Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-02


with the aid of congress, no doubt per
fected.
But while many of the Executive du
ties were not grateful to him, he wa.
assiduous and conscientious in theil
discharge. From the very outset he
exhibited administrative talent of a higt
order. He grasped the helm of Office
with the hand of master. In this. re
spect indeed he constantly surprised
many who were most intimately asso
ciated with him in the government, ap6
especially those who feared he might
be lacking in the executive faculty
His disposition of business was orderly
and rapid. Ris power of analysis, and
his skill III classification, enabled him
to dispatch a vast mass of detail with
singular prcmptness and ease. His
Cabinet meetings were admirably con
Quoted. His clear presentation oil
official subjects. his well considered sug-
gestion of topics on which discussion
was invited, his quick decision when
all had been heard, combined to show
thoroughness of mental training as
rare AS his natural ability and his facile
adaptation to new and enlarged field
of labor
With perfect comprehension of all
the inheritances Of the war, with a
cool calculation Of the obstacles in his
way, impelled always by generous
enthusiasm, Garfield conceived that
much might be done by his admins
tration towards restoring harmony be
tween the different sections of the
Union. He was anxious to go south
and speak to the people. AS early as
April he had Intellectually endeavored
to arrange for trip to Nashville,
whittier he had been cordially invited,
and he was again disappointed few
weeks later to find that ne could not go
to South Carolina to attend the centen-
NAL celebration Of the victory of the
Cowpens. But for the autumn he def
nitely counted ON being present at
three memorable assemblies in the
south, the celebration at Yorktown,
the opening of the Cotton Exposition
at Atlanta. and the meeting of the
Army of the Cumberland at Chatta-
nooga. He was already turning over
in his mind his address for each occa-
sion, and the three taken together, he
said to friend, gave him the exact
scope and verge which he needed. AT
Yorktown he would have before
him the associations of hundred
years that bound the south and north
in the sacred memory of common
danger and a common victory. AtAt-
lanta he would present the material in
terests and the industrial developme nt
which appealed to the thrift and indie
pendence of every household, and
which should unite the two sections by
the instinct of self-interest and self-de-
Tense. At Chattanooga he would re-
vive memories of the war, only to show
that after all its disaster and all its suf-
ferlng, the country was stronger and
greater, the union rendered indissolu-
BILE, and the future, through the agony
and blood of one generation, made
brighter and better for all.
Garfield's ambition for the success of
his administration was high. With
strong caution and conservatism in his
nature, he was in no danger of at
tempting rash experiments or of resort
ing to the impiricism Of statesman
ship. But he believed that renewed
and closer attention should be given to
questions affecting the material inter-
ests and commercial prospects of fifty
millions of people. He believed that
our continental relations, extensive
and undeveloped as they are, involved
responsibility, and could be cultivated
into profitable friendship or be aband-
oned to harmful indifference or lasting
enmity. He believed with equal conf
dence that an essential torerunner 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 and burdens OF govern
ment would be common to all. Him
self a conspicuous illustration of what
ability and ambition may do under re-
publican institutions, he loved his
country with passion of patriotic de-
votion, and every waking thought was
given to her advancement. He was an
Anne rican IN all his aspirations, and he
locked to the destiny and influence OF
the United States with the philosophic
composure of Jefferson and the dem.
onstrative confidence OF John Adams.
The political events which disturbed
the presidents serenity for many weeks
before the eventual day in July, form
an important chapter IL his career,
and, in his own Judgment, involved
questions of principle and of right
which are vitality essential to the consti
tutional administration of the fedora
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 8
source of contention with others, have
become, so far as Garfield is concerned
as much a matter of history as his
heroism at Chickamaugua or his illus
trious service in the house. Detail Is
not needful, and personal antagonist
shall not be rekindled by any word ut
tered to-day. The motives OF those OPP
posing him are not to be here adverse
! ly interpreted nor their course harshly
characterized. But of the dead presl
dent this is to be said, and said be
cause his own speech is forever silencet
and he can no more BE heard excep
through the fidelity and the love ofsur