james a garfield had been elected to the united states senate, but he was never a member of that body. before the time came for him to take his seat he had been invested with a higher dignity. never before in our history has the same man been an actual member of the house of representatives, a senator-elect, and president-elect.
on the 8th of june, 1880, the republican convention at chicago selected garfield as their standard-bearer on the thirty-sixth ballot. no one, probably, was more surprised or bewildered than garfield himself, who was a member of the convention, when state after state declared in his favor. in his loyalty to john sherman, of his own state, whom he had set in nomination in an eloquent speech, he tried to avert the result, but in vain. he was known by the friends of other candidates to be thoroughly equipped for the highest office in the people's gift, and he was the second choice of the majority.
inauguration as president of the united states.
inauguration as president of the united states.
mary clemmer, the brilliant washington correspondent, writes of the scene thus: "for days before, many that would not confess it felt that he was the coming man, because of the acclaim of the people whenever garfield appeared. the culminating moment came. other names seemed to sail out of sight like thistledown on the wind, till one (how glowing and living it was) was caught by the galleries, and shout on shout arose with the accumulative force of ascending breakers, till the vast amphitheater was deluged with sounding and resounding acclaim, such as a man could hope would envelope and uplift his name but once in a life-time. and he? there he stood, strong, saxon, fair, debonair, yet white as new snow, and trembling like an aspen. it seemed too much, this sudden storm of applause and enthusiasm for him, the new idol, the coming president; yet who may say that through his exultant, yet trembling heart, that moment shot the presaging pang of distant, yet sure-coming woe?"
senator hoar of massachusetts, who was the president of the convention, in a speech made not long afterward, paid the following just tribute to garfield's character and qualifications:
"think of the qualifications for the office which that man combines. do you want a statesman in the broadest sense? do you demand a successful soldier? do you want a man of more experience in civil affairs? no president of the united states since john quincy adams has begun to bring to the presidential office, when he entered, anything like the experience in statesmanship of gen. garfield. as you look over the list, grant, jackson, and taylor have brought to the position great fame as soldiers, but who since john quincy adams has had such a civil career to look back upon as gen. garfield? since 1864 i can not think of one important question debated in congress or discussed before the great tribunal of the american people in which you can not find the issue stated more clearly and better than by any one else in the speeches in the house of representatives or on the hustings of gen. garfield—firm and resolute, constant in his adherence to what he thinks is right, regardless of popular delusions or the fear that he will become less popular, or be disappointed in his ambitions.
"just remember when republicans and democrats alike of ohio fairly went crazy over the financial heresy, this man stood as with his feet on a rock, demanding honesty in government. about six years ago i sat by the side of an ohio representative, who had an elaborately prepared table, showing how the west was being cheated; that ohio had not as many bank bills to the square mile as the east, and that the southwest was even worse off than ohio.
"in regard to the great questions of human rights he has stood inflexible. the successor of joshua r. giddings, he is the man on whom his mantle may be said to have descended. still he is no blind partisan. the best arguments in favor of civil service reform are found in the speeches of gen. garfield. he is liberal and generous in the treatment of the south, one of the foremost advocates of educational institutions in the south at the national expense. do you wish for that highest type—the volunteer citizen soldier? here is a man who enlisted at the beginning of the war; from a subordinate officer he became a major-general, trusted by those best of commanders, thomas and rosecranz, always in the thickest of the fight, the commander of dangerous and always successful expeditions, and returning home crowned with the laurels of victory. do you wish for an honored career, which in itself is a vindication of the system of the american republic? without the attributes of rank or wealth, he has risen from the humblest to the loftiest position."
when the nominee of the convention had leisure to reflect upon his new position, and then cast his eye back along his past life, beginning with his rustic home in the ohio wilderness, and traced step by step his progress from canal-boy to presidential candidate, it must have seemed to him almost a dream. it was indeed a wonderful illustration of what we claim for our republican institutions, the absolute right of the poorest and humblest, provided he has the requisite talent and industry to aspire to the chief place and the supreme power. "it was the most perfect instance of the resistless strength of a man developed by all the best and purest impulses, forces, and influences of american institutions into becoming their most thorough and ablest embodiment in organic and personal activity, aspiration, and character."
the response to the nomination throughout the country was most hearty. it was felt that the poor ohio canal-boy had fitted himself, after an arduous struggle with poverty, for the high post to which he was likely to be called. the n.y. tribune, whose first choice had been the brilliant son of maine, james g. blaine, welcomed the result of the convention thus:
"from one end of the nation to the other, from distant oregon to texas, from maine to arizona, lightning has informed the country of the nomination yesterday of james a. garfield, as the republican candidate for the presidency.
"never was a nomination made which has been received by friend and foe with such evidence of hearty respect, admiration, and confidence. the applause is universal. even the democratic house of representatives suspended its business that it might congratulate the country upon the nomination of the distinguished leader of the republicans.
"james abram garfield is, in the popular mind, one of the foremost statesmen of the nation. he is comparatively a young man, but in his service he commands the confidence and admiration of his countrymen of all parties. his ability, his thorough study, and his long practical experience in political matters gives an assurance to the country that he will carry to the presidential office a mind superior, because of its natural qualifications and training, to any that has preceded him for many years. he will be a president worthy in every sense to fill the office in a way that the country will like to see it filled—with ability, learning, experience, and integrity. that gen. garfield will be elected we have no question. he is a candidate worthy of election, and will command not only every republican vote in the country, but the support of tens of thousands of non-partisans who want to see a president combining intellectual ability with learning, experience, and ripe statesmanship."
the prediction recorded above was fulfilled. on the second of november, 1880, james a. garfield was elected president of the united states.
had this been a story of the imagination, such as i have often written, i should not have dared to crown it with such an ending. in view of my hero's humble beginnings, i should expect to have it severely criticised as utterly incredible, but reality is oftentimes stranger than romance, and this is notably illustrated in garfield's wonderful career.