Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-13
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.
Some Personal "Reminiscences.
Nelo York Trilnne.

NeJC York Tribune.
1t Is impossible to measure men accu-
rately. The man of the largest experiences
makes the widest mistakes. The last
time ever visited Garfield in a private
capacity was about six weeks or two
months before the Chicago Convention. I
arrived IN Washington aud it occurred
70 me TO 20 up and see him at his
house at the corner Of Franklin
square. He came into the parlOr with
his hat in his hand. said |: 81 see
YOU are going out" yes" he re-
piled, " have to 90 to execute a commits
sion for constituent this morning. Walk
along with me-" We went up the side of
Franklin square, and when we got TO the
corner of | street and Fourteenth he
turned to the north. Said 1: Il will 20
no further; whom Will the Republicans
nominated 80 don't know he replied:
" some say Grant some say Blaine, some
say sherman d" some say Garfield"
said l. q" don't know" Garfield REPLIED.
" stranger things than that have hap
pened.' We shook hands and separated
\ man was sitting by me not long AGO
who had received fayOrs from General
Garfield. and third party having some
thing to say to the prejudice of the dead
President my acquaintance seemed 10
hesitate, and finally acquiesced with his
patrons enemy. | thought 10 myself
how weak we are to die, The moment
we die. in the words Of Shakespeare. the
evil that we have done lives after us.
Then little incident arose in nv mind
as true as these lines which YOU read. |
was at Garfield's house a year or two be-
fore he was made the Presidential candi-
date. He said TO me; "Friend. there is
one thing find | cannot do. and that is
to keep alive my rcsentmcnts."
use the word friend in order to
be nondescript. He came forward
then and slapped me on the
knee. He was not a familiar man.
be cause had been more than ten wears
making his acquaintance and he had only
begun To slap me on the knee the wear
before he died. Said /: ''FOr instance.
General:' said he: There was one man
/ thought l never ought to forgive; that
my self-rcspect would not permit it. You
remember" said he, ''COl. Crinklewin-
kle:' VERY well, General" said /. He
abused me-" resumed Garfield, $50 Outra-
geOusly, considering my past relations
with him, that | thought my pride would
never allow me to speak to him again.
But | was going down the street few
weeks ago when | saw him turn the cor
ner, coming towards me. | stitfened
my spine and said: Il will now
pass that man without recognition
But the resolution only kept up till ar
rived just opposite him. | found it was
not in my heart to pass him. An irresisti-
bic impulse came to me to wheel on my
heel. and I said: Wrinkle, YOU old scoun-
drel, how are your" | said to him:
General, you let men of that kind plav
with you too much" said he: Il cannot
remember injuries" One morning the
news came to me that he was shot bv a
coward. the same coward getting his in
spiratiOH from political desperadoes. |
thought TO myself: forgiveness is some
times Weakness"
The next place where l saw Garfield
was in the Pacific Hotel at Chicago,
moving with some of the Ohio delegates
l was impressed with his cOuntenance,
which was as weak as that of man
about to deliver a lecture or a graduating
speech at college. | shook hands with him,
and being myself in very worldly Occu-
patton, | remarked in dispatch | sent
that night from Chicago: Il have seen
Garfield. His face is like iube-juDe PASTE"
1t was very easy to write those words,
but little while atterward | would have
given very much to recall them. | passed
through the various scenes of that con-
ventiOn. ] saw Garfield come in every
day and he applauded. | heard him
nominate sherman in a speech
which attracted the respect of that
convention altogether better than any that
was delivered. Then | saw the deadlock
and finally saw Garfield get the nominal
tiOn and heard him refuse it; then | saw
the banners waving and cOnVerging to-
gether, and what seemed to he impossible
accomplished. Then | saw the campaign
arise, when | thought there was but lit
tie hope for Garfield. and | saw the State
of Name leave the Republican fold, and
IT, seemed to me that everything was gone,
till one morning | awOke and Indiana and
Ohio had become Republican. Then |
felt that destiny was in the breeze. | sat
within five feet of Garfield when he deliv-
cred his inaugural address. | saw Arthur
sitting behind him. mute modest, unim-
portant. Then the fatal shot rang out.