Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-03-05
GEN. GARFIELD's farewell speech

at Mentor has been favorably com
mented upon by the press generally,
but one of the best articles on the
subject we find in the New York
Tribune, under the heading Of "Peo-.
pie and Presidents" and hence will
give it to our readers entire. The
Tribune says:
We do not know when we have
read anything of the kind more sat-
isfactory in matter and manner than
the report of the little farewell
speech which Gen Garfield made to
his neighbors before leaving his old
home for Washington. It would not,
perhaps, be precisely accurate to say
that there was something of sadness
in the tone adopted by the speaker
on this interesting occasion ' but
there was enough to prove him a
man of profound feeling and gener-
Gus impulses. "You do not know"
he said, chow much | leave behind of
friendship and confidence and home
like happiness.
The idea that any man sacrifices
anything in taking Office is probably
not familiar one to the American
public. There is, indeed, a tradition
that Washington, in the Army and
alterward i'll the Presidency, never
ceased to sigh for the rural happi-
ness of Mount Vernon, and that he
went gladly back to his farm and It's
peaceful pleasures. But, as rule,
we are accustomed to consider the
| Presidency as an enormous prize,
and as priceless gift from the peo-
pie, for which the recipient cannot
oe too profoundly grateful. And 30,
IN one sense, it is. Intelligently
bestowed, it implies confidence
Of which any man might be
proud, At the same time it should
be remembered that if the 2, esir
dent is a public servant, all servants
are entitled to honorable and equita-
bic treatment. 1t is not altogether
a desirable fate to be forever in the
public eye; to have every action crit
lclsed and every motive impugned;
to be lampooned, caricatured, mis-
represented; to know no privacy; to
be regarded as the responsible reps
resentative of party without power
to control its policy and its moves
ments. Considering all that Pres
ldent must endure, we think
that a people like ours is exceptional
ly fortunate in finding a man like
General Garfield who is willing to
take the Office. Much, indeed, he
has reason to be proud of. Not o
little he owes Of gratitude to those
who have called him to this high
position; nor do we believe him
likely to be found wanting in any
proper and manly feeling Of this.
But we believe that the public will
agree with us when we say that
! something is due from itself A
President is not so much dependent
for his peace Of mind and his happi-
ness upon the appreciation Of his
, party, or upon the forbearance Of his
1 opponents, as he is upon the general
good will and the generous consid-
eration Of the whole people. To-day
all is pleasant. The political skies
are serene. There is no carping
criticism and no foundationless fault
: finding. The crowds that greeted
t the next President upon his journey
to Washington we're full of kind
wishes and generous enthusiasm.
l Canuot we have tbs era of good
feeling prolonged at least through
l four years Can we not SO man
, age mat ers that General Garfield
4 will not hunger for his Ohio home
: TOO soon and too sadly?
It has been said a thousand times
3 that Republics are ungra eful
n Many statesman who has labored
for the good of his countrymen has
: found them tickle if not unjust
The American people, demand
e ing much of their servants, have
not always been fair aud considerate
e Gen. Garfield is likely to be remind
: ed often enough of his duty-it may
: do no harm to remind those who
e have ca led him to post Of such re
e sponsibility of theirs. Let us be tc
9 him as his Mentor neighbors have
been, friendly, considerate, just
e Those, at least, who have pr0fesSet
Il their confidence in him, and have
y given him their votes, should be tht
( last to carp, to criticise, to wound by
i unnecessary fault finding! And the7
: will b.. General Garfield has onl1
: moved TO new Mentor, and only
added to the number of his personal
u friends and neighbors.
7, Maine News.
: Hop Bitt=rs, which are advertised il