The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-08

stronger and bvicer anu the snip
will sail six hundred, one thousand,
fifteen hundred miles farther and
reach Labrador and New England
There is no chance in results"
As candidate, Garfield steadily
grew in popular favor. He was met
with storm of detraction at the
very hour of his nomination, and-it
continued with increasing volume
and momentum until the close OF
his campaign;
1 40 nigh, nor greatness in mortality
+ Can censure 'scspe, back woundingcaIu
The blacklist virtue strike. What king so
strong
Can tie the gall NJ in the slanderous tcnsue.
Under itall he was calm and strong,
tand confident; never lost his self
possession, lid no unwise act, spoke
no hasty, or ill-coasidered words.
Indeed nothing in his whole life is
more remarkable or more creditable
thai his bearing through those five
full months of vituperation-a pro-
ionged agony OF trial TO q sensitive
man. a constant and cruel draft
upon the powers Of moral endur-
ance. The great mass OF these un-
Just imputations passed unnoticed,
and with the general debris of the
campaign fell iato oblivion. But in
few instances the iron entered his
soul and he died with tie injury
unforgotten if not slAsiorgiyen.
One aspect OF Garield's candida
cy was unprecedented. Never be-
fore, in the history Of partisan con-
tests in this country, bad success
full Presidential candidate spoken
freely on passing events and cur
rent issues. To attempt anything
of the kind seems novel, rash, and
even desperate. The older class Of
voters recalled the unfortunate Ala
bama letter, in which Mr. Clay was
supposed to have signed his politi-
cal death warrant. They remem-
5ered also the hot-tempered effusion
bg which General Scott lost large
shzze of his popularity before hls
nopaaaation, and the unfortunate
speeches which rapidly consumed
the remainder. The younger voters
had seen ar. Greeley in series of
vigorous &nd original addresses,
preparing the pathway for his own
defeat. Unlnindful Of these warn
ings. unheediag the advice offriends,
Garfield spoke to large crowds as he
jsurneyed to and from New York in
August, to a great multitude in that
city, to delegations and deputations
of every kind that called at Mentor
during the summer and autumn.
With innumerable critics, watchiul
and eager to catch a phrase that
might be turned into odium or rid.
cule, or sentence that might be
distorted 10 his own or his party's
injury, Garfield did not trip or halt
in any one ef his seventy speeches.
This seems ali the more remarkable
when it is remembered that he did
not write what he said, and yet spoke
with such logical consecutiveness of
thought and such admirable precis-
ion of phrase rs to defy the acci-
dent of misrepor. and the nalignity
Of misrepresentation.
In the beginning Of his PreSden-
tial life Garfeld1s experience did not
Weld him pleasure or satisfaction.
The duties that engrossed so
large a portion of the Presidents
time were distasteful to him, and
uRfavorably contrasted with his leg
islative work. II have been deal
Ing all these years with ideas" he
exclaimed one day,
and here | am dealing only with
persozs. | have been heretofore
treating of the fundamental princi-
Piles OF government and here | am
considering all day whether A or b
shall be appointed to this or that
9aHse slee G Eas Way esFnesx st seekPs iP
evils arising from the distribution
Of overgrown and unwieldy patron
lge-evils always appreciated and
often discussed by him, but whose
had aeen more deeply
upon hsS mind since his
accession to the Presidency. Had
he lived, comprehensive improve
.nent in the mode of appointment
and the tenure of office .wonld have
been proposed By him, and with the
nd OF Congress no doubt perfected.
But while many Of the Executive
duties were not grateful to him, he
was assiduous and conscientious in
their discharge. From the very
outset he exhibited administrative
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
were most intimately associated
with him in the government, and
those who had feared that
be might be lacking in the execu-
tive faculty. His disposition of bus
inesss was orderly and rapid. His
power of analysis, and his skill in
enabled him to dis
patch vast mass of detail with
singular promptness and ease His
clear presentations of official sub
;ects, his well considered suggestion
Of topics on which discussion was
invited. his quick decision when all
had been heard. combined to show
\ thoroughness of mental training
as rare as his natural ability and
his flcile adaptation to new and
field of labor.
With perfect comprehension Of
al the inheritances Of the war, with
a cool calculation of the obstacles in
his way, impelled always By gem
erous enthusiasm, Garfield conced-
ed that much might be done by his
towards restoring
harmony between the different see
tions OF the Union. He was anxious
to 90 South and speak to the peo-
pie. As early rs April he had in
endeavored 10 arrange
tnp to Nashville, whittier be had
been cordially invited, and he was
again disappointed 4 few weeks
later to find that he could not 90 to
-oufb Coroline, IN attend tho cepter,