The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-31

WAY /" oAs oos We may saiOiy Siuss suc pOPu-
lar judgment which pronounass Garfield's
raid at Chickamaugs one Of its most con-
spicious ohjectt, and his personal perfor-
mances in Kentucky campaign the most
brilliant example of reserve. combined au
dacity and prudence, sound military judg
ment, and success against great odds. We
may safely trust to the judgment of the
accomplished historian who pronounces
his report in favor of the advance that
ended with the battle of Chickamauga.
THE ablest military document admitted
by Chief of Staff to his superior during
the war" We may accept also word of
Lincoln who made him Major General for
his brilliant service at Chickamauga, and
the confidence of Thomas who
offered him the command of an
army corps. Great as was his
capacity for military service, the judg-
ment of Abraham Lincoln did not err when
it summoned him to field of labor where
his greatest laurels were won. 1t is the
fashion in some quarters to lament the de
cay of craftsmanship and to make compar
isons by no means complimentary between
the persons now entrusted with the conduct
of public affairs and their predecessors.
How insignificant were the difficulties which
beset the men of the preceding seventy
years compared with these. How marvel
lous the success of the American people
have achieved in dealing with these diff
culties compared with that which attended
the craftsmanship of the times of Webster,
Clay and Calhoun, giants as they were.
The greatness of these men is not likely to
be undervalyed anywhere, least Of all in
Massachusetts. But the only important
and permanent measure with which the
name of Webster is connected is the Ash
burton treaty, an achievement of diploma
cy of little consequence in comparison
with those which obtained from the
greatest powers of Europe the re-
linuuishment of the doctrine of per
petual allegiance or with the Alabama
treaty of 1871. Mr.. Clay's life was identi-
fed with two great policies-protection OF
American industry and compromise be-
tween slavery and freedom in their strife
for the control OF the territories. Cal
houn has left behind him the memory OF a
stainless hfe intellectual power and a lost
cause To each generation is committed its
peculiar task. To these men was awarded
| the task to wake the infant republic to a
sense of it's own great destiny, to teach 1t
,>f NV mJSf
live or bear ne life. To the men of our
time theories, which were debated in other
days, have come as practical realities, de
manding the prompt and final decision on
questions where an error is fatal. The
limits of this discourse do not permit me
to enter into detail of the varieties ano
| extent of mis- service in debate. IN Iegisla
| ton and in discussion before the people.
could detain you until midnight were
to recount for my own memory the grea
labors of twelve years that it was privilege
to share with him in the public service. TO
four of which I sat almost by his side
while charged with the duty of supervising
the details of present legislation He wa
l ~--
future. In the closing years Of the war
while chairman of the committee of mill
tary officers, he was studying finance
Later he had prepared himself to deal wit
defects in the civil service. do not thinl
the legislation of the next twenty year
will more than reach the ground he ha
already occupied in his advanced thought
When Gen. Garfield took the oath OF ottic
as president, he seemed tothose who kne'
him best, although in his fiftieth year, sti
} in the prime of splendid and vigorou
youth. He still was growing. We hope
for him eight years of brilliant administr'
ton, and then some form or place or Sc
vice of an old age like that of Adam. whol
/ | in the variety of equipment alone OF OF
: Presidents he resembled But he w'
9 called to similar destiny. The homo
f | Maid to Garfield are the protest of bett
o AGE and a better generation against Il
| vulgar heroisms of the past. Go throus
Il the mausoleums and under their triumph
r, arches and see how the names inscrlb
j there shrink and shrivel compared WI
-e that of this Christian soldier, whose chi'
u eat virtues after all are Of the fireside a
e family circle. and of his dying bed. Ht
e the hero OF America became the hero
It humanity. Let Us not boast OF
funeral of our dead Such tenn
It would be doubly odious in the presence
= ar, III expressions of hearty sympathy fr'
a oover rnments of every form. But we shot
ir he inf aithful to oursef if in asking for
e man place in the worlds gallery OF a
d used names, we did not declare that
Ie offer him an example of the products
he freedom. is not that country worth dyl
of for whose pc. .ssantry are OF such sfra
in Is not a constitution worth standing
is under whose form freedom calls such
es to her high places? Is not the Tn
is worth saving which gives all OF u.s. as
is property of his countrymen, such ram
= The eulogy was delivered by lnvltal
to of the City Council In Mechanics u
t.F which was filled to overfiowing. Ma
US Kelley presided. Among those on :
ty platform were Gov. Long, Chief jus
ty Gray and Justice Devens OF the supr
rv . Y,.5c~a Nalson of the United st