Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-07-11
THE GOOD HE HAS DONE.

of the loved and trusted President who
lies under the shadow of death, and trace |
with fresh interest the steps by which |
he mounted to fame and public useful |
ness. They feel now as they never felt |
before how much he merits their love |
and confidence. The lesson of his ear |
nest, manly and fruitful life becomes
doubly impressive. No sudden wind of |
undeserved popularity waited him into
high place. He profited by none of the
artful schemes and dubious tricks of
politics. He never sought place or pow
er. All his promotions, from his first
position as teacher of country school
to the browning honor of the Chief Mag
istracy, came to him unsought, because
he made himself worthy of them. He
laid the foundation of success in his
youth by the practice of self-denial, by
unhagging industry, by hard and we'll
directed study, by the cultivation of an
honorable ambition. and by always do
ing we'll the duty at hand. Unearned
bread never tasted sweet to him. He
did not seek to obtain the favors of for
tune by dexterity or cajolery. He val
ued only such preferment as he believed
the measure of his own thought, effort,
experience and capacity entitled him to
expect and enabled him to worthily en-
ploy.
People remember his heroic struggle
with orphanage and poverty, how he
paid his way through the academy and
the college with money earned at the
carpenters bench and in the country
schoolhouse and how brave and earnest
and hopeful he was during all his early
manhood when he was striving to gain
foothold is life. They remember how
consisten and straightforward, how de-
void of self-seeking, how devoted to
principle and to high standard of pa
triotic duty has been his later career.
They remember, too, his unfailing idel-
ity to all personal obligations-his ten
der care for his aged mother, his deyo-
ton to wife and children, his affection
for friends. Here is a man so sound
and true, they say, that he seemed call
ed by Providence to guide the destinies
of great nation. They refuse to be.
lieve that the criminal act of an infuri-
ated wretch can cut short noble career
just how developed into its greatest
phase of usefulness.
Few men at fifty have exercised as
much influence upon their times, or &C.
complished as much for the benefit Of
their country, as James A. Garfield
His services in the army were perhaps
no more meritorious than those of hun
dreds of other gallant, skilful and faith
full commanpers, but his work in Con
gress, first constructive and then defen
sive, was of the greatest value ant
Importance to the honor and permanent,
of free government no this continent. l
was the work of a powerful. well-balanc
ed and splendidly trained mind, frml,
anchored to right principles and inspiret
by genuine patriotism. No one dit
more to mould and direct the conscience
of the nation curing the period of doub
, and uncertainty and conflicting opinion
which followed the war.
His independence Unpopular errors an,
' prejudices was most strikingly shown il
his long struggle against the cheap-mon
l ey delusion. At one time he stood al
7 most alone among the Western men i
e Congress. His own district threatene
t to fail him, but he cnoverted it to RICH
opinions by going straight to the peopl
s and arguing with them face to face j
i. little township meetings. The contes
e in Congress lasted many years, and dul
j., ing the whole of it he was the sturdy
: incorporating leader of the homes
d money forces. If to any one man in tn
g National Legislature is specially due tn
It praise for bringing the country safely
specie payments, that man is Gener;
e Garfield.
During the last years of his service
Congress, as all Republicans now r.
g member with pride and gratitude,
st was the wise and resolute leader of II
e Republican minority in its sturdy an
v. successful defence of the great work
1t had incorporated into law and Constit
N ton to secure the unity and supremacy
r. the nation, the maintenance Of its cred
Y. and honor, the purity of the ballot, ar
y the equal rights of all citizens. Befor
in he was the patient, prudent and clea
We sighted builder; now he became Il
ly courageous and watchful defender. H
n. craftsmanship shone no less conspicuous
IL in one field of action than in the othe
in His fame grew from year to year, al
w when by an unexpected turn of affai
C. in the Chicago Convention he was non
K mated for the Presidency there was
IN universal sentiment that the great no
of or had fallen upon one who had fair
n earned it by patient, sagacious, patri,
at ic work and long experience in the hig