Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-28

Sause III the war which preserved the Union
of the States
Losing his father before he va. two wears
Old the early life of Garfield was one of priva-
non. but Its poverty has been made. indeli-
{ atels and unjustlv prominenr Thousand.
OF readers have imagined him as the ragged.
starving child whose reality too often greet.
the eve in the squaIid sections of our large
cities General Garheld's infancy and youth
had none of their destitution. none of their
pitiinl features appealing TO the tender
neart and tn the open hand of charity.
lie was poor boy in the same sense
IN which Henry CLAY was a Door bov
IN " hleh Andrew Jackson vas a poor bov
IN which Daniel Webster was poor boy :
IN the sense in which a large majority of the
eminent men of America in all generations
have been poor boys. Before great multi.
tude OF men. in public speech, Mr. Webster
bore this testimony
1t did not happen To me To be born in a
log cabin. but my elder brothers and sisters
were born in log cabin raised amid the
SNOW drlfts OF New Hampshire. at a period
so early that when the smoke rose first from
It's rude chimney and curled over the frozen
hills there was no similar evidence of white
mans habItation between il and the settle
ments on the rivers of Canada. Its remains
carry my children to il to teach them the
hardships endured by the generations which
have gone before them. | love to dwell on
the tender recollections, the kindred ties,
the early affections, and the touching narra-
tiVes and incidents which mingle with all l
xnow of this primitive family abode"
With the requisite change Of scene the
same words would aptly portray the early davs
OF Garfield. The poverty of the frontier
where all are engaged in common struggle
and where common sympathy and hearty
corporation tighten the burdens of each is
a very different poverty. different in kind,
different in influence and effect from that con-
scious and humiliating indigence which is
every day forced to contrast itself with neigh
boring wealth on which 1t feels a sense of
grinding dependence. The poverty of the
frontier is indeed no poverty. 1t IS but the
beginning of wealth, and has the boundless
possibilities of the future always opening be-
fore 1t. No man ever grew up in the agri-
cultural regions of the West where u house
raising or even a corn-husking is matter of
common interest aud helpfulness. with any
other feeling than that of broad minded, gen
erous independence. This honorable indie
pendence marked the youth Of Garfield as it
marks the youth of millions of the best blood
and brain now training for the future citizen
ship and future government OF the republic
Garfield was born heir to land to the title of
free holder which has been the patent and
passport of self-respect with the Anglo Saxon
race ever since IIengist and lIorsa landed on
the shores of England. His adventure on
the canal-an alternative between that and
the deck of a Lake Erie schooner-was a
farmer boys device for earning money. just
the New England laI begins a possibly
l-.-g.
coasting vessel or on merchantmen bound
to the farther India or To the China seas.
No manly man feels anything Of shame in
looking back to early struggles with adverse
circumstances. and no man feels worthier
pride than when he ha- conquered
the obstacles to his progress. But
no one of noble mould desires to be look
ed upon as having occupied menial position,
rs having been repressed by feeling of in
ferority. or rs having suffered the evils of
poverty until relief was found AZ the hand of
charity. General Garteld's youth presented
no hardships which family love and family
energy did not overcome subjected him to no
privations which he did not cheerfully accept.
and left no memories save those which were
recalled with delight and ansmitted with
profit and with pride.
Garfields early opportunities for securing
an education we've extremely limited. and vet
were sufficient to develop in him an intense
desire to learn He could read at three years
of age. and each winter he had the advantage
of the district school. He read all the books
to be found within the circle of his acquaint-
ance; some of them he got by heart. While
vet in childhood he was a constant student of
the Bible. and became familiar with its litera-
ture. The dignity and earnestness of his
speech in his maturer life gave evidence of
this early training. At eighteen wears of age
he was able t. teach school. and thencetor-
ward his ambition was to obtain a college ed
ucation. To this end he bent all his efforts,
working in the harvest field, at the carpen-
tcrs bench, and, in the winter season. teach
ing the common schools of the neighborhood.
While thus laboriouslv occupied he found
time to prosecute his studies and was so sue
cessful that at twenty-five years of age he was
able 10 enter the junior class at Williams
College, then under the presidency of the
venerable and honored Mark Hopkins. who.
in the fullness of his powers. survives the
eminent pupil to whom he was OF inestimahle
service.
The history of Garfield's life to this period.
presents no novel features He had un-
doubiedly shown perseverance. set-reliance.
sell. sacrifice, and ambition-qualitie- which,
be it said for the honor of our country, are
everywhere to be found among the Young
men of America But from his graduation at
Williams onward. to the hour of his tragical
DEATH Garteld's career was eminent and ex
ceptional Slowly working through his edu-
cational period. receiving his diploma when
"a years of age. he seemed at one bound to
spring into conspicuous and brilliant success.
Within six years he successfully presi-
dent of a college, State senator Of Ohio
majer general of the Army of the United
States, and Representative elect TO the Ma
tional Congress. combination of honors
so varied, so elevated, within period SO
brief and to a man so young. Is without pre-
cedent or parallel in the history of the country
Garfeld's army life was begun with no
other military knowledge than such as he had
hastily gained from books in the few months
preceding his march to the field Stepping
from civil life to the head of a regiment, the
first order he received when ready to cross
the Ohio as to assume command of brigade,
and to operate as an independent force in
Eastern kentucky. His immediate duty was
to check the advance of Humphrey Marshall.
who was marching down the Big Sandy with
the intention of occupying in connection with
other Confederate forces the entire territoryof
Kentucky, and of precipitating the State into
secession. This was at the close of the wear
1861. Seldom. if ever. has young college
professor been thrown into = more embarrass-
ing and discouraging position. He knew just
IS ..,,l;.avv s.,apna he