The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-08

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The cir
cumstances attending the death Of the late
President were so sad. and produced such
world wide sympathy for him and his family
that some time must elapse before his coun-
trymen can calmly place his character In the
scales Of justice and see what Is It's true value.
His name and fame have been most unscru-
pulously used to raise funds for various OBJ
jects. tho tricksters taking 1t for granted that
no ono would refuse TO subscribe money for
any project that had Gar1eld's name for o pre-
fix. Probably no man would detect and de-
spise sooner than Garfield himself. II he we're
living the mercenary character OF many OF the
things that have been said and done ostensibly
In his honor. But In this age and country there
is nothing so sacred that It cannot be prosti-
tuted to tho purpose Of money making. and
advancing the popularity OF demagogues.
There arc. and always have been. in this
world persons who seem to be favorites OF tho
goddess called Fortune. Every wave which
rolls on the sea OF human affairs lifts them up
into positions Of honor and influence. While
other men. with oil the energy OF despair.
struggle for place and fail In the pursuit. and
fall back into the class OF the unsuccessful in
life. these lucky mon, without seeming to be
anxious about it. are borne into the most COM
manding places. Garfield belonged to this
class. His voice. his person. his presence his
genial manners. and his amlablenoss OF char
acter attracted the attention Of men wherever
he went He had. on the list OF friends, us Mr.
Blaine minated In his memorial speech. the
Freothinker Robert @. Ingersoll. at the one
end. and n Catholic priest at the other. with
hosts intervening OF all sects who wished him
we'll personally and politically. He was man
of scholarly tastes. and when he spoke on lit
erary occasions. always had the faculty Of
LII,
ing which would displease them Wade and
Giddings had made the Western Reserve place
where the utterance OF tho most radical scnt-
ments was cheerod to the echo and when he
came upon the stage all he had to do was to
reap the fruits OF these mems sowing When he
with him. and prepared himself by reading for
dischargng the duties devolvlng on him in
wl he he e
proceedings for the last twenty years we shall
be constrained TO admit that. while Garfield per-
formed all his duties as member OF Congress
creditably enough. he never originated ard car
ried through single measure OF public utility.
had done as we'll rs he in the House OF Repre-
senatiyes and scores had done vastly y1 more e.
oand on shef or S thu
| sionai Records. The men who are immortal in
our national history are those who had the op-
made them immortal. Washington. by his
sword achieved tho independence OF the col
that formed the Constitution. the adoption OF
MADE the The
to Federalism. and established the DEM DEM
9 eS party as the agent ,, for making
Clay originated and fought through Congress
Industry. webster S1 save US the Exposition Of
the Constitution which. while t. admitted the
! llSl0Q the paramount claim OF Congress- to Dc
the supreme Legislative power. Chase gave us
the Srsen6aSk which IN the national struggle
coin signed US the emancipation proclamation;
Thaddeus Stevens, after giving his adopted
conducted the nation through the lery ordeal
stead stead bill. whereby thousands A' q his
as ws s. Ss4 sns sSa a S
Greedy wso could ae r I'VE hsm
But Garfield's name is not associated with
any measure, successful or Unsuccessful which
'nf IL Is nos % b. hs
H. had t no chanSe to 40 anything n tho Knd
daiteaa the assassin ali the sG morn beeanse,
| when Garfield as President OF the United
States had an opportunity TO prove himself u
reform. and carrying Y into execution. he wa;
cut down and sent 70 the grave before he had
As to Garieid military services during the
war Of the rebellion. Notwithstanding Mr..
them tsos ~srs ssr.S S x shs
tho three large quarto volumes entitled The
waa WITH the aHmss S% his
We're his achievements. But his personal
popularity and good luck followed him into the
General. while scores of others. whose fortune
it was TO do a hundred times as, much, never
rose above the grade OF Colonel. In Horace
| CreelHyS history OF the war IN two volumes.
Garfelds name occurs several times in the
iHideI but in turning to the chapters Of the
services, so say again OF his military services
His heart was as full Of patriotic feeling MS
that OF any other man in the army twas not
no victory. 1t was only his luck. it was that
Of scores of other officers who were equally
This luck followed him to the Chicago Conyen-
ton where he went as delegate to place, John
Bu th course oi sSen IKE the
the ocean, swept round sherman and Grant in
that tumultnous Convention and bore Garfield
same time msmbsr Of the House Of Representa
elect. and In the November following President
Of the United States elect. Such a set Of con-
is mot xey f. ofsnr again in the
But 4 lis good luck still followed him. and Gull
minated at his grave; for In addition to the
|
where by the sympathy OF the whole world for
| his cruel fate. his countrymen made his widow
and children their bene tciaries by the gift Of
quarter OF Il million, and his family have more to
make them comfortable than would probably
have been the case had he lived out the, usual
term OF service and of life. Besides this and
what Is more important to his fame. Judging
from what has occurred since his death in the
| way OF revelation. he died in the nick of time
for his reputation ne President; for il is OK
| trcmely probable, nay. almost certain. that his
Administration had the seeds of dissolution
sown in it the very day he selected his Cabinet
and would have broken down during the first
| year Of his term.
The word martyr has been applied to Gar
| field. but with singular inapproprateneSs.
He died for no principle, for no act and for the
| Advancement Of no cause. He was simply
Killed by crazy fanatic who wished 10 rival
the Jewish Patriarch Abraham in what he re-
gardod as an act Of religious faith and duty.
Occupying, as he did. the highest eminence
country. the telegraph heralded his al.
tack. sufrerlngs. aud death to the ends OF
re earth and the nnnroy,9,kednsesSi Of
OF mankind rs no similar event had ever done
before. His, tragic end is his only hold on i'm
mortality. No man in this country was ever
SO oysr-estimated and so sure to tako his place