The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-03

Win deepest scOfn the mass OF that conquer
lng column which had swept over the land in
1910, and drove bis administration TO seek
shelter behind the lines OF his political foes.
Dir. Douglas achieved a victory scarcely less
wonderful when, in 1854, against the secret
desires OF strong administration, against the
wise counsel OF the older chefs, against the
conservative instincts and even the moral sense
OF the country, ho forced reluctant Congress
into repeal of the Missouri compromise. Mr..
1haddeus Stevens, III his contest from 1865 10
1868, actually advanced his paillam entary lead
ership until Congress tied the hands OF the
President and governed the country by its own
will, leaving only perfunctory dnties 90 be- DIS
charged by the Executive. With 5000, 1900
OF patronage in his hands at the opening
OF the contest, aided by the active fierce OF Sew
ard in the Cabinet and the moral power OF
Chase on the bench, Andrew Johnson could
not command the support OF one-third In either
house against the parliamentary uprising OF
which Thaddons Stevens was the animsting
spirit and the unquest;oued leader. Fiom
these three great men CART Id differed radi-
cally-difered in the quality OF his mind, In
temperament, in the form and phase of am
btion He could not do what they did, but he
could do what they could not, and in the
breadth Of his Congressional work he left that
which will long exert potential influence
among men, and which, measured by the Sc
we're test OF pOsthumous criticism, will secure
more enduring and more enviable fame.
Those unfamiliar with Garfield's industry and
ignorant or the details OF his work may in some
degree measure them by the annals of Con-
gress. No one of TIE generation OF pubic
men to which he belonged has contributed 30
much that will be valuable for future refer
ence His speeches are numerous, many OF them
brilliant, all of them well studied, carefully
phraseI and exhaustive of the subject under
consideration Collected from the scattered
pages of ninety ROYAL octave volumes OF Con-
JresstOadt Rec rdS, they would present an IN
valuable compendium of the politi ,al history OF
the most important era through which the ma
Gonal Government has ever passed. When tho
history OF this period shall be impartially writ
ten, when war legislation, measures of recon-
struction, protection of human rights, amend
ments 10 the constitution, maintenance of pub
lie credit steps toward specie resumption, true
theories of revenue may be reviewed unsur-
rounded by prejudice and disconnected from
psrtisanism, the speeches Of Garfield will be
estimated at their true value, and will
be found to comprise vast magazine
OF fact and argument, Of clear analysis and
sound conclusion Indeed, If no other authority
were accessible his speeotes in the House Of
Representatives from December, 1863 to june
1882 would give well-connected history and
complete defense OF the important legislation
of the seventeen eventful wears that constitute
his parliamentary life. Far beyond that his
speeches would be found 10 forecast many
great measures vet TO be completed -measures
which he knew were beyond the public opinion
of the hour, but which he confidently believed
would secure popular approval within the pc
Rod OF his own lifetime. and by the aid OF his
own efforts. Differing as Garfield did from
the brilliant parliamentary leaders at is not
easy to find his counterpart anywhere IN the
record of American public life He perhaps
more nearly resembed Mr.. Seward in his SUI
preme faith in the all-conquerng power of
principle. He had the love OF learning and the
patient industry OF investigation to which John
Adams owes his prominence and his Presidency.
He had some OF those ponderous clements of
mind which distinguished Mr.. Webster and
which indeed III all our public life have left the
great Massachusetts Senator without an intel
lectual peer. In English parliamentary history
as IN our own the leaders In the House OF Com
mons present points OF essential difference
from Garfield. But some of his methods recall
the best features in the strong, independent
course of Sir Robert Peel, and striking
resemblances are discelnible in that most
promising of modern Conservatives who died
too early for his country and his fame, Lord
George Bentick. He had all of Burke's love
for the sublime and the beautiful with possi-
bly, something of his superabundance, and in
his faith and i'll his magnanimty, III his power
of statement in his subtle analysis, in his
faultess logic in his love of literature, in his
wealth and world Of illustration, one is re-
minded Of that great EngliSh statesman OF to-
day, who confronted with obstacles that would
daunt any but the dauntess, reviled by those
whose supposed rights he is forced to invade,
STILL labors with serene courage for the amelio-
ration of Ireland and for the honor Of the
English name.
Garield's nomination to the Presidency while
not predicted or anticipated, was not u surprise
10 me country. His prominence in Congress,
his solid qualities, his wide reputation. strength
ened bv hls then recent election as Senator
from Ono. kept him i'll the public eye as man
occupying the very highest range among those
entitled To be called statesmen. 1t WAS not
mere chance that brought him this high honor.
We must" says Mr.. Emerson. "reckon sue
cess constitutional trait. II Eric is i'll robust
health and has slept well, and Is at the top OF
bis condition and 80 years old at his departure
from Gfeenwald, lie will steer west and his ship
will reach Newfoundland But take Eric and
put in stronger and holder man, and the ships
will sail 600. 1000, 1000 miles farther and
reach Labrador and New England. There is no
chance Ill results"
As candidate Garfield steadily grew in pop
ular favor. He was met with storm OF
detractlon at the very hour OF his nomination.
and it continued with increasing volume and
momentum until the close OF his victorious
campais N. No might nor greatness in mortal
lty can censure escape, bick-woundinS calumny
the whtest virtue strikes What King SO
strong can tie the gall up in the slanderous
tongue? Under II all he was cain, and strong,
ana confident, never lost his self-posse5son
did no unwiSe act, spoke no nasty or lll-con-
sidered word. Indeed, nothing III his whole life
is more remarkable or more credltable than his
bearing through those five full months Of vitu-
peratlon--a prolonged agony of trial to sem
sitive man, a constant and cruel draft upon
the powers of moral endurance. The great
mass of these unjust imputations pissed UNI
noticed, and, with the general debris of the
campaign, fell into oblivion. But in n few in
stances the iron entered his soul, and he died
with the injury unforgotten If not unfor-
given. One aspect of Garfields candidacy
was unprecedented. Never before in the his
tory of partisan contests in this country had
successful Presidential candidate spoken freely
On passing events and current issues. To at
tempt anything of the kind seemed novel,
rash and even desperate. The older class OF
voters recalled the unfortunate Alabama
letter in which Mr.. Clay was supposed
to have signed his political death-warrant. They
remembered also the hot tempered effusion by
which Gen. Scott lost large share OF his popu-
larity before his nomination. and the unfortun-
ate speeches which rapidly consumed the
remainder. The younger voters had seen Mr..
Greeley in series of vigorous and original
addresses preparing the pathway for his own
defeat. Unmndful Of these warnings. I'M
needing the advice of friends, Garfield spoke to
large crowds, az he journeyed to and from New
York III August, to great multitude in that