New-York tribune., 1882-02-28

sidered suggestion of topics on which discussion
was invited, his quick decision when all had been
heard, combined to show a thoroughness of mental
training as as his natural ability and his facile
adaptation TO a new and enlarged field of labor.
With perfect comprehension Of all the inherit
ances of the war. with cool calculation of the OBJ
stacles IN his way. impellcd always by a generous
enthusiasm, Garfield conceived that much might he
done by his Administration toward restoring
harmony between the different sections OF The
Union. lie was anxious to go south and speak TO the
people As early as April he had Intellectually en-
deavored TO arrange for trip to Nashville, whittier
he had been cordially invited, and he was again ds-
appointed a few weeks later to find that he could
not 90 TO South Carolina to attend the centennial
celebration of the victory Of the COwpens But for
the autumn he definitely counted on beng 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 lie was
already turning over in his mind MS address LOT
each occasion and the three taken toggheI ne u,l S
to a friend, gave him the exact scope ana verge
which he needed. Al yorktown ne would have Dc
fore him the associations oi a hundred years that
bound the South an the Norm IN the saered incIn.
Orv of n common danger and n common victory. NJ
Atlanta he wOuld present the material ID res q ana
the industrial development which appealed 10 the
Thrift aud Independence OF every 4ousGhoid, ana
which should unite the sections by the instinct
of scf-inteTcst and srlf-lefenCc. Al Chattanooga
he would revive memories Of the war only 10 shyy"
that after all its disaster and all MS suHerhg' tne
country was stronger and greater, tue CHloi I.il-
dcrcd indissOluble, and the future, tntouRh Ihe
agony and blood of one generation, maze orishuoi
and better for III.
Garfeld's ambition for the success of his Admins
tratOn was high. With strong caution ana con-
servatiSm IN his nature, he In no danger OF at
tempting rash exp rmeuts or of reSor ing 20 the
empiriclsm of satesmanship. But he believed that
renewed and closer attention should be gwen 10
question affecting the material interests and com
mcrcial prospects of fifty millions Of people. lie
hell relations, pNten
and undevclOped they are, involve respOnHblll-
ty and could be cultivated into profitable friend
ship could be abandoned 10 harmful Indifference
OF lasting enmity lie believed with equal conf
dcnce that an essential forerunner to new era Of
National progress must be feeling OF cOntentment
in every s'CIiOn OF the Union, and generous be-
lief that the benefits and burdens Of government
would he common to all Himself a conspicuous IL
llstration of what ahili and ambition may do un-
der republican institutions, he loved his country
with passion of patriotic devotion, and every
waking thought gwen 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 philOsOphic compOSure OF Jefferson
and the demonstratlve confidence of John Adams.
THE STRUGGLE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
The political events which disturbed the Presi-
dents serenity for many weeks before that fat ful
day in July form an important chapter in his
career, and in his own judgment. involved ques-
tions of principle and of right which are vitaly
essential to the constitutional administration of
the Federal Government 1t would be out of place
here and now to speak the language of controversy
but the events referred to, however they may con-
tinue to be source of contention with others, have
become so far as Garfield ls concerned, as much a
matter of history "a his hercim at Chiclamauga or
his illustriOns service in the House. Detail Is not
necdful. and personal antagonim shall not be re-
kindlcd by any word uttered to-day. The motives
Of those opposing him not to be here adversely
interpreted nor their course harshly characterized
Bnt of the dead President this is to be said and
said because his own speech is forever senced and
he can be no more heard except through the fidelity
and the love of surviving friends From the be-
ginning to the end of the controversy he SO much
dcplorc the President was never for one moment
actuatcd by any motive of gain 20 himself or Of loss
to others. Least of al men did lie harbor revenge
rarely did he even show resentment. and malice was
not in his nature. He was congcnially emp Dyed
only in the exchange of good Offices and the doing
of kindly deeds.
trouble tin the fatal shot entered his body when
tLc President would not gladly, for the sake If re-
storing harmony have rctraced any st'p he had
taken II such rcraclng had merely nyolvel conSe-
ournccS personal to himself The pride of consist
cncv or any supposed sense of humiliation that
,nght result from srrrndcrHg his position, had not
n feathers weight with hm. No man was ever less
subirct 90 such influences from WI hin or from with
out But a(tcrmO,t anxious dcAbeTatlon and the
believed that the irne prcroIatycS of the Executive
were involved ~ the issue which had been raised,
aud that he would be uniathtul 10 his supreme OBJ
LEGATION if he failed to maintain, IN all their Ylgor,
the constitutional rights and dlgnlieS ot hls great
Office lie believed this in al t. q convictions OF
conscience when III sound ana vigorous health, a9d
he believed in his suffering and proNra ION IN the
last conscious thought which his WetrIcd mud be-
slowed ON the tranSitOry struggles of life.
More than this need not be SAID Less than this
could not he said. Justice to tie dead. the highest
obligation that d'volvcs upon the uIlng, demands
the declaration that in all the bearings of the sub
icct actual or possible. the President content in
his mind Stlie1 III his conscience, lmin0VaDle In
his conclusions.
GARFIELD AS 4 CHRISTIAN.
The religious element in Garield's character was
deep ard earnest. In his early youth he eSpOuSed
th faith Of the Disciples. sect of that great Bap
fist Communion, which in different ecclesiastical
establishments is so numerous and so influential
throughout all parts of the United States. But the
broadening tendency of his mind and his active
spirit of inquiry were early apparent and carried
him beyond the dogmas of sect and the restraints
of association. In selecting a college in which to
continue hi, education he rejected Bethany, though
presided over by Alexander Campbell, the greatest
preacher of his church. His reasons character
istc first that Bethany leaned too heavily toward
slavery; and second. that being himself a Disciple
and the son of Disciple parents he had little ac-
ouaintance with the people of other beliefs and he
thought it would make him more liberal, quoting
his own words, both in his religious and moral
views. TO 20 into new circle and he under new in
tlucnces
The LIBERAL tendency which he anticipated as the
result of wider culture was fully realized He
emancipated from mere sectarian belief. and with
eager interest pushed his investigations in the d-
rection of modern progressive thought. lie followed
with quickening step in the paths of exploration
and speculation so fearlessly trOdden by Darwin, by
Huxley by Tyndall, and by other living scientists
of the radical and advanced type His own church,
binding its disciples by formulated creed but
ccpting the Old and New Tes aments as the word Of
God with lsed liberty of pryate iuterpretatio