, 1881-09-30
MEM lRfAL ADDRESS.

Inc lOIloWlnS eloquent anu dplio
pirate address was delivered at the
memorial services in this city last
Monday, by Hon. C. NJ. BRADSHAW,
as fitting tribute to the memory OF
our late president, JAMES A. GAR>
FIELD:
| Every living being is to some ex
tent the victim of circumstances. He
NAV he Il Q favurite Of fortune or tar
get OF misfortune, and a vast deal OF
energy, persistence and tact be need
ed to turn his disadvantages TO ad
vantage and out-wit even fate by dl-
recting her weopens against herself.
There is little question but there Is
an ascending path for every person,
if he will not waste the first and best
years of his life in lettering in th'
pleasant valleys; later the path is
hidden by weeds and tangled vines
that have sprung up and covered IT.,
1t is a pleasant task to trace with
the mind the career of strong, brave
men, who, struggling with poverty,
friendless and alone, make for them
selves a place on the pages of his
tory. Perhaps there are few if any
Of those who have risen by their own
unaided efforts, who deserve more
credit than the subject of these me-
mortal services.
l shall not in the brief moment
allotted me to address you, attempt
to rehearse, how that from a poor
boy, he had passed onward and up
ward until he had been installed by
the suffrages of an admiring people
as chief magistrate of this nation,
nor shall ] stop to relate the circum-
stances of his tragic death, for all
these matters are familiar to you.
One or two instances only in his pub
lie career l will allude to. 1t was
my privilege to be present in the
gallery of the House of Representa>
tives in the month of July, 1876.
The two great political parties of the
country had placed their candidates
for the presidency before the people,
and partisan excitement both out of
congress and in it, ran high. Mr..
Garfield was the leader of his party
which was in the minority in the
House, and a triumphant majority
were bitterly and sarcastically attack
ing him; he having been at the pro
ceding session chairman of the com
mittes on Appropriations, and in the
the view of his opponents, too Law
ish in his recommendato ons of ap.
Ipropriattnrrss, to carry or. uthe-gaxs
ernment. One after another of his
antagonists obtained the. floor, and
hurled at him their barbed lances of
detraction, until after several hours,
sitting like lion al bay. he obtained
leave.sof fifteen minutes in which to
reply. He arose 10 his feet, swelling
with indignation, hurled back upon
his opponents the shafts of malice
they had aimed at him, and in the
most passionate eloquence l have
ever heard from the lips of mortal
man, vindicated his honor be
fore the house and the country
/ That speech few on the wings o
lightning all over this country, inspi
red his party to renewed energy ant
I made his nomination in 1880 posi-
4 BILE, and his election certain.
5 Four years after that time he at
= tended the Chicago Convention tt
: aid in procuring the nomination o
s another to the presidency. Thos,
y who had before the meeting Of tn,
i convention been prominent befor,
), the people had found that it was i'm
} possible for any one of them to Sc
e cure a majority of the votes, and al
: eyes were turned toward some on
: of the leading men of the countr
= who could unite the discordant fac
e tious of party and succeed befor
: the people. From the time of ma
S ming of Jsmes A. Garfield, althoug
IT it was done over his protest, an
# against his desire, it was evident tina
he was the coming man, the one VIII
n was to lead his party to victory.
j After his nomination he returne
to Washington and to his seat in tn
House of Representatives which h
still held, and on his appearance tn
public business was suspended, an
L iolitical foes as we'll as friends gath
: cred around MIN with their congrat
p ulations, and such an ovation as h
u then and there received those wall
have never before or since wit
: messed. 1t was a tribute won fror