The Life and Work of James A. Garfield, Twentieth President of the United States / Embracing an Account of the Scenes and Incidents of His Boyhood; the Struggles of His Youth; the Might of His Early Manhood; His Valor As a Soldier; His Career As a Statesman; His Election to the Presidency; and the Tragic Story of His Death.

by John Clark Ridpath

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
BIRTH AND ANCESTRY.
	PAGES
“Unto us a child is born.”—A lowly home in the wilderness.—Law of heredity.—The New England stock.—The Garfields.—The Ballous.—Trend of the boy mind.—The father’s death.—Story of the cause.—The widow’s struggle.—Life in the Garfield cabin.—Earliest labor.—First lessons.—The Garfield family.—Boyhood traits.—The growing stalk.	[11]–[27]
CHAPTER II.
THE STRUGGLE OF BOYHOOD.
A Western boy of twelve.—Workland and dreamland.—A carpenter in embryo.—Summer day and winter day.—The door of bookland opens.—What he saw.—A doubtful farmer.—Possibly something else.—A giant of sixteen.—The stage of brigandage.—Pirate or President?—Meanwhile a wood-chopper.—The sea-vision again.—The great deep takes the form of a canal.—Venus: otherwise, the Evening Star.—The glory of the tow-path.—Navigation and pugilism.—Diving for pearls.—Leaves the sea.—The goblin that shakes us all.—Politics, religion, and grammar.—Off to school.—A place called Chester.—Builds a barn.—And then teaches a school.—More school.—Joins church.—Credo.—Possible sweetheart.—Learns elocution.—Hiram rises to view.—An academic course of study.—What about college?—Bethany, maybe.—Decides against it.—Why.—Knocks at the door of Williams.	[28]–[58]
CHAPTER III.
THE MORNING OF POWER.
College life.—A Junior at Williams.—Favorite books.—College traditions.—A brain of many powers.—“Mountain Day.”—Essays in literature.—The Williams Quarterly.—Poems: Memory, Autumn, Charge of the Tight Brigade.—A writing-master at intervals.—Free Kansas.—A metaphysician.—Steps out with honor.—Mark Hopkins.—Becomes a professor at Hiram.—And then a college president.—His methods and manners.—Success as an educator.—Lectures and preaches.—A union for life.—The chosen mate.—Incipient politics.—First nomination for office.—State senator from Portage and Summit.—Hints at leadership.—Rises in influence.—The approaching conflict.—Ohio makes ready for battle.—Independence Day at Ravenna.—Sound of the tocsin.—Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold!	[59]–[87]
CHAPTER IV.
A SOLDIER OF THE UNION.
A West Point soldier.—George H. Thomas.—The Union volunteer.—Garfield appointed Lieutenant-Colonel.—And then Colonel.—The Forty-second Ohio.—Studies war.—Ordered to the front.—Kentucky, who shall have her?—Marshall says, I.—Garfield objects.—Don Carlos Buell.—Expedition to Catlettsburg.—Pluck to the backbone, Sir.—Will attack Paintville.—A man called Jordan.—The region and the people.—Harry Brown, Esq.—Capture of Paintville.—Battle of Middle Creek.—A big victory on a small scale.—Address to the soldiers.—Big Sandy on the rampage.—Garfield takes a turn at the wheel.—Proclamation to the people of the Valley.—Concerning Pound Gap.—A proposed muster rudely broken up.—Exit Humphrey Marshall.—General Orders No. 40.—Comments on the campaign.	[88]–[114]
CHAPTER V.
HERO AND GENERAL.
Brigadier-General Garfield.—Reports to Buell.—A new field of activity.—At Pittsburg Landing.—Stands up for Africa.—Sits on court-martial.—Again the goblin shakes us.—But we report at Washington.—Tries Fitz-John Porter.—Assigned to Hunter’s command.—Appointed chief of staff to Rosecrans.—The commanding general.—Duties of chief of staff.—Personal sketch of Garfield.—Rosecrans dislikes him.—And then likes him.—Sheridan’s ten-pins.—Garfield issues circular on prison pens.—Helps Vallandigham across the border.—Opposes negro insurrection.—Stands by Lincoln.—Organizes army police.—Favors in advance.—The Tullahoma campaign.—Rosecrans’s advance on Chattanooga.—The capture.—Position of Bragg.—The big game begun.—Situation and preliminaries.—The battle of Chickamauga.—Garfield’s part.—Praise and promotion.—We are elected to Congress.—And accept.	[115]–[166]
CHAPTER VI.
IN THE ASCENDANT.
The constituency of Garfield.—The old Western Reserve.—Joshua R. Giddings.—Character of Congress.—Garfield enters the Cave of the Winds.—On Military Committee.—Opposes the bounty system.—Favors the draft.—Advocates confiscation.—Demolishes A. Long, Esq.—The Wade-Davis Manifesto.—A strange renomination.—Advocates the Thirteenth Amendment.—Beards Stanton.—The assassination of Lincoln.—Scene in New York.—Speech on the Lincoln anniversary.—The temperance question.—Defends Milligan and Company.—Advocates a Bureau of Education.—Chairman of Committee on Military Affairs.—The visit to Europe.—Oration on Decoration Day.	[167]–[210]
CHAPTER VII.
LEADER AND STATESMAN.
Opposes his constituents on the money question.—Garfield on the Ninth Census.—Speaks on Statistics.—Reports on Black Friday.—Speaks on Civil Service.—Defends the prerogatives of the House.—An authority on Revenue and Expenditure.—Speaks against the McGarraghan Claim.—Advocates an Educational Fund.—Opposes inflation of currency.—Discusses the railway problem.—An oration on the Elements of Success.—Literary views and habits.—Oration on the Life and Character of Thomas.—Speech on the Future of the Republic.	[211]–[253]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE NOONTIDE.
The era of slander.—The Credit Mobilier of America.—Reviewed and answered by Garfield.—The so-called Salary Grab.—Trouble in the Western Reserve.—Garfield’s defense and vindication.—The DeGollyer pavement matter.—Triumphant answer to charges.—Democratic ascendancy of 1874.—The “Confederate Congress.”—Garfield speaks on the Pension Bill.—Demolishes Lamar.—Speech on the acceptance of the Winthrop and Adams statues.—Opposes the Electoral Commission.—Favors Specie Payments.—Proposed for Speaker.—Opposes the Bland Silver Bill.—Speech on the Judicial Appropriation Bill.—The payment of United States marshals.—Appropriation Bill again.—Elected to the Senate.	[254]–[307]
CHAPTER IX.
GREAT QUESTIONS AND GREAT ANSWERS.
Questions of American statesmanship.—Garfield tested.—Speeches on States Rights and National Sovereignty: No Nullification; Force Bill; Equipoise of Government; Fourteenth Amendment.—Speeches on Finance and Money: The Industrial Revolution; Gold and Silver; Currency; Banks; Paper Money; Resumption Act.—Speeches on Revenue and Expenditures: Free Trade and Tariff; Public Expenditures; War Expenses.—Speeches on Character and Tendency of American Institutions: Future of the Republic; Government and Science; Revolution in Congress; Voluntary powers of government; Free consent the basis of our laws.—A general estimate of Garfield’s genius.	[308]–[402]
CHAPTER X.
THE CLIMAX OF 1880.
American political parties.—The Third Term question.—The Grant movement.—Leaders of the Stalwarts.—The political “Machine.”—Contrast of Garfield and Conkling.—Gathering of the clans.—Grant and Anti-Grant.—The Unit Rule.—A truce.—Hoar for Chairman.—Skirmishes.—Blaine’s forces.—Adjournments.—Gloomy Friday.—Rule VIII.—Putting in nomination.—Speeches of Frye, Conkling, and Garfield.—The balloting.—Garfield and Arthur nominated.	[403]–[442]
CHAPTER XI.
CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
Delicate position of a presidential candidate.—The policy of mum.—Garfield’s theory of running for office.—He is notified of his nomination.—Hoar’s speech.—The reply.—The journey to Cleveland.—Reception and speech at Hiram.—Address at Painesville.—The shrine of Mentor.—Garfield visits Washington.—Speaks to the people.—At Painesville.—Speech at the Dedication of the Soldiers’ Monument.—Letter of Acceptance.—The issues of the campaign.—Speaks at the Dedication of the Geneva Monument.—Visits New York.—At Chatauqua.—Attends reunion at Ashland.—Addresses the soldiers at Mentor.—The October election.—The saintly pilgrims on their way.—A candidate who dares to talk.—Speeches to the pilgrims.—The mud-mill.—Morey et al.—The machine bursts and the millers get the mud.—Judgment Day.—Garfield is elected.—Speaks to the Electors of Ohio.—Address to the Carolina Delegation.—Conkling visits Mentor.—The departure for Washington.—Last speech at Mentor.—En route for the inauguration.	[443]–[485]
CHAPTER XII.
IN THE HIGH SEAT.
Morning of the Fourth of March.—Conspiracy of the elements.—Preparations.—The procession.—Clears up.—The Grand Ceremony.—Inaugural address.—Setting up in business.—The new Cabinet.—The temperance question.—The Administration on its feet.—The pro and con of a Called Session of Congress.—Nomination of Robertson.—The Refunding Question.—Dearth of politics.—Symptoms of a family quarrel.—The issues involved in it.—The Robertson appointment.—Exeunt Conkling and Platt.—A President who has his own way.—Smoother sailing after the storm.—Adjournment of Congress.—Sickness in the White House.—Sympathy of the people for Mrs. Garfield.—The Summer, what shall we do with it?	[486]–[516]
CHAPTER XIII.
SHOT DOWN.
Recovery of Mrs. Garfield.—A great tragedy.—First alarms.—The physicians of the President.—The assassin.—The world’s sympathy.—A dolorous Fourth.—Diagnosis.—Motives of the assassin.—General Arthur.—Favorable progress of the President.—Conkling’s letter on murder.—The President’s mental condition.—Sunday.—Heated weather.—The refrigerators.—Mistaken diagnosis.—Foreign sympathies.—The Induction Balance.—The Mrs. Garfield Fund.—Supposed convalescence.—President worse.—Surgical operations.—Sensational dispatches.—Possible malaria.—Induction Balance again.—Surgeons hopeful.—A second operation.—Last letter.—Project of removal.—Dangerous symptoms.—Mrs. Garfield.—A good queen.—Cheerful and brave.—The inflamed parotid.—Pyæmia feared.—Gradual decline.—Death imminent.—Removal determined on.—Preparations.—Night scene at Elberon.	[517]–[615]
CHAPTER XIV.
GAZING ON THE SEA.
The President is removed to Long Branch.—Scenes and incidents of the journey.—Francklyn Cottage.—Revival of hope.—Great solicitude of the people.—Foolish confidence of the surgeons.—The President somewhat revived.—Great anxiety follows.—The last day.—Fatal chill.—Mrs. Garfield’s heroism.—The gathering shadows.—Death.	[616]–[643]
CHAPTER XV.
THE SOLEMN PAGEANT.
Preparations for the funeral of the President.—Embalmment.—Accession of Gen. Arthur.—The post-mortem.—Astonishing revelations.—Announcement of the President’s death.—The funeral train.—En route for Washington.—Lying in state.—Victoria’s tribute.—Address of Elder Powers.—Viewing the body.—The train for Cleveland.—Reception and preparations.—Imposing ceremonies.—The last day.—Closing scenes and addresses.—The sepulchre.—Reflections.	[646]–[672]