Morris tribune., 1881-09-01
GARFIELD AT CHICAGO.
NOMINATED BY THE PEOPLE.

GARFIELD AT CHICAGO.
NOMINATED BY THE PEOPLE.
Gen. Garfield was the most commanding
figure of the Chicago convention No one
who was there can ever forget the almost
unconscious thrill which his first Appearance
caused, and which deepened into excited ex-
pectancy, and finally to eager enthusiasm, as
he became more and more the representative
of the popular sentiment and the
popular hope. He made no bid for
applause; no attempt to attract attention
Probably no more quiet or less Obtrlsve
man figured in the convention. He came as
delegate from the great State of Ohio and
to the right, of the delegates hall, Mr.. Conk-
ling occupying seat down the isle just in
front, Gen. Logan being far to the left and
other nationally prominent men being scat
tered about i'll various quarters of the hall.
Mr. Garfield walked deliberately, and yet di-
rectly with a swift stride to his seat He wns
seldom there more than few minutes before
the opening of the proceedings and never came
after the chairman had called the meeting to
order. His appearance was timed so as to suit
the business he had before him and not for the
purpose of catching the certain applause of
the vast crowd about him. He ever took his
seat promptly, and notwithstanding the gall
leres were ringing with q combined shout that
must have stirred the depths of old Lake
Michigan. he seemed at all times entirely un-
moved. One could see he would not for mo.
mcnt permit himself to comprehend the mean
ing of the applause. Long before the cheering
that greeted his coming had died away. he
would assume his seat and be either engaged
iii reading letters or kilograms or conversing
with those who sought him out He never at
titudinized so as to catch the throng. He was
an avowed advocate of Mr.. Sherman. who was.
with the masses, the least popular Of all the
candidates before the convention. Neither his
manner nor the cause he assumed-as was the
case with Mr.. Conkling in his championship Of
the cause of the hero of Appomattox, and to a
less degree with Mr.. Hale In his advocacy of
Mr. Blaine-neither of these facts drew forth
one word Of the greeting from the myriad Of
throats 1t was the splendid character OF the
individual that shone forth, that compelled the
homage that was rendered, a free-will Offering.
From the first day of the convention the con-
viction fastened itself upon the minds of few
that Mr.. Garfield was the coming man. He
went to Chicago mere delegate. and, although,
he was at the head of his delegation, yet he did
not attempt to place himself prominently be-
fore the convention. He spoke but once or
twice, but when he did speak his utterances
were so manifestly from the heart, and his
pleading SO Enthusiastically in the interest of the
risht-so entirely for the good of the party and
the country-so patriotic as well as zealously
partizan, that he carried. though unintention-
ally on his part, the conviction to the
hearts of the people that he was the
man for president This conviction took shape
in the minds of but a very few, but all were
prepared for the move when it came. Not
withstanding he had not been Q candidate,
there was nothing strange-soundiug or pre-
posterous in the proposition to make James A.
Garfield president It may be
truly said that he was nominated
rather by the gallery than by the con-
ton building at Chicago were the power be-
hind the throne. They had made Mr.. Garfield
so popular among themselves and with the
convention, that when it became apparent that
General Grant could not add to his strength
and that the opposition could not unite on
there was no course left but to turn to General
Garfield and lay the offering at his feet
That he-had any hope of receiving the nomi-
nation when he went to Chicago no careful OBJ
server of his demeaner can believe, for he
worked so faithfully in the Sherman interest
sincerity in the cause. Even when his name
began to be seriously used as candidate, he
arose to make objection, and was only prevent
ed from doing so by those surrounding him.
From that time until the great rush was over
and he found himself the standard bearer Of the
seat, as cool an observer as any man in the
in the least. disturbed. When, all
was over he took his departure with de-
meanor that was calculated to increase the
confidence previously felt in him. He re-
warm return of their hand-shakes, but passed
on about the new business that presented it.
self, after the manner of the man who is pre-
pared for all surprises, whether they tend to
his elevation or his injury.
The three great epochs of Gen. Garfield's
or 10 L -
magnificent championship of the rights of the
minority representatives in the discussion of
the rules; his splendid speech nominal
ing Sherman for the presidency, and
the final glorious scene Of his
triumphant nomination. Gen. Garfield did not
so to Chicago as brawler or fActional con-
testant He took little show in his strength
that preceded the meeting and organization of
the convention. He was rarely on his feet
except for some serious purpose; to elucidate
some important principle or to champion some
great idea. He neither gave nor accepted
challenges to hints of debate and treated his
associates with a courtesy and consideration
in which there was no trace Of hidden
sarcasm. But he was quick and bold to speak
and act in the maintenance of the right and
the defense of the oppressed. When the bully,
Conkling, tried to disfranchise the West Yir-
ginia delegates for obeying the instructions of
their constituents, it was Garfield who faced
him in the finest impromptu speech of the con-
vention and carried the body with him to the
utter discontinue of the third termers. That
speech placed Garfield upon pedestal before
the eyes Of the whole convention from which
he was never lowered until the nomination was
laid at his feet
AS chairman of the committee on rules Gar
field had more than any other to do with the
long struggle that ended in the abrogation of
the unit rule, and revolutionized the practic.
of Republican national conventions forever
In ha l>.ktI IL
courageotsly and wisely for the principle of
popular representation against the un-Repub-
lican shadow OF the southern States rights idea
which the third termers tried to impose upon
the body. He framed the report
finally adopted, and by his skillful manage
ship made district representation rule of that
and all future Republican national conven-
tons. The adoption Of that report was turn
ing point. not only in that convention but in
the history of the Republican party. It wac
Gen. Garfeld's rare good fortune to have his
with one of the most important and felicitous
events in tho history Of his party. Il
Gen, Garfield's second prominent appear:
ance before the convention was in his speech
nominating SecretarySherman for president,
the most thoughtful and statesmaniike effort
of the whole meeting, as his defense of the
West Virginia delegates was the best impromp-
tn speech. Coming just after Conkline's drn-
matte effort, the characters, motives and attri-
butes of the two men were placed in strong
contrast. and Gen. Garfield was not the
one to suffer by the comparison.
did and judicious;. scholarly, straight
forward and high toned, free from the spirit
of affectation and craftsmanship, and informed
with the noblest spirit of devotion to ideas.
1t is asserted by few that the speech was in
tended to portray his own character rather
than that Of the man whose cause he cham
pioned. That such was intended none who
Judged the speech without prejudice could for
q moment believe. That in portraying the
character and outlining the work of Secretary
Sherman Mr.. Garfield touched upon traits ~
his own character, and in eulogizing the ability
of Sherman he built up q structure as much
Garfieldish rs ShermaniRh may be true Init he
portrayed the ideal man, and held Bhesmsn up IS
to that standard, and if Sherman fell short 81
itand Garfield fitted the mould In the estims-
ton Of the public the fault was not Gsrfeld's.
The exordium, and one Of the most strikinr
passages Of this speech, is reproduced below:
Mr. Presdsnt:- I haze Witnessed the sxsraordi-