The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-04

rarest distinctions of an effective debater
and often count for rs much in persunting an
assembly rs the eloquent and elaborate argu-
ment. The great measure OF Garlields fame
was filled by his service in the House OF Rep
rcsentatiycs. His military life, illustrated by
honorable perfornnnce and rich IN promise,
was, as he himself felt, prematurely termnl-
ted ana necessarily Incomplete. speculation
rs TO what he might have done in a Held
where the great prizes are so few can not be
profitable. 1t is sufficient to say that as II
soldier he did his duty bravely, he did T. in.
teligently, he won an enviable name, and he
returned from the service without blot or
blemlsh against hun A. a lawyer, though
admirably equipped for the profession, he Gun
scarcely be said 20 have entered upon its
practice. The few efforts ne made mt the bar
were distinguished by the same high order of
talent which he exhibited on every field
where he was put 60 the test, and If Il man
may he accepted a. a competent judge of his
own capacities and adaptations, the law was
the profession to which Garfield should have
devoted himself; but fate ordained otherwise,
and his reputation In history viii rest largely
upon his service in the House of Representa-
tivcs. That service was exceptionally long.
He was nine times consecutively chosen to
the House, an honor enjoyed by not more
than six other Representatives of the more
than five thousand who have been elected
| from the organization of the Government to
this hour.
As n parliamentary orator, rs dcbater on
an issue Squareiy joined, where the position
had been chosen aud the ground laid out Gar.
neid mus, be assigned very H. gh rank. More
perhaps than any man with whom he was AS
systemHtc study II public questions, and he
came to every discussion in which he took
part with elaborate and complete prepare
ton lie wls steady and indetatigable
worker. Those who imagine that
talent or genius can supply the
place or achieve the results of labor
will find no encourag in Garfelds life.
In the preliminary work he was apt, rapid
and skilltul. lie possessed in high degree the
and, like Dr. Johnson, had the art of getting
from a book all that was of
value in it by reading apparently
50 quick and cursory that 1t seemed
like mere glance at the table of con.
tents. Tie was pre-. eminenty tair and can
ala man III debate, took no petty advantage,
stopped to no unworthy methods, avoided
personal illusions, rarely appealed to preju-
dice, did not seek to inaame passion. lie
h9d Quicker eye for ths strong point of his
adversary than for his weak point, and on
his own side he so marshacd his weighty
arguments rs to make his hearers forget any
possible lack in the complete strength OF his
position. He had Il habit OF stating his oppo-
ncnts side with such amplitude OF fairness
ana such liberality of concession that his fol-
lowers often complained that he was weak
ening his case, but never in his prolonged
participation in the proceedings of the House
dld he give way or fail i'll the judgment of
competent and impartial listeners to gain the
mastery.
These characteristics, which marked Gar
field us II great debater did not, however,
make him great parliamentary leader A
parliamentary leader, rs that term is under
SVDOu Wherever Tree representative govern
ment exists, l. necessarily and very strictly
the organ of his party.
Those unfamiliar with Gartield's industry,
and ignorant of the details ot his work, may,
in some degree, measure them by the annals
of Congress, No one OF the generation of
public men to which he belonged has contrib
uted so much that will BE- valuable for future
reference. His speeches are numerous, many
of them brilliant, all of them well studied,
car fully phrased and exhaustive of the sub
iect under consideration. Collected from the
uneS OF Congressional record, they would
present an Invaluable compendium of the po
litical history OF the most important era
through which the National Government has
ever passed. when the history of this period
shall be impartialy written. when war legis-
latiOn, measures of Reconstruction, protection
of human rights, amendments to the Cunsti-
tuition. maintenance OF public credit, be
viewed, unsurrOunded by prejudice and dis
connected from partisauisin, the speeches of
Garfield will he estimated at their true value,
and Will be found to comprise vast maya
zine of fact and arg mont, OF clear analysis
and sound conclusion. Indeed, If no other
authority were accessible, his speeches in the
House OF Representatives from December
1863 to June 1850, would give well connected
history and complete defense of the inpor-
tant legislation of the seventeen Cventful
years that constitute his parliam entary lite.
Far beyond that, his spa eches would he found
to forecast many great measures yet TO be
completed, measures which he knew were be.
You'd the public opinion of the hour, but
which he confidently believed would secure
popular approval within the period of his
own lifetime and by the aid OF his own efforts.
Differing as Garfield does from the brilliant
parliam"ntal leaders, it is not easy TO lind
his counterpart anywhere in the record of
American publicliie. He perhaps more nearly
resembles Mr. seward in his supreme faith in
the all -conquering power of principle He
had the love of learning AMI the patient in
dustry OF investigation to which John Quincy
Adams owes his prominence and his presi-
dcncy. lie had some of those ponderous ele-
ments OF life which distinguished Mr.. Web
ster and which in all our public life have left
oh wit fNtNN
intellectual peer.
In English parliamentary history, a. in our
own, the leaders in the House of Commons
present points of essential difference from
GARFIELD, but some of his methods recall the
best features in the strong, independent
course of Sir Robert Peel, and striking resem-
blances are disccrnible in that most promis-
ing of modern conservatives, who died too
early for his country AMI his fame, the Lord
George Bentinck He had all of Burke's love
for the sublime and the beautiful, with posi-
bly, something of his superabundance and in
his faith and his magnanimlty in his power OF
statement, in his subtle analysis, i'll his fault
less logic, in his love of literature, in his
wealth and world of illustration, one is re-
minded of that great English statesman OF to-
day who, confronted with obstacles that
would daunt any but the dauntless reviled
by those whom he would relieve as bitterly as
| by those whose supposed rights he Is forced
| to invade, still labOrs with serene courage for
the amelioration of Ireland and for the honor
OF the English name. Garheld's nomination
! 20 the Presidency, while not predlcteu or an
| ticipated, was not a surprise to the country.
| His prominence i'm Congress, his solid quail
ties, his wide reputation, strengthened by his
| then recent election as Senator from Ohio
kept him in the public eye as man occupy
| ing the very highest rank among those en-
| titled ~ be called statesmen. 1t was not mere
chance that brought him this high power
! 1--WE must" says Mr.. Emerson, "Reckon sue
cess n constitutional trait IL Eric Is in robust
! health and has slept well, and is at the top of
| parture from Greenland he will steer west
| and his ships will reach New Foundland, but
take Eric out and put in stronger and holder
| farther aud reach Labrador and New Eng
| land" There is no chance in results. As a
| candidate Garfield steadily grew in popular