The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-13
GARFIELD AND LINCOLN.

drawn between Garfield and Lincoln.
Ii is natural, if for no other reason than
because both died by the hands Of assas-
sins. To some extent their careers we're
alike; both were born poor; both made
their own way; both were selfeducated;
both were early and consistent friends
of freedom; both were men of the ut
most generosity of character and with
bright sense of humor; both attained to
the Presidency and both died at the
hands of wicked murderers.
In general their careers seem alike,
but in the details there were great diff
ferenees. Garfield was one of the hap
piest and most fortunate of men; Lin
coin lived all his days in n shadow and
suffered mental trials that Garfield never
knew Garfield was born of poor par
ents, but it was q different sort of pow
erty from that which Lincoln knew
in his youth. Garfield came of an in
telligent family; his mother was con-
sidered a superior woman the family
held their heads up, and when young
Garfield wished to go 10 college he
| found friends. Lincoln lost his own
mother in early childhood, and was
brought up by his step-mother. good,
kind woman, but illiterate, as ell wo-
men of her class were in Illinois sixty
years ago. Lincoln's father was "Old
| Tom Lincoln" with very few redeem
| ing qualities. Garfield's tastes were
from childhood, scholarly, and they
were gratiied. From the first there
were more books in the western Reserve
than found their way to Spencer county,
Indiana, and Mason county, Illinois.
Garfield loved knowledge for its own
sake; Lincoln sought it as neces.
sity to earn his bread. He studied sur.
veying and read law in order that he
might secure a livelihood in some 9th
er way than by mauling rails, OF
fiat-boating, or tending store" at New
Salem. Garfield lived in a region per.
meated by the influence of New Eng
land; Lincoln in country saturated
with Southern ideas, with a peculiar
style of civilization called Western
Both men represented their sections
Garfield being a pure New Englandei
| IN his descent, while Lincoln came of
Pennsylvania family long resident il
Kentucky, in It's ozark and bloody
days. Lincoln took part in the rude
sports of the country, the wrestles anC
! the horse races and shooting matches
it is doubtful if Garfield ever did. Gar
fields mind was early attracted to re
ligion; Lincoln was in his youth free
thinker. Garfield had a cheerful tenn
permanent; Lincoln in spite Of his story
telling and the mirth he excited in 9th
ers. was of melancholy Temperament
and belonged to family of hypochon
driacs. Garfield married the girl hl
loved, and lived happily with he
to the end of his days
Lincoln was bitterly disappointed il
/ early life and married unfortunately
GARFIELD lived in perfect domestic haT
piness; it is doubtful if Lincoln eve
4 knew what il was. So much for wha
may be called the private circumstance
; of the men.
In their public careers there wer
great differences. Lincoln early ha
1 antislavery convictions in region flu
1 of people who were more ultra in thel
dislike of black people than Southern
ers themselves. Garfield lived in th
L region which sent Joshua r. Gliding
P to congress and detested slavery. Lii
coin, as Wing, served one term in col
u gress, and relapsed into political obsct
rity, which lasted for years; Garfield
b from the time he entered the Ohio ser
ate, never had a political reverse; Ga
field never met his equal on the STUMP
!. while Lincoln made tremendous figh
against Stephen A. Douglas, the autocTs
p of his party, and one of the most powe
R full debators of his time. Lincoln wS
assai1ed from the moment he assume
4 the Presidency till the day he died
Garfield assumed the chair with th
n plaudits of half his countrymen and til
professed good wishes of large major
). ty of the other half.
The two men, alike in some thing
were different in many others. The
/, lives were as varying as their figure
Garfield, was portly handsome blonde
u Lincoln, gaunt, uncouth, dark ma
r with features worn by care. One kne
more happiness than mostmen; the OF
er bore on his shoulders such load I
few men ever know. Love, light an
b appreciation marked the career of Ga
field; toll, sorrow, misrepresentation Il
long and weary way of the other. Bot
have passed to their reward; both wi
live in story as good and great; both |
illustrations of the greatness of goo
ness.-Atchisoa Champion.