Morris tribune., 1881-07-07

whom he knew merely by sight, ana VINO was run.
ring canal-boat The cousin asked him II he did
not want to drive horses for him. The offer was
accepted, for it flashed on young Garfelds quick
mind that he could make the canal work primary
school, the lake the academy, and the ocean the
college. So began his canal boat experience, which
has been sufficiently and in some cases extrava-
gantly exploited. 1t came along naturally without
ture, and James went through it rough and
tumble, like the brave and usty youth he was, for
three months, when he got paid $40 month and
which he was safely carried by the skful and ten
der care of his mother. During his convalescence
she persuaded him 70 effort of another kind. An
education fitting him for teacher would open be-
fore him a prospect of equal independence and
greater possibilities than the forest or the canal.
With ST 2 to meet expenses, young Garfield and his
marks the real beginning of his busy, honorable.
and useful life. Here he met young girl, Lucretia
Randolph, who in after years became his wife.
Here he caught glimpse of the life which nigh.
open before an educated man. and here were awak-
ened those aspirations which only strengthened
wi h increasing years.
At the end of year he undertook his first expe-
rience in teaching INSTRUMENTATION among his I'M
ruly backwoeds pupils served merely to display
more plainly his manly courage and his iron viii.
No one cared to dispute his authority second time,
and while yet boy he took his first lesson in the
responsibilities of ruling. Attracted by the simple
earrestness OF preacher of the DISCIPLES. he
ton which they had founded at Hiram Here
he did his tremendous work of prepara-
ton for college He began at Hiram in the
fall of 1851 with but twenty -four weeks of Latin
and twelve weeks of Greek. He taught for two
winters in the district school. After the first term
he taught CONSTANT from three to Six and later
the snd six h ne y %
three years after he went to Hiram-he not only
had fitted himself TO enter college, but had COM
pleted two years Of the college Sonrse SO as to be
good standing. He entered college in June, 1854,
with about $3.50 which he had saved in addition to
paying his academic expenses At Williams his
life was continuation of his earlier experiences
His prediectionfor study and reading was strength
ened, his honesty and manliness gained him many
friends, and, in 1856, he graduated with high hon
ors, possessing at the time the admiration and
confidence Of President Hopkins and the entire
faculty. He returned to Hiram professor Of
Latin and Greek, and in 1858, WIS married to Miss
Randolph, to whom he had been engaged since his
entrance into college.
Teaching and preaching for the Disciples, he
soon took an uncompromising stand on the great
1859, the people of Summit and Portage counties
chose him as their state senator: After eminent
services to his State he followed his principles to
the field; and, in August, 1861, was commissioned
lieutenant colonel of the Forty-second Ohio volun-
teers. His military alone affords matter for
volume. He defeated the rebel forces at Paint
lucky, receiving fer the service brigadier's COM
mission. He served at Piketon, Shiloh, and Cor
NTH, was member of the Fitz John Porter court
martial, and was made chief of staff to Gen.
Rosecrans. Although prejudiced against Garfield,
he soon came to admire him, and they were fast
friends.
1t was to Gar6eld's foresight and advice that he
afterwards owed many of his successes. The battle
of Chicamauga was Garield's last military service
of moment. He wrote every order that day but one
that one was the s sra.S Ssdes to Cen MSo
break through and turn the Union flank. After
week or two of further service he wassent to Wash
ineton as bearer Of dispatches. He there learned
Of his promotion to major generalship of volun-
teers, for gallant and meritorious service at the
battle of Chicamauga." December S, 1868, he re-
signed his commission to accept the election to
congress from the Ashta6ula district of Ohio, be-
lievng that he could be of greater service in the
congressional halls than on the battlefield. Gar
field was nominated without his knowledge or per-
mission and when he accepted it he did SO with the
belief that the war would continue but few
months. He was elected by large majority. He,
however, continued bis military service up to the
that he did not fight the war to the end. Among
men of an earlier age and who are still promi-
nent in public life, he modestly began in congress
the course of study and experience which was ulti-
mately to enable him to eclipse them all. His ex-
traordinary versatility, activity, and industry
displayed through the whole Of his long period Of
catalogue of his speeches and remarks is more vol
luminous than the index Of bulky volume. With
each succeeding year he studied more important
subjects. and his opinions grew of greater weight in
the opinions both of constituents and colleagues.
He studied thoroughly the currency question, and
when theories of repudiation were rife. he stead
lastly OppOS6u every ScneIne tenQluy tONdru Hd-
tional dishonor: His unwavering adherence to TIE
cause OF honest money was one OF the prime causes
Of the complete trust that the people reposed in
him. The tariff was no less made the subject Of
this question with greater information or more
lucid argument Scarcely any subject which it be-
fits the statesman to investigate did he neglect; and
upon whatever he brought to bear his trained and
powerful intellect, he shed new and clearer light
In the Fortietn congress Gen. Garfield was the
chairman of the committee on military affairs. In
FIRST hn NhoyY nj
banking and currency. which he liked much better
because it was in the line of his financial studies
His next promotion was to the craftsmanship of the
appropriations committee, which he held until the
Democrats came into power in the house in 1873.
During the troubled times following the election
of 1876, Garfield was the leader of the moderate
electoral commission, and by his impartial course
there and elsewhere, contributed largely to the
peaceful solution of the difficulty. Civil service
reform has always commanded his sympathy, and
his well-known utterances upon this subject en-
deared him to the masses who desire an honest and
efficient public service. As lawyer, his career,
being sufficient to insure him enviabe notoriety.
But Of all the subjects which he touched but to
adorn. that which lay nearest his heart was the
cause Of education. A true and noble American,
he realized that upon that built the foundations
of our state; and it was ever first in his actions
in his thoughts If he considered it too much in
and pardonable error. In all the world the strug-
Cling, aspiring, ignorant youth had no more SYM
pathetic. helpful friend than President Garfield.
In 1877, Garfield succeeded Blaine as leader of the
house: and. for two years, showed himself the
coolest and abest tactican in either party. He
knew how to be a party man without degenerating
into partisan. In 1879, he was elected to the
United States senate to succeed Mr. Thurman
but before the arrival of the date for taking his
scat. had been nominated and elected president
No one who remembers the supreme confidence re-
posed in his leadership in congress. and the storm
of applause which spontaneously swayed the Chi
cage convention whenever he addressed it.
dear to the very heart Of the people. He was NOM
mated at Chicago, 1t is true, nominay as q
compromise candidate: but one of all the list
siastic affection which rallied around his name.
Since the dav on which he assumed his high Office.
this has steadily increased: and his administration
promised a measure Of success which all the efforts