The times., 1899-01-26
SOME NOTIONS OF MIR. HoAR.
His CharactcrizntiOns of Blaine, Gnr-
field. Edmunds, and General Sher-

His Chnractcrizntionso of Blaine. Gnr-
field. Edmunis, and General sher-
r,nn.
From Scribner's Magazne)
l was myself member of the Judiciary
Committee of the House, to whom the in
vestigation was committed. The witnesses
were examined by a subcommittee. But
they were almost daily compelled TO report
the questions which arose for decision TO
the full committee. and the evidence taken
by them was at once printed. | was pres
ent at the examination Of most OF the wit
nesses. so l was very familiar with the case
as it went on. l expected to be charged
with the duty of preparing minority re-
port in case, as was almost certain TO hap
pen. the committee found the charges sus-
tanned. | had no reason, so far as | then
knew, or now know, to be prejudiced or
biased in the matter. Mr. Blaine had
treated me with courtesy during my ser
vice in the House, as he did everybody
He had, as Speaker never assigned to me
any place on committees which was spe-
cially agreeable to me, and had put per-
sons whom | thought less entitled to such
distinction into the chairmanships of the
committees of which | was member. But
he was undoubtedly embarrassed in this
matter by the large number of Representa-
tives from Massachusetts who had been
long in the service. So had no just cause
either for gratitude or for complaint. But
| had expected. if he were nominated al
though these charges had been made pub
lie, to give him my jealous and earnest
support as candidate for the Presidency.
| had. as | have said. occasion to pos
sess myself thoroughly OF the evidence
against Mr.. Blaine when it was produced.
reviewed it carefully during the cam
paign which preceded the election of 1854
| have reconsdered it again more lately.
| did not think at the time. and have
never thought since. that Mr.. Blaine was
guilty either of actual corruption or of i
Willingness to be corrupted. | do not think
he ever sold his official influence, or was
willing to sell his official influence, or ever
received or desired to receive any COM
pensation for any exercise OF his official
influence. or his official power. | think
the spirit and manner in which the
charges against him were pressed and
argued before the people, scarcely, if at
all, less disgraceful than would have been
Mr.. Blaine's own conduct if the charges
l hope that somewhere before l die /
may put on record my estimate OF James
A. Garfield when | can say some things
that cannot be dealt with in a eulogy and
for which there is not room in this es-
say. 1t is the fashion even among his
friends to speak of him as a person timid
if not time-serving, and as easily swayed
and nodded by strong will | have
heard men who knew him very well say
that when he led the House on the Repub-
lican side, and had led his party into a
position which excited sharp conflict they
never could be sure that he would not get
wrong at the last moment or have some
private understanding with the Democrats
and leave his own side in the lurch. This
is attributed TO moral timidity. | feel very
sure that this is a great mistake. Gar
fields hesitation, want of certainty in his
convictions, liability to change his posi-
tion suddenly. were, in my opinion. the
result of intellectual hesitation and of a
habit of going down to the roots of his
subject before he made up his mind He
had great Difference for other mems opiu-
ions.
When. efter he had expressed his opin-
ion. some strong and positive man came
10 him with a confident utterance of a
different opinion. unless Garfield had gone
TO the bottom of the subject himself. he
was very likely 10 defer to hesitate. 10
think himself mistaken. But when he had
had time and had thought the thing out
and made up his mind. nobody and no
| consideration of personal interest or ad-
vantage would stir him an inch. | sup
pose his courage and genius as a soldier
have never been questioned. He per-
formed some very important military ex-
ploits. He gave a thorough investigation
into the military conditions in Tennessee
and Kentucky, and his letter 10 the De
partment of War accomplished n great
deal toward putting things in better way.
He a thorough lover of his country.
He hesitated long as to the doctrine OF
doctrine of protection. and undoubtedly
made some inconsistent utterances before
he took the ground which he held at last
But he studied the financial question, cs-
peCally the great subject of currency. and
He stood like rock when Ohio and the
/ whole West seemed going against him
and when the Craftsmanship even Of John
Sherman was Of the willow and not OF
the oak.
! George F. Edmunds had a high reputa-
tion in the country as an able lawyer and
a faithful and Independent Senator. He
had unquestionably rendered great public
service in the Senate. If elected. l believ5
he would have administered the Presidency
on the principles which large majority OF
the people of Massachusetts held He was
! an excellent debater. He was very fond
of criticising and obiecting to what was
! proposed by other men. He seemed never
so happy as when in opposition TO the ma
| jority of his associates. But he possesse!
what persons of that temper commonly
lack, great capacity for constructive states
manship. Any measure of which he was
the author would be likely to accomplish
its purpose and to stand fire
David Davis. who was President Pre-
! tempore Of the Senate. used to say he
could always compel Edmunds to vote in
the negative on question by putting the
question in the old New England fashion
| Contrary minded will say no., for Ed
munds was always contrary minded.
| once told him. borrowing saying of au
| Englishman. that If George Edmunds were
the only man in the world, George would
! quarrel with Edmunds.