Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-28

ated and often discussed by him, but Whose
magnitude had been more deeply impress
ell upon his mind since his accession 10 the
Presidency. Had he lived, a comprehen,
sive Improvement in the mode of appoint.
menf, and in the tenur of Office, would
have been proposed by him. and with the
aid 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 administra.
tive talentof a higher order. He grlsped the
helm OF office with the hand OF a master.
In this respect, indeed, be constantly sur
priSed many who were most intimately as
sociated with him in the Government, aud
especially those who had feared that he
might be lacking in the executive faculty.
His disposition OF business was orderly
and rapid. His power OF analysis, and his
patch u vast mass of detail with similar
promptness and ease. His Cabinet meet
ings were admirably conducted. His clear
presentation of official subjects. his we'll
considered suggestion of topics on which
discussion was invited, his quick decision
when all had been heard, combined to
show a t~horoughness OF mental training as
rare as his natural ability and his facile
adaptation to q new and enlarged field Of
labor.
With perfect comprehension of all the
inheritances Of the war, with a cool calcu-
lation of the obstacles in his way, impelled
always by a generous enthusiasm. Garfield
conceived that much might be done by his
Administration toward restoring harmony
between the different sections of the
Union. He was anxious to go South and
speak TO the People.
As early as April he had Intellectually en-
deavOred TO arrange for a trip to Nashville,
whittier he had been cordially invited. and
he was again disappointed a few weeks
later 10 lind that he could not 90 to South
Carolina to attend the centennial celebra-
ton Of the victory of the Cowpens. But
for the autumn he definitely counted ON
being present at the three memorial assem-
blles in the South, the celebration at York
town, the opening of the Cotton Exposition
at Atlanta, and the meeting of che Army
of the Cumberland at Chattanooga. He
was already turning over in his mind his
address for each occasion, and the three
taken together. he said to a friend, gave
him the exact scope and verge which he
needed. At Yorktown he would have be-
fore him the associations Of q hundred
years that bound the South and the North
in the sacred memory of a common danger
and 4 common victory. At Atlanta he
would present the material interests and
the industrial development which appealed
to the thrift and independence of every
household, and which should unite the two
sections by the instinct of self-intereSt and
Self.defense. At Chattanooga he would re-
viye the memories of the war only to show
that after allits disaster and all its suffering
the country was stronger and greater, the
Union rendered indissoluble, and the fu-
N.,na NhrAN,-l .,I ILL -
generation, made brighter and better for
all.
Garfield's ambition for the success of his
administration was high. With strong eau
ton and conservatism in his nature, he was
in no danger of attempting rash expert
ments or of resorting to the empiricism of
craftsmanship. But he believed hat re-
newed and closer attention should be given
to questions affecting the material interests
and COMMERCIAL prospects of $1,000, 900 of
people. He believed that our continental
relations, extensive and undeveloped Us
they are, involved responsibility, and could
be cultivated into profitable friendship or
be abandoned to harmful indifference or
lasting ennity. He believed with equal
confidence that an essential iOrerunner
to a new era Of national progress
must be a feeling of content
ment in every section of the Union, and 4
generous belief that the benefits and bur
dens of government would be common to
all. Himself a conspicuous illustration of
what ability and ambition may do under
republican institutions, he loved his coun-
try with a passion OF patriotic devotion,
and every waking thought was given 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 Jetfer-
son and the demonstratiye confidence Of
John Adams.
The political events which disturbed the
Presidents serenity for many weeks before
that fatal day in July, form an important
chapter in his career, and, in his own judg-
ment, involved questions Of principle and
right which are vitality essential to the con-
stitutional administration of the Federal
Government. 1t would be out of place here
and now to speak the language of contro-
yersy; but the events referred to, however
they may continue to be the source Of con-
tention with others. have become, so far as
Garfield is concerned, as much a matter of
history as his heroiSm al. Chickamauga, or
his illuStriOus service in the House. Detail
is not needful, and personal antagOnism
shall not be rekindled by any word uttered
to-day. The motives Of those opposing him
are not to be here adversely inter
preted, nor their course harshly
characterized. But of the dead
President this is to be said, and said be-
cause his own speech is forever silenced
and he can be no more heard except
through the fidelity and the love of Sur-'
viying friends: From the beginning to
the end of the controversy he so much de-
plored, the President was never for one
moment actuated by any motive of gain to
himself or of loss to others. Least OF all
men did he harbor revenge, rarely did he
even show resentment, and malice was not
in his natnre He was congenially EN-
ployed only in the exchange of good
offices and the doing of kindly deeds.
The crowning characteristic of General
Garfe!d's religious opinions, rs, indeed,
Of all his opinions, was his hberality. In
all things he had charity. Tolerance was
of his nature. He respected in others the
qualities which he possessed himself-Sin-
cerity of conviction and frankneSS of eX-
preston. With him the inquiry was not
so much what q man believes, but does he
believe it2 The lines Of his friendship
and his confidence encircled men of every
creed and men of no creed, and to the end
of his life, on his ever-lcngthening list of
friends, were to he found the names OF a
pious Catholic priest and of an honest
minded and generous hearted ~free-thinker.
On the morning OF Saturday, July
second, the President was u contented
and happy man-uot in al ordinary
degree, but joyfully, almost boyishly
happy. On his way to the railroad
station to which he drove slowly, in
conscious enjoyment of the beautiful
morning, with an unwonted sense of
leisure and a keen anticipation of pleas
ure, his talk was all in the grateful and
gratulatOry vein. He felt that after
four months of trial his administration
was strong in its grasp of affairs, strong
in popular favor and destined to grow
stronger; that grave difficulties confront
ing him at his Inauguration had been
safely passed; that trouble lay behind
him and not before him; that he was
o to meet the wife whom he loved,
now recovering from the illness which
had but lately ~disquieted and at times
almost unnerved him; that he was go
ing to his Alma Mater to
renew the most cherished association
of his young manhood, andto exchange
greetings with those whose deepening
interest had followed every step of his
l.