Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-27
LANCASTER DAILY INTEIGENCER FEBRUARY q 1882

evidence of white mans habitatlon De-
.ween it and the settlements on the rivers
Of Canada. Its remains still exist. l
make to it an annual visit. | carry my
children to it to teach them the harGships
endured By the generations which have
gone before them. I love to dwell on the
tender recollections, the kindred ties, the
early affections, and the touching narra-
tives aud incidents which mingle with all
l know Of this primitive family abode
With the requisite change Of scene the
same words would aptly portray the early
days of Garfield. The poverty of the
frontier, where all are engaged in COM
mon struggle and where common SYM
pathy and hearty cooperation tighten the
burdens of earth, is very different
poverty, different in kind, different i'll in
tiuence and effect, from that conscious and
Indulgence which is every day
forced TO contrast itself with neighboring
wealth on which it feels sense OF grind
ing dependence. The poverty of the from
tier il, indeed no poverty. 1t is but the
beginning Of wealth, and has the bound
less possibilities Of the future always open
ing before it. No man ever grew up in
the agricultural regions of the West where
house-raising, Or even corn-husklns, Is
matter of common interest and helpfulness,
with any other feeling than that Of broad
minded, generous independence. This
honorable independence marked the youth
of Garfield as it marks the youth OF mil
lions of the best blood and brain now
training for the future citizenship and flu
ture government of the republic. Garfield
was born heir to land, to the title Of free
holder which has been the patent and pass
port of self respect with the Anglo-Saxon
race ever since Hengist and Horsa landed
on the shores Of England. His adventure
on the canal-an alternative between that
and the deck of a Lake Erie schooner
was a farmer boys device for earning
money, Just as the New England lad be
gins possibly great career by sailing
before the mast on Z cOastinS vessel or On
a merchantmen bound to the farther India
or to the China Seas.
No manly man feels anything of shame
in looking back to early struggles with
adverse circumstances, and no man feels
a wor.hier pride than when no has con
quered the obstacle to his progress. But
no o.,o of noble mould desires to be looked
upon as having been rcprcssed by feeling
of iuferiority, or Of having suffered the
evils Of poverty until relief was found at
the hands of charity. General Garfield S
youth presented no hardships which fam
lily love and family energy did not over
come subjected him to no priyations
which lie did not cheerfully accept, and
left no memories save those which were
recalled with delight, and transmitted
with profit and with pride.
Garfield S early opportunities for sscur'
ing an education were extremely limited,
II nlAY. in Ia m
an intense desire to learn. He could read
at three years of age, and each winter he
had the advantage of the district school,!
lie read all the books to be found within
the circle of his acquaintance some o1
them he got by heart. While yet in
childhood he was a constant student of the
| Bible. and became familiar with it's litera
ture. The dignity and carnestness Of his
| speech in his n.atrrer life gave evidence
of this early training At eighteen year.
of are he was able to teach school, anC
thenceforward his ambition was to obtair
a college education. TO this end he ben
all his efforts, working in the harves
field, at the carpeatcr's bench, and, in TIL
winter season, teaching the common
schools of the neighborhood. While thu
| labociously occupied he found time t.
prosecute his studies. and was SO success
| full that ut twenty-five years Of age he wa
able to enter the junior class at William
college, then under the presidency OF til
venerable and honored Mark Hopkins
who, in the fullness of his powers, survive
the eminent pupil to whom he was Of il
estimable service.
The history Of GarfielIs life to this per
iod. presents no novel features. He ha'
undoubtedly shown perseverance, sell
reliance, seif-sacriiice and ambition-qnal
tiles which, be it said for tho honor Of on
country. are everywhere to be !Oln
among the young men of America. Bu
from the hour of his graduation at VII
liams onward, to the hour of his tragicS
death. Gariield's career was eminent ant
exceptional. Slowly working through hi
educational period, receiving his diplom
when twenty four years OF age. he secme
at ono bound to spring into conspicuou
and brilliant success. Within six years b
was successively president of college
state senator from Ohio. ma jor genera!
the army Of the United States, and reE
resentatiyc-elect to the national Congress
A combination Of honors so varied, SO eli
waited, within Il period brief and to a M,
SO young, is without. precedent OF para'l"
in the history of the country.
Mr.. Blaine then passed into review 1
Mr.. Garfield's military career, and h
services in Congress. Ofhis character an
performance as fepresen:ive he said j
There is no test OF man
ability in any department Of publ
life more severe than service
the House of Representatives, ther, is II
place where so little Difference is paid
reputation previously acquired, or
eminence won outside no place where :
little consideration is shown for the fee
ings or the failures Of beginners. What
man gains in the House he gains by "hct
force of his own character, aad ii he lose
and falls back he must expect M mercy
and will receive no sympathy. 1t is fiel
in which the survival of the strongest
the recognized rule, and where no pretens
can deceive and no glamour can mislcat
The real man is discovered, his worth
impartiaily weighed, his raak is irreversib'
decreed.
With possibly /; single exception Ga
field was the youngest member III IL
House when he entered, and was but seve
!. years from his college graduation b:
he had not been in his seat sixty day
before his ability was recognized and Ii
place conceded. He stepped to the fror
with the confidence Of one who belongc
thcre. The House was crowded wit
strong men Of both parties; nineteen {
them have since been transferred to I'll
Senate, and many Of them have serve
with distinction in the gubernatori;
chairs of their respective states, and
r foreign missions of great consequence
. but among them all none grew SO rapidly
none so firmly as Garfield. AS is said b
Tevelyan of his parliamentary hero, Ga