, so the democracy will be
overwhelmed by the rolling tide of public
opinion next November, while the re-
publicans pass on through the wilderness
and cross the Jordan into the promised
land of complete victory. Great ap
plause.
The Hon. George w. McCrary, late sec
States court for the eight circuit, has
written a letter to a friend in this city
which deserves publicity, not only because
OF the ability and high character of the
writer, but because of his special acquaint-
ance with the subject matter. Judge Nc
Crary was member of the Poland com
mittee of the house of 1873. He states
with precision the judgment of the COM
mittee, and places the question, so far as it
can touch General Garfield, beyond the
reach of unfriendly. criticism. The letter
is as follows:
KEoKUK, Iowa, July 17.-To the Hon. Charles
BemdSly, Washington, ID. C.-MY DEAR SIR:
Upon my return to ST. Paul I find your favor Of
the 10th ultimo awaiting me. In reply to your
inquiry say without qualification, that / regard
General Garfield as a man of thorough integrity.
/ served with him in Congress eight years and
came to know him very intimately. My conf
dence in his character was strengthened by ac-
quaintance and familiarity with his daily life In
the Credit Mobilier investigation there appeared
a conflict of testimony between General Garfield
and Oakes Ames as to the character of their trans
actions, but the committee was unanimously of the
opinion that even upon Ames' own statement
General Garfield had done no wrong, and Demo-
Gratis and Republicans united in so reporting.
The paragraph in the report which seems to
decide the disputed question of the fact in favor
of Amcs was based upon the charges in his memor-
andum book which were offered to corroborate
his recollection. 1t was at most no more than the
common case of difference in recollection between
parties to a past transaction. Such conflicts are
of daily occurrence in our courts, and decided,
they must be- one way or the other without any
reflection upon the veracity of the witness whose
recollection is not sustained With respect, how
ever, to this transaction, | must say that subse-
quent developments and further consideration Of
the matter long ago led Inc to the conclusion that
the memorandum of Mr.. Ames was very unreliable,
and have for years felt assured of the correctness
of General Garfeld's recollection Of the facts in
dispute. Ferysincerely yours,
(tEnRGE ". McCRARY