The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-26
GLle GlkteILiaeattr.
REMINIsCRNCEs OF GARFIELD.
Two Oeeas ions In GaFaeId's Life-Th'
Parting Of the Ways.

SSApAS AV was phoNI sNAAASo A. NtA hVAA otvCA
at Bethany, i n Brooke county, West Viz
ginia, where eleven years previously Alex
ander Campbell, the father Of the sect
called Disciples, founded Bethany College.
1t was a turning point in his life, but he
did not know it. II he had not changed
his mind about entering at the next SEES
sion, and subsequently gone to Williams
College, the form and fashion OF his life
might have been moulded within the low
" limits Of the path OF minister Of God.
But the Majesty Of the heavens had build
ed him for q minister OF men, for the great
leader Of great people, for the chief ser
want OF large administration. He was
among US Is one who serves, but he is SUI
rely not therefore to he held not minister
OF God.
Another scene in this throbbing life rises
before US. We see him standing in the
wigwam at Chicago, in the excited presence
OF mighty host OF delegates Of the "peO-
Piles will.p 1t is the eighth Of June, 1880.
The martyrs crowns invisible, Delegation
after delegation Is breaking madly from its
moorings, and going shouting over to the
coming victor The battle Is over There
is nothing remaining but the surging Of the
multitude us the votes are gradually record
cd which witness the verdict, The victory
for which he did not fight is won. He has
Just been begging delegates not to vote for
him-vainly striving to stay the wild storm
which has broken loose without warning.
His cheeks are flushed. His eyes have a
far.away look in them as he listens to the
responses ofthe Chairmen ofthe delegations.
Was his soul prophesying? Was there an
instant Of forecast.
He looked anxious, almost troubled, 80
testified Mr.. A. W. Campbell, OF the
Wheeling Lnhliigencer. This man Camp
bell was watching him with eager interest.
Only q few days before the imperious
Conkling had moved that every delegate
pledge himself To support the nominee OF
the convention, which he supposed would
be the "old soldier" Mr.. Campbell and Il
couple Of his West Virginia associates
shouted no. II was q terrible moment.
Three men set themselves against seven
hundred and fifty. COnkling moved to
disfnnchise them. II might have been
done, for Conkling was all.powerfnl then;
but when there seemed no escape for them
Garfield rose to his feet and sprang into
that fight, and when he was silent the
three men had won the victory. 1t was no
wonder that so unexpected, SO apparently
impossible triumph had crowned its vic.
tor king. And so Campbell watched, and
when Gariields hour was come, Campbell
said, West Virginia remembers her
friends"
The world knows the history OF that con.
test by heart. II was the first time that the
spectre OF the Scepter doomed up in Ameri.
can politics. Stout hearts there were that
Quivered because they thought they saw
the shadow Of the Empire. Sturdy patriots
all over our land, and lovers OF freedom in
all other lands, for moment doubted the
stability Of our free institutions But when
the sun went down on that memorable day
upon that city by the inland sea Garfield
stood forth as the representative OF free in
situations, OF popular sovereignty, and
dedicated his life to the cause Of the Re-
public. There is an unwritten history OF
the struggle which eliminated In the choice
OF the Ohio statesman as the Republican
leader that Is prime factor in the universal
grief which fills America to-day. The orator
may not dwell upon i. The citizen would
fain Consign It TO cultivation, but the his
torian will stamp II upon his page in the
Clearest COlOrs.
On the 9th Of last August the wires from
Washington trembled with the word that
Garfield would die that night or the next
day; that all was over. Campbell, coming
from the West, met that news at Chicago
and telegraphed to his paper, the Wheel
ing, W. Va, INTRLlIGESCER, OF which he is
the editor, some OF the memories which
filed his mind at such place and time.
lie said;
~ can see STAGE as plainly this moment
as saw 1t then, and ask myself now,
whether, as he swept the horizon Of the
future with his minds eye, could he posi-
bly, have had glimpse Of the dark appari-
ton that was even then being invoked into
life7 (" Did he hear above the
dis ira : =? Garfield, like many
other great men, had an element Of super.
stition in his nature. His great imagina-
ton was tinged in that direction. Did he
see aught Of the version Of Mira on that
fell day Of his nomination.
Who knows2 Men do dream dreams.
II sometimes the fixed eye sees through
the thickness OF the veil, Il Is not very
strange. Another old friend wrote to Gar
field at Mentor, latter his election, We be-
level Congratulating him. "If you only
knew!" replied Garfield, or words to that
precise effect.
II count myself happy TO have known
this great and good man, and 10 have en-
loved his friendship" says Mr.. Campbell.
liz had seen him in the midst Of his plain
home life; he testifes 10 his frugal board,
to his surroundings Of poverty. He testi-
fies that he was great reader and a great
thinker upon subjects Of religious thought.
He says that he looked Upon the unknow-
able with reverential awe. He says that
he preferred irugality and self-denial TO
debt. We knew all these things; but II
flils the soul with tears 10 read the tender
ness with which these things are told by
the friendship which survives death. II
would" he writes, "that were capable Of
stirring the country 10 its profoundest
depths at the sight Of his gaping wounds"
What reason, think you, does this man
give for desiring to move the land as one
man Vengeance for the awful deed? No.
Vengeance IL not his. It belongs 10 the
Author OF the sacrifice. But II Is for this:
$50 that, from The example Of his great
life and death, we might all resolve to seek
only men for our Presidents hereafter
worthy TO sit in the chair that has now
been consecrated In the eyes OF all the world
BY the blood Of Lincoln and Garfield"
The gallant hut unfortunate 4. X. Nc
Chung, Of Mississippi spoke Of Henry Clay