Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-30
FROM MENTOR no ELBERoN.
Colonel ROckwell's story OF .lhs
Presidential Episode In General
GarfleldSs Life.
January Century"

ship, make record here of some recOl
lections of General Garfield, with nc
purpose of adding to his fame, for that is
secure; but by way of illustration of those
great qualities of head and heart which
have served to endear him to his country.
mon 4
On his return from Chicago after his
nomination, some one on the train OBJ
served that Garfield would now be
common property, and the target for all
kinds of abuse" Overhearing the re-
mark, he turned to an intimate friend,
saying:
"Do you hear how am to be handl-
edS"
After some further conversation on
the subject, which was followed by 8
period of thought and silence, he looked
up and said:
"You have great deal of practical
sense. What is the remedy2"
"Don't listen to it," l said. "You
mean" he rejoined, ''don't hear it."
THAT can be done in one way. Why
can't set up Garfield the candidate, to
receive all this fire, which, after ali, will
be aimed at the candidate, and keep my
self near enough to advise him what TO
do and say. Then can I give him the
benefit of my best judgment. WHAT do
you thiuk of the idea?"
cit looks we'll" was the reply, land
you can carry it into execution, if it is
possible to be done by any man."
Every well, he responded, "I'll try
it"
l recount this detailed conversation for
its importance as furnishing the key 10
his bearing throughout his brief Presi.
dental career. n
AS the time for the election approach
ed, it became more and more apparent
to his friends that the mere question of
his personal success or failure was in
significant to him, as factor in the con-
test. He wished for success infinitely
more for the sake of the qualification it
would give to his friends than for any
power, emolument, or honor that should
come TO him. Bidding a near friend
good bye, only few days before the
election, he said, with touch Of almost
boyish humor:
"You will not think any the less of
me if l am not elected, will your"
Soon after the election General Gar
field announced his purpose to be "a
first class listener" and patiently and
philosophically received the advice and
suggestions of his party friends concern
ing the shaping of his course. Through
all the enthusiasm and ceremonial of the
Inauguration there was still the same
calm intellectual poise, the same perfect
self-control and mastery. The glories of
the present were brilliant and attractive
enough, but to him the future brought a
SOLDERING, saddening prospect. -Four
years hence" said he, '1 shall leave the
Presidency still young man but with
no future before me; to become politi-
cal reminiscence-a squeezed lemon, to
be thrown away"
Perhaps no better illustration of
General Garfeld's mighty endurance and
capacity for work can be given than that
contained in the history of the Sd and
4th of March. The third was passed in
a continuous round of receptions of
friends, and the important conferences
relating to his Cabinets the close of the
day bringing unwOnted WEAKNESS. only
to be followed by banquet at the White
House, and the reunion of his class.
mates. Returning late to his hotel, some
time after midnight, he redrafted nearly
hreefourths of his inaugural address;
his faithful and devoted secretary, Mr..
Brown, assisting him in his toll. The
rough sheets of this important paper.
now in my possession, bear testimony to
his indomitable perseverance and will,
and his fastidious and scholarly tastes.
These manuscripts are voluminous, and
exhibit in a remarkable way his habits
Of II oc
knowledge, and his versatility and reach
in the handling of the great problems of
craftsmanship. There are no less than a
half dozen separate and distinct drafts of
the address in whole or in part, each
profusely adorned with notes, interlinea-
tions, and marginalia. The mass of re-
jected material is valuable and sugges-
tive, and. if appropriately arranged,
would make paper of no small worth
and proportion When, at the reading
of one of these tentative drafts to me ia
February last, / had expressed to him my
desire to possess it, he exclaimed, in his
characteristic and original way: Whats
you would not wish the staggerings of
my mind, would your"
Probably no administration ever open
ed its existence under brighter auspices
than that of President Garfield, but it
was not long before his great vitality
showed visible signs of yielding to the
dragging wear of the never-ending de-
mands and opportunities for place.
Each day brought lis exhausting physi-
cal ia, igue and intellectual wear:ness-
the result of continual din of selfish
talk. Fairly staggering into the library
at the close of a specially exhausting
day, he said to me, 81 cannot endure
this much longer; no man, who has passed
his prime, can succeed me here, to wrestle
with the people as / have done, without
It's killing him."
The President was scarcely free from
the anxiety of his mothers illness in the
late spring before she, whose light and
comfort had done more to make his life
happy than all his achievements and
was prostrated by dangerous
illness. Dividing his time between the
cares OF his office and her chamber, he
gave her that devotion which was to be
so soon, SO amply and so heroically
repaid. He was specially touched by
the delicate and sympathetic expressions
which came to him through the news.
papers in reference to his affiiction. On
one occasion, reading sympathetic pars.
graph in one of the local papers. ne re-
quested me to inquire the name of the
writer, that ] might convey to him his
thanks and appreciation. y
With the startling events of the fate.
full second of July, and the incidents of
the memorable eighty days. the reader
is almost as familiar as if he had stood in
the place OF those whose privilege it was
to minister to him, 1t has been remark
ed that the President scarcely referred to
his assassin. He seems to have fore
shadowed his feelings in one Of his little
speeches during the campaign, in which
ne said: If man murders you with.
out provocation, your soul bears no
burden OF the wrong; but all the angels
Of the universe will weep for the mis-.
guided man who committed the mur.
DER"
When Mrs. Garfield thinks of the
with which he would send
her away from him, when he would say,
Yes, go and ride; want you to-
You must go to bed now; can't let |
you sit up any longer" or go down to |
'he table; you must preside there" che |
wonders that she dared to leave him,
9ven for moments yet bis gentle firm |
less compelled obedience, and went far |
20 encourage the hope in which she lived. |
Even that first night, when he said to her,
go, now, and rest, shall want you |
lear me when the crisis comes" she did |
lot, or would not, think that he referred |
o his death, although she afterward knew
ae did. The tenderness with which he
With held fe1sa har vvh che now hal;axvao L