Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-27

The English emigration was never renewed, and
from these twenty thousa nd men with a small en-
igraton from Scotland and from France are de-
Scended the vast numbers who have New England
blood In their veins.
In 1876 the re vocation OF the edict OF Nantes by
Louis XIV scattered to other countries four hun
dred thousand PrOtestants, whe were among the
and entrpIn Of se9ea snS
and handcraftsmen, superior at the time to all
others in Europe considerable number OF these
in New England and became honorably prominent
in Its history. Their names have IN large part be-
come anglicsed or have disappeared, but their
blood is traceable in many of the most reputable
families, and their fame IS perpetuated in honor
able memorials and useful institutions.
From these two sources the EngliSh-Purftl IN
and the FreDch-Hugu enot, came the late PreSi-
dent-his father, Abram Garfield, being descended
from the one, and his mother, Eliza Ballou, from
the other.
1t was good stock on both sides-none better,
none Drawer, none truer. There was in it an In
hertdnCe of courage, OF manlineSS, OF imperShable
love OF liberty, of undying adherence to principle.
Garfield was proud of his blood; and with as
much satisfaction as If he were British nobleman
reading his stately ancestral record in Burke's
Peerage. he spoke OF himself as ninth in descent
from those who would not endure the oppression
of the Stuarts, and seventh in descent from the
brave French ProteStantS who refused TO submit
to tyranny even from the Grand Monarque.
General GARFIELD delighted to dwell on these
traits, and during his only visit to England, he
busted himself in discovering every trace of his
forefathers in parish registrles and on ancient
army rolls Sitting with friend in the gallery of
the House OF Commons one night after long day S
iobor in this field OF research, he said with evident
elation I- in every war in which for three centu-
ries patriots Of EngIl-s blood had struck sturdy
blows for constitutional government and human
liberty, his family had been representa-. They
were at MarStOn Moor at Naseby and at Preston;
mouth. and In his own person lad blttled for the
same great cause in the war which preserved the
Union OF the States.
Losing his father before he was two years old,
the early life of Garfield was one OF privation but
its poverty has been made indelicatefy and un ust-
~ prominent Thousands Of readers have imagined
MIN as the ragged, starving child, whose reality
too often greet5 the eye In the SQuald sections OF
our large cities General Garield's infancy and
youth had none of their desttUtion, none OF their
ptlIul features appealing to the tender heart and
to the open hand OF charity. He was poor boy
In the same sense in which Henry Clay was poor
boy: In wil1ch Andrew Jackson was poor boy in
which Daniel Webster was poor boy in the Sense
in which a large majority OF the eminent men of
America in all generations have been poor boys.
Before a great multitude of men, in a public
speech. Mr.. Webster bore this testimony:
ut did not happen to me to be born In a log
cabin, but my elder brothers and sisters were born
In q log cabin raised amid the SnOwdriftS of New
Hampshire, at a period so early that when the
smoke rose first from its rude chimney and curled
over the frozen hills there was no similar evidence
OF Il white mans habitation between it and the
settlements on the rivers OF Canada. It's remains
still exist. make to it an annu visit. carry my
children to it to teach them the hariShps endured
by the generations which have gone before them
love to dwell on the tender recollectons, the
narratives ana incidents which miagle with all /
know OF this primitive family abode"
with the requisite cDange or scene the same
words would aptly portray the early days of Gar
field. The poverty OF the frontier, where all are
engaged in a common struggle and where a COM
mon sympathy and hearty cooperation tighten
the burdens OF each, Is very different poverty,
different in kind, different in nfu nee and effect
from that conscious and humliating 1ndigence
WHEN Is every DAY forced 70 contrast itself with
neighboring wealth on which it feels a sense of
grinding dependence. The poverty OF the frontier
IS inieed no poverty. 1t is but the beginning OF
wealth, and has the bOundleS5 possibilities of the
future always opening before it. No man ever
grew up in the agricultural regions OF tie West
where house raising, even Il corn hl skiing Is
matter OF common interest and hepfuiness. with
any other feeling than that OF broad-minded, gen
eTous independence. This honorable Independence
youth OF millions OF the best blood and brain now
training for the future citizenship and future gov
T. iand to the he tie of reebner WAN WAS porn h ae
the potent ard passport OF self-reSpect with the
AnSlo-Saxon race ever since Hengist ana Horsa
landed On the shores OF England. His adventure
on the canal-an alternative between that and the
deck OF Lake Erie SchOoner-waS farmer boys
device Tor earning money, just as the New England
ld begins possibly greater career by sailing be-
fore the mast on cOssting vessel or on Incr-
chantlnan bound to the farther India or to the
China Seas
No manly man feels anything OF shame In look
ing Dack TO early struggles With adverse ctrcum-
stances, and no man feels worthier pride than
when he has conquered the obstacles TO his pro-
gress. But no one OF noble mould desires to be
looked upon as having occupied menial position,
as having been repressed by feeling of Inferior
ity or as having suffered the evils OF poverty until
relief was found at the hand OF charity. General
Garllelds youth presented no hardships which
come, subjected him to no prvations which he did
not cheeriully accept, and left no memories save
those which were recalled with delight and trans
mitted with profit and with pride.
Gariield's early opportunities for securing an
education were extremely limited, and yet were
sufficient to develop in him an intense desire to
OF fhpAn ~
each winter he had the advantage of the district
school He read all the books to be found within
the circle OF his acquaintance; some OF them he
got by heart. While yet in childhood he was a
constant student OF the Bible, ana became familiar
with its literature. The dignity and earnestness
OF his speech in his maturer lie gave evidence of
this early training. At eighteen years of age he
was able to teach school, and thenceforward his
ambition was to obtain a college education. TO
harvest field, at the carpenters bench AMI in the
winter season, teaching the common schools OF the
neshborhood. While thus laboriously occupied
he found time to prosecute his studies, and was SO
successful that at twenty-five years OF age he was
able TO enter the Junior class at Williams College,
then under the presidency of the venerable and
honored Mark Hopkins, whO in the fullneSs of his
powers, survives the eminent pupil to whom he
was OF 1nestilnable service.
The history OF Garneld's life to this period, pre-
sents no novel features He had undoubtedly
shown perseverance, Sef-reliance. sacrifice
and ambition-qualities which, be it said for the
honor OF our country, are everywh to be found
among the young men of America But from his
graduation at Williams onward, to the hour OF his
tragieal DEATH Garfield's career was eminent and
exceptional Slowly working through his educa-
uohal PERIOD receiving his diploma when "a years
OF age, he seemed at one bound to spring into con-
spicuOuS and brilliant success. Within six years
he was successfully president OF college, state
senator or Ohio, major general of the army OF the
United States and Representative elect to the Ma
tOnal Congress. combination Of honOrs SO va
ried, so elevated, within period so brief and to
man so young, is without precedent or parallel in
the history OF the country.
Garfield's army life was begun with no other
military knowledge than such as he had hastily
gained from books in the few months preceding his
march to the field Stepping from civil life to the
head OF regiment, the first order he received when
ready to cross the Ohio was to assume command OF
a brigade, and to operate as an independent force
In Eastern Kentucky. His immediate duty was to
check the advance OF Humphrey Marshall, who
was marching down the Big Sandy with the inten-
don OF occupying in connection with other con-
federate forces the entire territory OF Kentucky.
and of precfpitating the state into secession This
was at the close OF the year 1861. Seldom II ever,
has young college professor been thrown into a
more embarrassing and discourag1ng position. He
knew just enough OF military science as he ex-
pressed IL himself, to measure the extent of his
ignorance, and with handful Of men he was
marching, in rough winter weather, into a strange
country, among hostile population, to confront
largely superior force under the command of a
distinguished graduate OF West Point, who had