The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-01

satisfaction. The duties that engross so large
portion OF the Presidents time f7istasteful 10
him. and we're unfavonbly contTaSiSS with his
legislative work. II have been dealing all these
years with i0eas." he iTDpa.ienily exclaimed one
day, "and mere am dealing only with persons
have been heretofore treating of the f0nda-
mental principles OF Government and bsre l am
considering all day whether A or shah be ap-
pointed to this or tnas Office. He was eErnes'ly
arising from the distributfOn of overgrowf and
unwfeldy patronsge-eyAs always appreciated
and often discussed by hun, but whose u-aeni-
mind since his accession 10 the Presidency. Had
he lived. comprehensive improvement in the
mode Of appointment and .re the tenure of office
would have been p7Oposed by him, and with he
afd or Congress no donbt perfected.
Bat, while many OF the Executive duties were
scieati9us IN their dis ehsrge FROM the very out
set he exhibited administrative talent of a high
order. lie grasped the helm Of Office with the
hand OF \ master. In tzts respect indeed he con-
stantly surprised many who were most Intimately
associated with him in the Governments, and
especially those who hac. feared that he might be
lacking in the Executive faculty. His dispoei-
ton or business was orderly end rspid. His
power OF analysis, and his skill I'm classification
enabled him TO dispatch a vast mass of detail
with singular promptneSs and ease. His Cabinet
meetings were admirably conducted. His clear
presentation of official subjects, his well con-
sidered suggestion of topics on wk5eh discussion
Was invited, his quick decision when all had
been heard, combined TO show thcfoughnesS of
mental tTaiaiDg rare as hi.snatura. ability and
ms faclie adaptation 10 new ana enlarged field
OF labor.
With perfect comprehension Of all tlse inherit
ances OF the War, with cool calculation of the
obstacles in his way, lmbeiled always by a gen.
erOus enthusiasm, Garfield conceived that much
might be done ey his Administration towards re-
storing harmony between the differeRs sections
of the Union. Be was anxious 10 go SOuth and
speak TO the people. As carly as April he had in
Nashville, whittier he had been cordially invited
aud he 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 definite
ly counted on being present at three memorable
assemblies in the SOuth-the celebTatiOn ut York
town, town, the opening OF the Cotton
meeting of the Army of the Cumber-
land nc Chattanooga He was already turning
over i'm his mind his address for each OCCASION
aud the three taken together he said To a friend
gave him the exact scope and verge which he
needed. At Yorktown he would have had before
bound the South and the North. in the sacrcd
memory of common danger and common vie
tory At Atlanta he would present the material
interests and the industrial development which
appealed to the thrift and independence os every
household. and which should unite the two sec
lions by the instinct of selfinterest and self-de
of the Wer onlytO show that after all its DISASTERS
aud all its sufferiugsthe country stronger and
greater, the Union rendered indissoluble, ana the
future, through the agony and blood OF oRe gen.
Grafton, made brighter and better for all.
Gariield's ambition for the success of he Ad-
ministration was high. With strong caution and
conservatism in his nature. he was in no danger
OF attempting rash experiments or OF reSOrting to
the empiricism OF craftsmanship. But he be-
lisved that renewed and closer attention should
be given to questions affecting the mate7i:l in
terests and commercial prosperity of fifty millions
OF people. He believed that our continental re
latiOns. extensive and undevelOped as they are,
involved responsibility, aud could be cultivated
harmful indifference OF lasting enmity. He be-
lieYed with equal confidence that an essential
f0rerunner to q new era of national progress
must be feeling of cOntentment in every section
of the Union, and a generous belief that the beu-
efits and burdens of government would be com
mon to all. Himself conspicuous illustration
of what ability and ambition may do under re-
publican institutions, he loved his country with
n passion Of patriotic devotion. and every waking
thought was given to her advancement He wss
American in all his aspirations, and he looked
to the destiny and influence of the United States
with the philOSophic cOmpOsure of Jefferson and
the demois rative confidence OF John Adams.
The pol zeal events which disturbed the gresi-
dents serenity for many weeks before that fateful
day in July, form an important chapter Ia his
career, and, in his own Judgment involved oues-
tiODs of principle and of right which are vitality
essential TO the constitutional administration OF
the Federal Government. It would be ont of
place here and now to speak the language OF con-
troversy; but ;he events referred to. however
they may continue 10 be source of contention
with others, have become, so far as Garfield is
concerned. as much matter or history aS his
neroism at Chickamauga or his illustrious service
in the House. Detail is not needful. and personal
autagonism shall not be rekindled by any word
uttered to-day. Inc motives OF those Opposing
him are not To be here adversely interpreted NOR
their course haTshly characterized. But of the
dead President this is TO be said and said because
his own speech is forever Siienced and he can be
no more heard except through the fidelity and
the love of surviving friends: From the Begin
ming to the end of the controversy he so much de-
ploTed, the President was never for one moment
aeiuaied by any motive of gain to himself or OF
loss 10 others. Least of all men did he harbor
venge. rarely did he ever show resentment. and
malice was not in his nature. He was congenially
employed only in the exchange of good offices
and the doing of kindly deeds.
There was not an hour, from the beginning OF
the trouble till the fatal shot entered kis body.
when the President would not gladly, for the sake
of restoring harmony, have retraced any step he
had taken if such retracing had merely involved
consequences personal to himself The Pride OF
consistency, or any supposed sense OF humilia-
tion that might result from surrenderin9 his posi-
ton, had not feathers weight with him. No
man was ever less subject 70 such influences
from within or from without. But after most anx-
ious deliberailon and the coolest survey OF a the
circumstances, he sOlemnly believed that the true
pTerogatives of the Executive were involved in
the issue which had been raised, and that he
would be unfaithful to his supreme obligation il
he failed to maintain, in all their yigOr the costi
tutiOnal rights aud dignities OF his great office
He believed this in all the convictions OF con-
science when in sound and vigorous health. and
he believed ii in his suffering and prOstration in
the last conscious thought which his wearied
More than this need not be said Less than this
could not be said. Justice to the dead, the high
est obligation that devolyeS upon the living, de
mands the declaration that in all the bearings OF
the subject actual or possible, the President was
content in his mind. justified ia his conscience,
immOvable in his conclusions.
The religious element in Garhelds character
was deep aud earnest. In his early youth he eS
poused the faith of the Disciples, sect of thai
J great Baptist Communion, which in different &c
cleSlastical establishments is so numerous and 81
influential throughout all parts of the United
States But the broadening tendency of his minC
and his active spirit III inquiry were early appar
eut and carried HIM beyond the dogmas of sect anC
the restraints of ass ciation. In selecting Col
| lege in which 10 continue his education he re
! jected Bethany, though presided over by Alex
ander Campbell, the greatest preacher of hi;
Church. His reasons were characteristic; first
/ that Bethany leaned 100 heavily toward slavery
and second, that being himself Disciple and tbs
| son OF Disciple pa ents, he had little acQuaint
ance with people OF other beliefs, and he though
! IL would make him more liberal, quoting his Owl
words, both in his religious and general views. 4
| go into new circle aud be under new inau
| enceS.
The liberal tendency which he anticipated a
the result OF wider culture was fully lesllzed. III
was emancipaied frOmsmere sectartan BELIEF ali;
! with eager interest pushed his investigations il
the direction of modern progressive thought. HI
followed with quickening step in the paths Of ex
ploraton and speculation so feaTleSsly trocden D.
Darwin, by Huxley, by TynGall, and by other liz
ing scientists of the radical and advanced type
His own Church, binding its disciples by n
formulated creed, bnt acceDtirg the Old and NeN
Testaments as the Word of God with unbiased lii
erty of private Interpretation. favored il 1t dl
not stimulate, the spirit OF investigation. II
members profess with sincerity, and profess only
TO be of one mind and one faith with those VIII
Immediately followed the Master and who wer
first called Christians at Antioch.