The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-01-22
JAMES A. GARFIELD
The Second President
Who Was Assassinated.
Encyclopedia Feature srrvic.

way through the Electric Institute
ut Hiram, Ohio, NOW known as
Hiram College), by farm laboring and
carpentering. When he was ready
to enter college, his choice fell on
Williams College. because its presi-
dent was the celebrated Mark Hop
xins. for whom Garfield had the
greatest admiration. Garfield used
to say, "A log with a student at
one end and Mark Hopkins at the
other is my ideal college," He was
graduated from Williams in 1855.
College Head at &c
When Garfield became at the age
of 26, president OF the Ohio College.
where he had taken his preliminary
work, he proved himself teacher
of the same type as Mark Hopkins
a man Of unbounded zest for truth.
limitless curiosity, and intense In
terest in his pupils. Had he re-
manned in this work, he would doubt
less have become one Of the coun-
try's greatest educators.
Garheld's rise was rapid Within
six years after his graduation, he
had been made president Of Hiram
College. Ohio state Senator, major
general in the United States Army,
and representatives to the
United States Congress- A more
rapid rise than this has been made
by no American statesman, and the
variety of the positions shows that
he himself practiced his advice to
young men, to "be fit for more than
the one thing you are now doing"
While teaching at Hiram College,
Garfield studied law; and from the
time Of his admittance to the bar
in 1859, until his death. he was con.
tinualy engaged in politics, with the
exception OF the two years that he
served in the field in the Civll War.
Was Major General
Though he was brave soldier, and
in 1858 was commissioned major.gen-
eral for his bravery at the battle OF
Chickamauga, President MLincoln
thought Garfield would be OF greater
use to his country in Congress. So
he resigned his commission, in De
cember, 1868, and took the seat in
the House OF Representatives, to
which he had been elected the year
before. There he made himslf es-
pecially useful in the committees on
military affairs and on finance. He
served for seventeen years in the
House-until his election in 1880 TO
the Senate from Ohio; and 1t has
been said that his speeches in Con-
gress give a connected history of
the times Garfield was an impress
sive orator. because hehad a power
full voice, great personal magnetism,
and a straightforward style OF adj
dress which aroused enthusiasm and
carried conviction.
The triumph of-his political career
came when he unexpectedly received
the Republican nomination for the
presidency in 1880. The party was
divided that year into two factions
the "stalwarts." who wished Grant
to be nominated for a third term,
and the half breeds" who opposed
Grant and for the most part favored
James G. Blaine. Neither side would
yield. and after a long fight they
compromised on James A. Garfield.
a dark horse" Because Garfield
was a "half-breed," Chester A. Ar
thur, uncompromising "stalwart, y
was made the candidate for the vice
presidency.
In the campaign which followed,
Garfield spoke in his own behalf,
the first time that a presidential
candidate had thus appeared before
the people. His was VIGOROUSLY
the overwhelming vote OF PA cleo
toral votes to 155 given to General
Hancock. the Democratic candidate.
Garfield never had chance to
show his ability as chief executive
of the country. Four months after
mis- Inauguration he was snot by
Charles Guiteau, disappointed
office seeker.
The day Of the tragedy was to have
been a redletter day in the presi-
dents life. He was on his way
back to his beloved college, Williams.
from which he had been graduated
twenty-five years before, to join in
the reunion of his classmates. The
assassin's bullet struck him down
as he was walking through the rail.
way station in Washington to his
train. Garfield fingered between
life and death for weeks and finally
died Sept. 10. 1881. lie WAS the
twentieth president OF the United
States, the second who was assas.
sinated, and the fourth to die while
in office,