The Worthington advance., 1881-09-01
GARFIELD AT CHICAGO.

Gen. Garfield was the most oommandinp
figure of tho Chicago convention. No ono
who was there can ever forget the almost
unconscious thrill which his first appearance
caused, and which deepened into excited ox-
poctancy, and finally to eager enthusiasm, -
he became moro and more the representative
OF tho popular sentiment and the
poPss hope He maas n no bid for
Probably no more g quiet or Sai less obtrn,ive
man figured in the convention He came as
delegate from the great State Of Ohio and
quietly took his scat near tho middle, rather
to the right, OF the delegates hail, Mr. Conk-
ling occupying . seat down the isle Just in
other nationally prominent men being scat
tered about In various quarters Of tho hall
Mr.. Garfield walked deliberately, and yet d.
rcctly with swift stride to his scat He was
seldom there more than few minutes before
after the chairman had called the meeting to
order. His appearance was timed 80 as to suit
the business lie 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 gal
leries were ringing with combined shout that
must have stirred tho depths of old Lake
Michigan. he seemed at all times entirely un-
moved. Ono could see ho would not for mo-
ment permit himself to comprehend the mean
ing of the applause. Long before the cheering
that greeted his coming had died away, ho
would assume his seat and DO either engaged
in reading letters or kilograms or conversing
with those who sought him ont. He never at
ttutlinized SO as to catch the throng. He was
IN avowed advocate of Mr.. Sherman. who was.
with the masses, the least popular of all the
candidates before the convention. Neither l,ls
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
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 nero delegate, and, although
lie was at the head Of his delegation, yet he did
fore the convention lie spoke but once OF
twice, but when he did speak his utterances
were so manifestly from the heart and his
pleading so nnmistakably in the interest OF the
risht-so entirely for the good of tho party and
the conntry-so patriotic as we'll as zealously
ally on his part, the conviction to the
man for president. This conviction took shape
in the minds of but very fow, but all were
prepared for the move when it came. Not
w,ithstanding he had not been . candidate.
Posterous in the proposition to make James A.
a1Ss'' traS said priisf" tnst ho Va. m:y nsae1 si
rather by the gallery than by the con-
vention The masses gathered in the exDosi-
ton tio1 !. building at Chicago were the power be-
so popular among themselves and with tho
convention, that when it became apparent that
General Grant could not add to his strength
and that the opposition could not unite on
Blaine, Edmunds, Sherman or Washburn.
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
that he left no gaps down and no doubt Of his
sincerity in the cause. Even when bis name
began to be seriously used as . candidate, he
arose to mako objection. and was only prevent
Cd 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
great Republican party, he sat quietly in his
seat' as cool an observer as any man in the
in % the " least ' disturbed. s r WI When 'esM ali
was over he took his departure with de-
meanor that was calculated to increase the
confidence previously felt in him. He re-
4
warm return of their hand-shakes, but passed
on abont the new business that presented it.
self, after the manner of the man who is pre-
pared for all surprises, whether thoy tend to
his elevation or his injury.
history in tho ceaso az sn Wars Sis
magnificent championship of the rights of the
minority representatives in the discussion Of
the rules; his splendid speech nominat
ing Sherman for the. presidency, and
tho tho. final glorious scene Of his
go to Chicago a. a brawler or . factional con-
tcstant He took little show in his strehgth
that preceded the meeting and organization of
tho convention. He was rarely on his feet
except for some serious purpose; to elucidate
some important principle or to champion some
challenges to hints Of debate and treated his
associates with 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
Conkling, tried to disfranchise the West viz.
ginia delegates for obeying the instructions. of
their constituents, it was Garfield who faced
hlm IN the finest imprOmptu speech of the con-
vention and carried the body with him to the
utter discontinue Of the third termers. That
the eyes of the whole convention from which
!ie was never lowered until the nomination was
laid at his feet
As chairman Of the committee on rules Gar
held had more than any other to do with the
long struggle that ended in the abrosation Of
the unit rule, and revolutionized the practic.
Of Republican national conventions forever.
In committee and convention he did battle
courageously and wisely for the prluci,Ic Of
popular representation against the un- -Repub-
lican shadow Of tho southern States rights idea
which the third termers tried to impose upon
tho body. He framed tho report
finally adopted, and by his skillful manage
ment and courteous but persistent champion
chip made district representation q rule OF that
and all future Republican national convon-
tions Tho adoption of that report was turn
ing point. not only in that convention bnt in
the history OF the Republican partv. twas
Con. Garfield's rare good fortune to have his
name connected, in the most prominent way.
with one of the most important and fclicito,is
events in the history Of his party.
Gen. Garfeld's second prominent aonear-
ance before the convention was in bis sneech
nominating SecretarySherman for president
the most thoughtful and statesmsniike efYort
Of the whole meeting, ~ his defense Of the
West Virginia delegates was the best imnromn-
tn specch Coming just after Conklina's dra-
matte effort, the characters, motives and attri-
butes Of tho two men were placed in strong
contrast. and Gen. Garfield was not the
one to suffer by the comparison
The speech was eloquent. can.
did and judicious; scholarly. str.ieht-
forward aud high toned, free from the sDirit
of sdectation and partisanship, and informed
with the noblest spirit of devotion to IDEAS
1t is asserted bv 4 few that thu snoooh ,.s.. -