The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-07-25
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.


master General James. 1t was delivered
at one Of the recent meetings connected
with, the commencement exercises of
Madison University.
For the kind allusion of the President
of the day to my connection with Pres-
dent Garfield | am deeply grateful. ]
trust shall not be violating the proprie-
ties of the occasion by saying a few words
with reference TO him. 1t is quite com
mon 10 hear the expression that Garfield
died at the right time for his own fame
that had he lived his Administration
would have been failure and have been
wrecked before the close of his term.
God alone knows what might have trans
pired il the martyr President had lived.
The true way to forecast the future is by
the light of the past, and for a moment
let US see what Garfield proposed to do,
and what he really did. On the 18th of
March, in his inaugural address, he out
lined the policy of his administration in
this wise purity of elections, free bal
lot, and an honest count; return TO the
vigorous and decided foreign policy of
our fathers the refunding of the national
debt at a lower rate of interest without
compelling the withdrawal of the national
bank notes and thus disturbing the bust
ness Of the country proper protection to
our manufacturing, mechanical and agri-
cultural industries reform in the civil
ssrvice. To use his own language
sActing always within the authority and
limitations of the Constitution, invading
neither the rights of the States nor the re-
served rights of the people, it shall be the
purpose of my Administration to main
tain the authority of the Nation in all
places within its jurisdiction to enforce
obedience to all the laws of the Union in
the interests of the people to demand
rigid economy in all the expenditures of
the Government and to require the hon
est and faithful service OF all executive
officers, remembering that the Offices
were created, not for the benefit of in
cumbents or their supporters, but for the
service of the Government.
For the fulfillment of this policy Gen.
Garfield unswervingly labored. lie in
stantly grappled with the question of our
national finance, and scarcely month
had interviewed before success had crown
ed his efforts. BY the refnnding of the
public debt $4,000 900 annually was
saved. His earnest efforts to restore the
lost prestige of American influence within
its legitimate sphere, to unity and consoli-
date the interests of our sister republics
on this continent and to promote peace
and harmony among them, will long be
remembered. His struggle for the eeya-
ton and redemption of the public service,
and his bloody sacrifice to the extreme
and lawless spirit of the spoils system,
did more to awaken the people to the full
measure and determination of truo civil
service reform than 90 years of teaching.
By Congressional enactment il is now the
law of the land That economy in the
conduct OF public affairs which he de-
manded was carried out by his express
direction, and in the Post Office Depart
ment alone saving of more than Sc, 000,-
900 was effected, making that branch Of
the public service sef-supporting and pay
ing the way for cheaper postage. He
waged a relentless war against corruption
in high places. When his Attorney Gen
eral and Enthusiastically presented to
him the tabulated statements of an iniqu-
ty which rivals those of Rome under the
Proconsuls and of France under the En-
,nirn. with a ennrapa wartliy of tho man,
he said : II have sworn to execute the
laws. ldirect you both to go ahead, re-
gardless where or whom it strikes. -
When Attorney. General MacVeagh felt
compelled by his sense of public duty to
decline to accept Cabinet portfolio
from President Gariield's successor, he
wrote memorable letter to the President
giving his reasons for his action. lie
knew very well that many of his country
men would misunderstood his course.
bat he knew he was right aud now his
letter, which was only prophecy when it
was written, is part of the history of tie
country President Garfield represented
the highest type of public life, and
throughout his whole career he relied,
not upon the methods of brute force and
deception in politics, but upon the princi
pies of fright and upon the unerring APP
peal to the intelligence and patriotism of
the people. When we consider that all
this was done between the 4th of March
and the I'd of July, not forgetting that he
had scarcely a moment to himself, worn
with official cares, run down with the
opportunities of oflice-seekers his mind
distracted by the sickness of his aged
mother, and later on by the dangerous i'll
ness of his devoted wife, am | not justi-
fled in the assertion that, had he been
spared, his Administration would have
been one of the most illustrious in our
annals? The time has not yet come for
the history of his life and his short Ad-
ministration to be written but in the
future, when the jealousles and hatreds
of the present have passed away; when
the bitterness of partisan spirit shall have
slbsided when the mists that now OBJ
scure the vision shall have been dispelled
aud this great statesman and his deeds
stand forth in all their majestic proper
tions, the historian will tendery speak of
this typical American-the story of whose
early struggles and triumphs for higher
education will animate the heart of every
student laboring for similar advancement /;
whose career as a citizen. soldier is secure
so long as Chickamanga stands whose
speeches in tho Honse of Representatives
during the darkest days of the Republic
proclaim him one of the foremost states
men OF his age. Not only will he rank as
one of the great figures in our national
life, but he will hold still more exalted
place in the hearts of tho people. As he
lay on his dying bed gazing at the broad
Atlantic, listening to the roar of the break
ers, he turned his head and said to his
cherished friend and old classmate
Rockwell, will have place in histo-
ny ?" "Better still, Mr.. President" was
the reply, ''you will have forever q place
in human hearts, And in closing the
record of his grand life, referring to the
persistent and shameless attacks upon his
memory, the historian may say of him MS
our own Motley says of.William the ST.
lent :" an life lie was the polar star Of
great nation, and Mt bis death little child
rem wept for him in the streets.
-- >.-sO-e
Colonel John II. George. New Hamp.
shire barrster, tells good story on him
self. Meeiinn an old farmar ,ncontl,.