Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-03-09
believed


attempted. The magnitude of the work,
which fell upon its successor, was unprece-
deHte both in respect 70 the vast sum OF
money raised for the support of the army
and navy, and ofthe new and extraordinary
powers of legislation which it was forced to
exercise. Onlv twenty-four states were
represented and 1872 members were upon it's
roll. Among these were many distin-
guished party leaders on both sides veter-
ans in the pu bic service, with established
regulations for ability, aud with that skill
whicn comes ONLY from parliamentary ex-
periecce. Into this assemblage OF men
Garfield
ENTERED WITHOUT SPECIAL PREPARATION,
ana 1t might almost be said unexpectedly.
The question of taking command OF d.
vision of troops under General Thomas,
or taking his seat in congress, was KEEP,
open till the last moment; so late 1ndeeu
that the resignation or his military COM
mission and his appearance IN the mouse
were almost contemDoraneous. de wore
the uniform of a major general OF the
United States army on Saturday, and on
Monday. in a civilians dress, he answered
to the roll call as representative IN con-
gress from the State of Ohio. He was es-
pecially fortunate in the constituency which
elected him descended almost entirely from
New England sIock, the men OF the Ashta-
buia district were intensely radical on all
questions relating to human rights. Well
educated, they were thoroughly
intelligent in affairs, accurately discerning
Of character, not quick to Destow conf
deDce and slow to withdraw it. They
were at once the most healtbful and most
exacting of supporters. Their tenacious
trust in men wnom they have once con-
fred in is illustrated by the unparalleled
fact that Elisha Whittlesey, Joshua r
Giddings and James A. Garfield rep. esented
fh trio for 10
test of a mans ability in any de-
Oartment Of public life more
severe than service in the house OF
representatives,. There is no place where
Sd little difference is paid to reputation pre-
vIOuSlv acquired or TO eminence won out
.i"e. M place where so little consideration
: shown FIR the feelings or failures of be-
.inners What man gains in the house
Pe sslns by sheer force of his own charac-
er, and if he loses or falls back, he must
Xpect no mercy and
WILL RECEIVE NO SYMPATHY.
1t is field in which the survival of the
strongest is the reoOGniZed rule. and where
no pretense an succeed and no glamour
can misead. The real man is discovered,
bus worth is impartially weighed, his rank
is irrevocabiy decided.
With possibly single exception, Mr..
Garfield was the youngest member in the
house when he entered. and was but seven
years from his college graduation. But he
had not been In his seat sixty DAYS before
MS ability was recognized ahd his place
conceded. He stepped 60 the front with
the confidence of a man who belonged
there. The house was crowded with strong
men OF both parties, Nineteen of them
nave since ueen transferred to the senate
snd many of them have served with dis
hnction In the gubernatorial chairs of their
respective states, and on foreign missions
OF great consequence. But, among
all. none grew so rapidly, none
20 firmly as Garfield. As said of Trevelya1,
his parliamentary hero, Garfield succeeded
because all the world in concert could not
have Kept him in the background, and be-
cause when once in the front he played his
part with prompt intrepidity and a COM
mandlng cast, that were but the outward
symptoms of the immense reserves of en-
ergy, from which it was in his power to
draw. Indeed, the apparently reserve force
which Garfield possessed was one of mis-
great characteristics. He never did so well
but that 1t seemed he coulI easily have
done better. He never expended so much
strength but that he seemed to he holding
ADDITIONAL POWER AT CALL.
tbs IS one OF the happiest aud Iarest dis
tInctons OF an effective leader, and often
counts for as much in persaading an assem-
DIV as the eloquent aud elaborate argu-
meDt WHICH distinguished his service in
the house of representatives. HIS military
life, illustrated by honorable Performance,
aon rich IN promise, was, as he himself felt,
prtmatureiy termi mated aud necessarily in
complete. Speculation as to what he
might have done in field where the great
prizes are so few can not be profitable It.
IS sufficient to say that as soldier he did
bis duty pravely, he did it inte'ligently-
he won an enviabe fame, and he retired
m 70 rrSn l. IL
against him.
Garfield as a Leader.
AS lawyer, though admirably equipped
for the profession, he can scarcely tie said
to have entered on its practice. The few
efforts be made at the bar were distinguish
I'd by the same high order of talent which
he exhibited on every field where he was
put To the test, and If a man NAV be az
cepted as competent judge of his own ca
paclues and adaptations. the law was the
profession to which Garfield should have
devoted himself. But fate ordained other
wise, and his reputation in history will
rest largely upen his service in the house
of representatives. That service was ex-
ceptlonally long. He was nine times con-
secutlvely chosen to the house, an honor
enjoyed by not more than six other repre-
sentativcs of the more than five thousand
who have been elected from the orgauiza-
1iOn Vi IuS HONcIHucuL 10 luis 0OQf.
As parliamentary orator. as a debater
on an issue squsrely Joined, where the po-
sition had been chosen and the ground
laid out, Garfield must be assigned yerv
high rank. More, perhaps, than any man
With whom he was associated in public
life, be gave careful and systematic study
TO public questions, and he came to every
discussion In which he took part, with
elaborate and complete preparation. He
was a steady and indef4tigable wo-ker
Those who imagine that talent or genius
can supply the place or achieve the result Is
OF labor will find no encouragement in
Garfield's life. In preliminary work he
was apt, rapid and skiIlful. He possessed
in a high degree the power OF readily ab-
sOrbIng ideas and facts, and like DR.. John
sou, had the art of getting from hook all
that was of value in it by reading appar-
emily so quick and cursory that it seemed
like a mere glance at the table of contents.
he was a permanently fair and candid
man in debate, took no petty advantage
stopped to no unworthy methods, avoided
personall illusions, rarely appealed to pre-
JUDGE, did not
sEKK TO INFLAME PASSION,
III a hoA 10 iolya g. v1r1fv.