The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-03-10

adaptation TO q now and enlarged Held Of Ia
bor.f - ts4a s1s
/ With perfect comprehension Of all the in.
| heritances of the war, with cool calculation
Iy generous enthusiasm, Garfield conceived
| that much might be done by his administra-
ton toward restoring harmony between the
ious to 90 South and speak to the people. AZ
early as April he had Intellectually endeavor-
| ed &c arrange for q trip to Nashville, whittier
again az inc dsa S few weeks later to ind
THAT he could not go to South Carolina. ia
attend the Centennial celebration of the
victory Of the Cowpels But ior the autumn 4,
three memorable assemblies in the South:
the celebration ut Yorktown, the opening OF
| the cotton exposition at Atlanta, and the
Chattanooga. He was already turning
over in his mind his addresses for each
occasion, and the three taken together,
| and verge which he needed. At Yorktown
| he would have before him the associations OF
! 100 years that bound the South and North In
a common victory. At Atlanta he would pre-.
! sen. the material interest and the industrial
developments, which appealed 70 the thrift
and independence Of every househould. and md
| instinct OF elf-interest and self defense. At
| Chattanooga he would revive the memories
of the war only to show that, after all its dis.
| aster and all its suffering. the country was
stronger and greater, the Union rendered In
dissOluble and the future, through the agony
and blood OF one generation, made brighter
and better for all.
Garheld's ambition for the success of his
Administration was high. With strong eau
ton and conservatism in his nature, he was
in no danger of attempting rash experiments
ship, but he believed that renewed and closer
attention should be given to questions affect
ing the material interests and com.
merciai prospects OF nifty millions s. OF people.
tensive and undeveloped as they are, in
vOlved responsibility, and could be cultivated
into profitable friendship or be abandoned to
harmful Indifference or lasting ennity. He
believed, with equal confidence, that an es-
sential fOrerunner to a new era of national
progress must be a feeling of cOntentment in
every section of the Union, and generous
belief that the benefits aud burdens of gov
eminent would be cOmmcn to all. Himself q
conspicuous illustration of what ability and
ambition may do under Republican institu-
tiOnS, he loved his country with passion
of patriotic devotion, and every waking
thought was given to her advancement. He
was an American in all his aspirations and he
looked to the destiny and influence OF the
United States with the philOsophic cOmpOsure
of jefferson and the demOnstrative confidence
of John Adams The political events which
weeks before the fateful day in July form an
important chapter in his career, and in his
own Judgment involved questions OF principle
and of right which are vitality essential to
the constitutional administration of the Fed.
eral Government
1t would be out of place here and now to
speak the language of the controversy, but
the events referred to, however they may
continue to be a source of contention with
Others have become, so far as Garfield is con-
cerned, as much q matter of history as his
herOism at Chickamauga, Or his ilustrious
service i'm the House. Detail is not needful,
and personal anita yonism shall not be re-
kindled by any word uttered to-day. The
motives of those opposing him are not to be
here adversely interpreted nor their cause
dent this is to be said, and said because his
own speech is forever silenced and he can be
no more heard except through the fidelity
beginning to the end of the controversy he so
much deplored, the President was never for
one moment actuated by any motive of gain
to himself or of loss to others. Least OF all
men did he harbOr revenge, rarely did he
even show resentment, and malice was not in
his nature. He was cOngenially employed
only in the exchange OF good offices and the
from the beginning OF the trouble till the fatal
shot entered his body, when the President
would not gladly, for the sake of restoring
taken if such retracing had merely involved
consequences personal to himself. The pride
of consistency or any supposed sense OF hu-
initiation that might result from surrender
ing his position had not feathers weight
with him. No man was ever less subject to
such influences from within or from without,
but after most anxious deiiberation and the
coolest survey of all the circumstances, he
solemnly believed that the true prerogatives
of the Executive were involved in the issue
which had been raised, and that he would
if he failed to maintain, in all their
vigor, the constitutional rights and
dignities of his great office. He believed this
sound and vigorous health, and he believed
in his suffering and pro-tratiOn in the last
conscious thought which his wearied mind
More than this need not be said. less than this
could not be said. Justice to the dead, the
highest obligation that devolves upon the
living, demand the declaration that in all the
bearings of the subject, actual or possible. the
President was content in his mind, justified
in his conscience, immovable in his conclu-
siOns.
The religious element in his character was
deep and earnest. In his early youth he es-
poused the faith of the Disciples, sect of
that great Baptist communion, which in dir
ferent ecclesiastical establishments is so nu-
merOus and so influential throughout all
parts of the United States; but the broaden
ing tendency of his mind and his active spirit
of inquiry were early apparent, and carried
straints of association. In selecting college
in which to continue his education, he reject
ed Bethany, though presided over by Alexan-
der Campbell, the greatest preacher OF his
church. His reasons were characteristic;
first that Bethany leaned too heavily toward
slavery; and second, that being himself a
Disciple and the son OF Disciple parents. ne
had little acquaintance with people of other
beliefs, and he thought it would make him
more liberal, quoting his own words, both in
religious and general views, to go into new
circle and be under new influences. The lib
eral tendency which he anticipated as the re-
suit of wider culture was fully realized He
was emancipated from mere sectarian belief,
and with eager interest pushed his investiga-
tions in the direction of modern progressive
thought He followed with quickeninG step
in the paths of exploration and speculation
so fearlessly trodden by Darwin, by Huxley,
by Tyndall, and by other living scientists OF
the radical and advanced type. His own
church, binding its disciples by no formulated
creed. but accepting the Old and New Tesla
ments as the word OF God. with unbiased lib
crafty of private interpretation. favored, If 1t
did not stimulate, the spirit of investigation.
Its members profess with sincerity and pro-
fess truly to be of one mind and one faith with
those who Immediately followed the Master
and were first called Christians at Antioch.
But however high Garfield reasoned of "free
fate free will. foreknowledge absolute" he
was never separated from the Church of the
Disciples in his affections and in his aspira
tiOns. For him it held the ark of the cove
nant. To him it was the gate of Heaven.