St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-03-11

which Mr. Clay was supposed to nave signed
his political death warrant. They remem
bered also the hot tempered effusion by which
Gen. Scott lost Il large share of his popularity
before his nomination, and the unfortunate
speeches which rapidly consumed the re-
mainder. the younger voters had seen Mr..
Greeley, in series of vigorous and original
addresses, preparing the pathway for has own
defeat. Unmndful OF these warnings, I'M
III large crowds as he journeyed to and from
New York, i'll August, to Il great multitude in
that city, to delegations and Populations OF
every kind that called ut Mentor during the
summer and autumn. With innumerabe
critics, watchful and eager to catch a phrase
that might be turned into ridcule or odium
or a sentence that might be distorted to his
own or his party's injury, Garfield did not
trip or halt in any one OF his seventy speech
es. This seems all the more remarkable
when it is remembered that he did not write
what he said, and vet spoke with such logical
conSecutiveneSS of thought and such admira-
Bile precision of phrase rs to defy the acct
dent of misreport and the malsnity of mis-
representation.
In the beginning OF his Presidential life
Garteld's experience did not yield him pleas
ure or satisfaction. The duties that engross
distasteful to him and were unfavoraDly con-
trasted with his legislative work. II have
been dealing all these years with ideas" he
impatiently exclaimed one day, "and here
am dealing with only persons; l have been
heretofore treating OF the fundamental prin-
ciples of government, and here | am cOnsid-
ering all day whether \ or Il shall be appoint
cd to this or that Otficc.'' He was earnestly
seeking some practical way of correcting the
evils arising from an Overs grown and UNI
wieldly patronage-cvils always appreciated
and often discussed by him, out whose mag
nitude had been more deeply Impressed upon
his mind since his accession 10 the Presiden-
cy. Had he lived Il comprehensive improve
ment in the mode of appoin tment and in the
tenure-Of office would have been proposed by
him. and with the aid OF Congress no doubt
perfected. But while many of the executive
duties were not grateful to him. he was assid
nous and conscientious in their discharge
From the very outset he exhibited admins
trative talent OF a high order. He grasped the
helm of office with the hand of a master. In
this respect, indeed. he constantly surprised
many who We're most intimately ass ociated
with him in the Government. and especially
those who had feared that he might be lack
ing in the executive faculty His dispo~tion
OF analysis and his skill in classification en-
abled him to dispatch Il vast mass of details
with singular promptness and ease. His Cab
met meetings were admirably conducted. His
clear presentation of official subjects, his
we'll considered suggestions of topics on
which discussion was invited; his quick de.
cisions, when all had been heard, combined
to show a thoroughness OF mental training rs
rare as his natural ability and his tacile
adaptation to Il new and enlarged field of Ia
Dor.
With perfect comprehension of all the in
heritances of the war, with cool calculation
of the obstacles in his way, impelled always
by generous enthusiasm. Garfield conceived
that much might be done by his administra-
ton toward restoring harmony between the
different sections of the Union. He was anx
ious to go South and speak to the people. AS
early as April he had Intellectually endeavor-
ed to arrange for a trip to Nashville, whittier
he had been cordially invited. And he was
again disappointed, a few weeks later, to find
that he could not go to South Carolina, to
attend the Centennial celebration of the
victory of the Cowpens. But for the autumn
he definitely 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
Chattanooga. He was already turning
over in his mind his addresses for each
occasion, and the three taken together,
ne said to a friend gave him the exact scope
and verge which he needed. At Yorktown
he would have before him the associations of
100 years that bound the South and North in
the sacred memory OF common danger and
a common victory At Atlanta he would pre-
sen. the material interest and the industrial
development, which appealed to the thrift
and independence of every househould, and
which should unite the two sections by the
instinct of self-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.
Garfield's ambition for the success of his
was high. With strong eau
ton and conservatism in his nature, he was
in no danger of attempting rash experiments
or of resorting to the empircism OF statesman
ship but he believed that renewed and closer
should be given to questions affect
ing the material .,f interests ana nt com
He believed that our continental relations,ex
tensive and undeveloped as they are, in
volved responsibility, and could be cultivated
into profitable friendship or be abandoned to
harmful indifference or lasting enulity. He
with equal confidence, that an es-
sential forerunner to new era OF national
progress must be a feeling OF cOntentment in
every section of the Union, and a generous
belief that the benefits and burdens of gov
eminent would be common to all. Himself
illustration of what ability and
ambition may do under Republican institu-
lions, 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 philosophc composure
of Jefferson, land the demonstrative confidence
disturbed the Presidents serenity for many
weeks before the fateful day in July form an
important chapter in his career, and in his
own Judgment involved qneseio,ns OF pr.iiciple
the constitutional administration OF the FED
eral Government.
It would be out of place here and now to
speak the language OF the controversy, but
continue to be a source of contention with
others. have become, so far as Garfield is con
cerned, as much matter OF history as ms
heroism at Chickamauga, or his illustrious
service i'll the House. Detail is not needtul,
and personal antagonism SHAH not be re-
kindled by any word uttered to-day. me
motives OF those opposing him are not to be
here adversely interpreted nor their cause
harshly characterized, but of the dead Pres!-
dent this is to be said, and said because ms
own speech is forever silenced and ne can De
and the love of surviving friends. From the
beginning to the end of the controversy he so
much deplored, the President was never LOT
one moment actuated by any motive OF gam
to himself or of loss to others. Least OF an
men did he harbor revenge, rarely dld ne
even show resentment and malice was not IN
his nature He was congenially employed
only in the exchange OF good offices and ho eme
from the beginEing of the trouble till the fatal
shot entered his body, when the President
would not gladly, for the sake OF restoring 81 ing
taken if such retracing had merely involved