The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-09-01

No one cared to dispute his authority second time,
and while yet boy he took his first lesson in tho
responsibilities Of ruling. Attracted by tho simple
was naturally drawn to thor faith and the institu-
ton which they had founded at Hiram Here
no did his tremendous work of prepara-
fall of 1851, with but twenty -four weeks Of Latin
and twelve weeks of Greek. 1le taught for two
winters in the district school. After tho first term
the whole six classes. that he could only study
nights and mornings In June, 1s5l-less than
three years after ke went to Hiram-ho not only
pleted two years of the college course. so us to DO
admitted in the Junior c.ass In Williams in full and
good standing. lie entered college in june. 1851,
with about $3.50 which he hal saved, in addition to
paying his academic expenses. At Williams, his
life was continuation of his earlier experiences
His preilectionfor study and reading was strength
ened, his honesty and manneSS gained him many
fren,!s, and in 1856, he graduated with high hon
possessing at the tirlo tho admiration aud
confidence Of President Hopkins and the entire
faculty. lie returned to Hiram rs professor Of
Latin and Greek, and in 1853, yrs married to Miss
Randolph. to whom he had been engaged since his
entrance into college.
soon took an uncompromising stand on the great
questions thes beginning TO stir tho nation: and. in
1859. the people Of Summit and Portage counties
chose HIM as theft state sepator. After eminent
services to his State, he followed his principles to
the field snd in August, 1861, was commissioned
lieutenant colonel of the Forty second Ohio voluu-
volume He defeated the rebel forces at Paint
vile and Pras.onburg, and drove them from Ken
lucky, receiving for the service brigadicrs com
mission. He served ut Pketon, Shiloh and Cor
NTH, was member of the Fi,z John Porter court
martial, and was male chief Of staff to Gen.
Rosecrans. Although prejudced against Garfield,
he soon came to admire him. and they Were fast
friends.
It was to Garfeld's foresight and advice that he
afterwards Dwell many of his SUCCESSES. The battle
OF Chicamauea Was Garfell's last military service
A3 Wrn ia ivory }prt hat Ia h1ltG mo
that the fata! order to Gen. Wood,
which, displacing his brigade, enabled Hood to
week or two OF further service he sent TO Wash
inGton as bearer of dispatches. He there learned
OF his promotion to major genera'ship Of volun-
teers, "fos gallant aud meritorcu: service ut the
signed his commission to accept the election to
congress frctn tho Ashtatua district of Ohio, be-
congressional halls than on the battlefield: Gar
field was nominated without his knowledge or per-
mission, and when he accepted it he did so with the
belief that the war would continue but a few
months lie was elected by large majority. He,
however, continued his military service up to the
day congress met He has oftened expressed regret
men of an. earlier age ard who are still promi~
nent In public life, he modcstly began in congress
the course of study arid experience which ulti-
Iaately to enable him to eclipse them all His eS-
traordinary versatility; activity, aid industry
displayed through the whole of his long period Of
service in congress Even for single session. tho
luminous than the index of bulky volume. With
each succeeding year he studied moro important
subjects and his opinions grew of greater weight i'll
the opinions both Of constitu nts and colleagues.
He studied thoroughly the currency question, and
when theories of Reputation were rife, he stead
Easily opposed every schete tending toward ma
cause OF honest money was one of the prime causes
Of the complete trust that the people reposetl in
h'm. The tariff was no less mad the subject of
special study, and few were capable of speaking on
question information
lucid argument. Scarcely any subject which it be
hts the statesman to investigate did he neglect and
uowerfnl intellect, he shed anew and clearer light
In the Fortieth congress Gen. Garfield was the
chairman Of the committee on military affairs. In
the Forty-firSt he was given the charmanship Of
because it was in the line of his Financial studies
His next promotion was to the ch,irmanshp of the
appropriations committee, which he held until the
Democrats came into power in the house in 1873.
During the troubled times following the election
OF 1876. Garfield was the leader of the moderate
e!ectora! commission, and by lis impartial course
there and elsewhere, contributed largely to the
peaceful, solution of the difficulty: Civil! service
reform has always commanded his sympathy, and
his we'l-known utterances upon this subject en-
dcared him to the masses who desire an honest and
efficient public service. As lawyer, his career,
though brief, was brilliant: the Mpan case alone
being sufficient to insure him on enviabe no*oriety
But of oil the subjects which he touched but &C.
adoru, that which lay nearest his heart was the
CAUSE "a eluCdtlpn a trIc anu none American,
he realized that upon that are built the foundations
OF Our state: and it first in his actions as
in his thoughts. II he considered it. too much in
the light OF an universal pauacea. it generous
anu parlOnahle error. In all the world the struy-
Cling, aspiring, ignorant youth had more SYM
pathetic, helpful friend 1l!a', President Garfield
In 1877 Garfield succeeded Bl.ine as leader Of the
house: and, for two years. showed himself the
coolest and ablest tactcian in either party. He
knew how to be party man without degenerating
into a partisan. In 1872 he was elected to the
United States senate to succeed Mr.. Thurman:
but before the arrival of the date for taking his
seat. had been nominated and elected president.
No zone who remembers the supreme confidence re-
posed in his leadership in congress; and the storm
Of applause which snon an 2ousy swayed the Chi
ccSo convention Whenever he addressed it,
could doubt that he was the great popular hero,
dear to the very heart of the people. He was nom
mated at Chicago, it is true nomna!ly as a
cocanromise candidate: but one of all the list
could have awakened among the masses the enthu-
siastic affection which rallied around his name.
Sine the dav which he assumed his high Office,
this has steadily increased; and his administration
promised measure of success whica, all the efforts
Of unscrupulous enemies could not lessen. lis
has been nobc, self sustained, strangely consis-
tent career. He has been held up as the type
of the self made American nobiemau. That he
should have passed through the prva,ions, sacy,-
fees and strong endeavoTs of fifty years, realized
every hope Of prophetic affection, cndrarcd HIM
self to every patriot, and reached the summit Of
bullet, is tn, very irony Of fate.