New-York tribune., 1882-02-28
TIE G4RFJELD NEVORI1L.

The part of Mr. Blaincs mastery Grafton
on Garfield to which all eyes will first
turn is that in which the late head of
the Cabinet deals with the policy of his muir
dered Chief and the antagonisms it provoked.
Mr.. Blaine has disappointed his enemies and
gratifed the Country by the admirable precision
and equally admirable reserve with which,
under the difficult circumstances, as the spOkes-
man of Congress, he touched this delicate
ground. We detach the passage, and ask tOr
it the special attention of every reader:
The political events which disturbed the Presidents
serenity for many weeks before fateul day in July
form an important chapter in his career, and in his own
Judgment involved questions of principle and d right
which are vitally essential to the constitutional admin
istratiOn of the Federal Government. 1t would be
out OF place here and now to speak the language
Of controversy; but the events referred to, how
ever they NAV continue be OF contention with
Others have become, far Garfield is concerned AS
matter of history as his heroism at Chlckamauga
OF his illusriOus service in the House. Detail IL lot
needfu and personal antagonism shall not be rekndled
by any word uttered to-day. The motives of those oTe
posing him to be here adversely Interpreted nor
their course harshly characterized. But of the
dead President this is to be said, aud said be-
cause his speech is forever scnced and he can be
no more heard except through the fidelity and love Of
surviving friends From the beginning to the end of
never moment actuated by any motive OF gain to
himself loss to others Least OF all men did he harbOr
revenge rarely did he even show resentment and malice
was not in his nature He congenially employed
only in the exchange OF good offices and the doing OF
kindly deeds
There was not an hour, from the beginning of the
trouble till the fatal entered his body, when the
President would not gladly, for the sake Of restoring
harmony retraeed any step he had taken II such
tracing had merely involved consequences personal TO
himself. The pride OF consistency, or any supposed
sense of humiliation that might result from surTendering
his position, had not feathers weight with him. No
man was ever less subject to such influences
from within from without. But after
most anxious deliberaton, and the coolest survey
Of all the circumstances, he sOlemnly believed
that the true prerogatives OF the Executive were In
voved in the issue which had been raised and that he
would be unfahfu TO his supreme obligation if he failed
to maintain in all their vigor the constitutional rights
and dignies Of his great office. He believed this in all
the convictions of conscience when in sound and vgor
ous health and he believed 1t in his suffering and pros
raon in the last conscious thought which his wearied
mind bestowed on the transitory struggles of life
More than this need be said. Less than this could
be said Justice to the dead,the highest obligation that
devolves upon the living demands the declaration that
in all the bearings Of the subject, actual possible the
President was content in his mind, justified in his
science, immovable in his conclusions.
true-needful to be uttered, and deserving to
be kept constantly in mind during the political
agitations that are impending.
In its other features, Mr. Blaines Grafton
will he generally admired. 1t is moderate
and discriminating; it gives an estimate
of GaIfeld's powers and work very likely
to be accepted as the historical portrait;
and it places him i'll just comparison with
and relation to some of the greatest
of our historical figures. The manly
statement rs to the nature of Garfeld's
early poverty what it did and did not
imply, was needed to correct the sensa-
tional exaggcrations Of the stump. His rapid
advancement is well summarized in the state
ment that within six years he had been
successivcly president of a college, State
Senator Of Ohio, Major-General of the
Army of the United States and Repre-
sentative elect to Congress - a combi
nation of honors so varied, so elevated,
within a period so brief and TO a man SO
young without precedent or parallel in
the country. The analysis of Garfleld's strength
in the House, and the denial to him Of the