New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-03-08

deeply impressed upon his mind since
his accession to the Presidency. Had
he lived, a comprehensive Improvement
in the mode of appointment and in the
tenure of Office would have been pro-
posed by him, and, with the aid of Con-
gress, 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 talent of high order. He grasped
the helm Of Office with the hand of a
master. In this respect, indeed he con-
stantly surprised many who were not
most intimately associated with him in
the Government, and especially those
who feared he might be lacking in the
executive faculty. His disposition of
business was orderly and rapid; his
power of analysis and his skill in CLASH
ication enabled him to dispatch vast
mass of detail with singular promptness
and ease; his Cabinet meetings were adj
mirably conducted; his clear presenta-
ton of official subjects, his wefl-consid-
cred suggestions of topics on which dis
cussiOn was invited, his quick decision
when all had heard, combined to show a
thorOughness of mental training as rare
as his natural ability and his facile adap-
tation to a new and enlarged field Of
labor.
WITH PERFECT COMPREHENSION
of all the inheritances of the War, with
cool calculation of the obstacles in the
way, impelled always by a generous en-
thusiasm, 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 endeavOred to arrange for
q trip to Nashville, whittier he had been
cordially invited, and he was again dis
appointed few weeks after to find he
could not 60 to South Carolina to attend
the centennial commemoratiOn of the
victory of Cowpens; but for the autumn,
he definitely counted on being 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. 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 he
needed. At Yorktown he would have
before him
THE ASSOCIATIONS OF A HUNDRED
YEARS
that bound the South and the North in
the sacred memory Of a common danger
and common victory; at Atlanta he
would present the material interests and
the industrial development which ap-
pealed to the thrift and independence
of every household, and which should
unite the two sections by the instinct of
self-interest and self defence. At Chat
tanOOga, he would revive memories of
War only to show that, after ali its dis
aster and all it's suffering, the country
was stronger and greater, the Union
rendered indissoluble, and the future.
through the agony and blood of one
generation, made brighter and better
for all. Garield's ambition for
THE SUCCESS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION
was high. With strong caution 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 that
renewed and closer attention should be
given to questions affecting the mater
ial interests and commercial prosperity
of fifty million people. He believed
that our continental relations, extern
sive and undeveloped as they are, in
volved responsibility, and could be cul-
tlvated in profitable friendship, or be
abandoned to harmful indifference or
lasting enmity. He believed with equal
confidence that an essential fOre-runner
70 a new era of National progress must
be feeling of c0ntentment in every Sec
ton of the Union, and a general belief
that
THE BENEFITS AND BURDENS OF Gov
EMINENT
would be common to all. Himself a
conspicuous illustration of what ability
and ambition may do under republican
institutions, he loved his country with
a passion of patriotic devotion, and ev-
cry 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 philosophical compOs-
ure of Jefferson and the demOnstrative
confidence of John Adams.
DISTURBING POLITICAL ELEMENTS
The political events which disturbed
the Presidents serenity for many weeks
before that Hateful day in July form an
important chapter in his career, and in
his own Judgment involved matters of
principle and of right which are vitality
essential to the constitutional admins
trati0n of the Federal Government. It
would be out of place here and now to
speak the language of controversy, but
the events referred to, however they may
continue to be the source of contention
with others, have become, SO far as Gar
field is concerned, as much a matter of
history as his herOism at Chickamauga
or his lllustriOus service in the House.
Detail is not needed full and personal.
Antagonism shall not be rekindled by
any word uttered to-day.
THE MOTIVES OF THOSE OPPOSING HIM
nor their course harshly characterized.
but Of the dead President this is to be
said, and said because his own speech
is forever silenced, and he can be no
more heard except through the fidelity
a and the love OF surviving friends. From
the beginning to the end of the contro-
was never for one moment actuated BY
motives of gain to himself or loss to
others. Least of all did he harbor re-
venge; rarely did he ever show resent
ment; and malice was not in his nature.
He was congenially employed only in
the exchange of good offices and the do
ing of kindly deeds. There was not an
hour from the beginning of the trouble
until the fatal shot entered his body
when the President would not gladly
FOT THE SAKE OF RESTORING HARMONY
have retraced any step he had taken, il
such retracing had merely involved con-
sequences personal to himself. The
pride Of consistency, or any supposed
sense Of humiliation that might result
from surrendering his position, had not
q feathers weight with him. No man
was less subject to such influences from
within OF without; but after most anx-
ious deliberation and the coolest survey
9! az c:ir e he .solemnly believ.