The Portland daily press., 1882-02-28

every waking thought was given to her advance
ment. He Was an American in al his aspfra-
tions, and he looked 60 the destiny and influence
of the United States with the philosophic COM
posure of Jefferson and the demonstrative conf
dence Of John Adams.
The political events which disturbed the Presi-
dents serenity for many weeks before that fate
full day in July, form an important chapter in his
career, and, in his own Judgment, involved ques-
tions of principle and of right which are vitally
essential to the constitutional administration of
the Federal government. 1t would be out of
place here and now TO speak the language of
controversy; but the events referred to, however
they may continue to be source of contention
with others, have become, so far as Garfield is
concerned, as much a matter OF history as his
heroism at Chickamauga or his illustrious SER
vice in the House. Detail is not needful, and
personal antagonism shall not be rekindled by
any word uttered to-day. The motives of those
opposing him are not to be here adversely inter-
preted nor their course harshly characterized
But of the dead President 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 and the love OF surviving friends: From
the 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 ex-
change of good Offices and the doing of kindly
deeds.
the trouble till the fatal shot entered his body,
when the President would not gladly, for the
sake OF restoring harmony, have letraeed any
step he had taken if such retracing had merely
involved consequedces personal to himself. The
pride of consistency, or any supposed sense of
humiliation that might result from surrendering
his position, had not feathers weight with
him. No man was ever less subject to such in
fuences from within or from without. But after
most anxious deliberation and the coolest sur
vey of all the circumstances, he soemnly be-
leved that the true prerogatives of the Executive
were involved in the issue which had been rails
ed, and that he would be unfaithful to his su-
preme obligation if he failed to maintain in all
their yigor, the constitutional rights and dieni-
ties of his great office. He believed this in all
the convictions of conscience when in sound
and vigorous health and he believed it in his
suffering ana prostratoin in the last conscious
thought which his wearied mind bestowed on
the transitory struggles of life.
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
demands the declaration that in all the bearings
of the subject, actual or possible, the President
was content in his mind, justified in his con
science, immovable in his conclusions
The religious element in Garfied's character
was deep and earnest. In his early youth he
espoused the faith of the Disciples, sec OF