New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-10

in the horse world is thought to be so superuous as
soul. politician without hoofs, who will walk
dOcile his stall and kick not back like horses in
general. is new species to American politicians.
Made eminent in the fiery furnace, the people saw
at length prophetic qualities in this ever improving
Congressman. and in Ohio compelled his election
by the Legislature which had tried with his merits
100 long, and in the vast National Convention his
daily entering called forth applause like artillery,
anu In the deadlock Of factions there was the whis
per OF neglected name; the banners began to
sway, and the schOolmaster of the people became
the statesman of the continent.
My next remembrance of him was about 1868
pending the trial of President Johnson No man in
Congress stood more dcicately toward the impeach-
ment scheme than Garfield The beneficiary of IT
would be Senator Ben Wade. who lived in Gartield's
District. Garfield allowed the impeachment reso-
luton to pass only two Republicans out of 1876
voting nay. but his doubt large. He had
steadily opposed all earlier attempts to impeach.
BOARDING AROUND.
He was of an inquring mind, and after David A.
Wells in 1869 made official report on the oddities
of the revenue system the coal and iron fields in his
District were agitated against him. "My con-
stitucnts in the MahOning Valley are just standing
on their heads" he said to me one day. They
learned in time that their Congressman, conserva-
tive through and through was not going to limit
his course of reading The District had sent him
for eight terms to Congress- and he got the seat of
Wade in the Senate after Thurman had filled it two
terms General Garfield admrer of Sccre-
tary Chase and of Governor COrwin, and of Francis
Leiber's political writings. Those three seemed to
be his nearest contemporary models. He once read
to me passage from Leiber showing how brutality
and the mob often usurpcd the name and rights of
public opinion Corwin's social talents and warmth
of heart he loved. and was present think when
Corwn was struck with apOplexy at the table. He
looked on Chase the greater schOolmaster, the
portrait of Jove till it became too clear that the
Chief Justices feet were sticking to marshy places
of sclf-seeking
In those days Garfield was living in rented hOuscs
OF i'll boarding hOuses in Washington. He was
DESTROYS to get some law practice to meet his ex-
penscs The want of money troubled him little
but never the love of it, His very healthy :l1and-
some children / have seen racing and tumblng
around his boarding -hOuse steps in G-st near the
Foundry Church. Again he rented % large brick
house, twenty feet above the street Capitol Hill
which was lonesome bleak and perhaps expensive.
He said to Inc one day later: t. is trying to ruin
me. He is printing that l am n rich man, and own
house here, making it appear that it is the fruit of
my influence In Congress- l had 80 900 which /
made at the law, and friend of mine. taking that,
bought me lot and built me q house. holding him
self q mortgage upon it, that my children should
not run wild around Washington boarding houses
published the fact, and was heard of the
imputatlOn.
General Garfeld's love Of human nature, charity
with it, excuses for it. and wholesome want of any
snobbery or atiectation was a steady cause of men
depreciating him. They found none of the glaciers
GOODNESS and strength, no mystery, nor recitng of
his own deeds quoting his speeches. or telling
how much big men thought of him. The physical
acts of the man, in which he was eminent never
heard him refer to, nor mention any rebel digntary
with expressed reserved dislike. Ills taste for
q vet nix IIp
prcciatcd the moral meaning of a picture but his
own furniture was n commentary ON the decorative
MANIA Sensuous colors, patterns or comforts he
took no more note of than some noble dog would do
whose plain house was good enough with clean
straw and a healthy litter of young. Books and
photographs of memorable places, made his indoor
life; he could work like steer and once he did
say only two years ago: I" This immense capacity
seem TO have for hard work makes them throw all
the hardest work from Congress me, and guess
after ALL do like to do it. But of late it has been
telling on me, the nervous strain, the oblivious
wrong am doing myself. So have gone back to
the occupation of my boyhood, bodily work upon
my little farm and every summer take the plough
boys rest and sleep, going to bed by 8 O'clock
TRAITS.
Three great loves he had-love of mankind love of
wisdom, and love of work nybody could interest
him, he was so democratic yet so enthusiastic
dog, boy. n tool, game, a puzzle u task; they
all provoked every fresh faculty. He WAS moi
without galantry, but it was big and mothery
Sympathy produced his sympathy. Not one ounce
did he ever add to himself by being feared Re-
venge was as foreign to his nature as stimulation
Analysis was not his habit he acquired happiness
by universally approaching OTHERS The nearer
home you followed him the you found HIN
priced. OF course this of big apple in Congress
was nndercstimated and L was 10 except ion to the
rest saw him ever growing, yet it seemed never
great because he never acted great. HIS arm fol
lowed his heart soon, and he threw it around any
body he liked almost unconsciously. lie soon for
got scandal and it could prejudice nobody long in
his eyes. lie failed to be an effective extorter of
places and patronage for friends Grant appointed
female posmasters in his District unknown folks
Of some old family clcws, and it made Garfield look
more ludcrous than mad as he said "Thcy are
just standing on their heads up in my Dstrctw
Once he burst out at the age of forty-nine: 81
suppose l am foolish, but can't bear to 60 around
with enmities to anybody. There was one man
WING treated Inc so Outrageously that thought nv
self-respcct would compel Inc to speak to him
again. Accordingly, when | was passing down
---st. "a week ago, and he turned the corner was
approaching and came up the same sidewalk |
raised my head and felt my nos rils swell and made
ready to go past him, till, iust as opposite to
him, sonnet hing took hold of me- and crossed over
ana seYScia,med, -, you old scoundrel, how are
go up and break giants back like Samson. he
could not now be SO vivid to me when he told
that INCIDENT. Il is in my mind the standard por-
trait of him; He was nearly crcduious man
once he told mo that Joe Smith. the Mormon
whose first temple stands i'll Garicld's District
cured person by his powerful magnetism, sIng:
" command you To rise up and walk ~ Faith and
interest III fellow things were natural in him.
ANECDOTE LIFE.
Major Bundy. who wrote of the cam
paign lives OF him, told me this fresh story yestcr-