THE CRISIS AT HAND.

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"the bloody shirt." Seeing this, a party of Philadelphia protectionists, headed by Wharton Barker, went to Mentor, and urged, that the direction of the campaign be changed, and every power be centered on the tariff-issue. This suggestion was adopted by General Garfield; and the whole burden of the fight afterwards fell upon Protection and Free Trade. Not only in Ohio, but especially in Indiana, this change had a salutary effect. The Republicans carried both these pivotal States; and in spite of the efforts of their opponents to impair their prospects by means of a forged letter, they conducted the last part of the campaign with all the enthusiasm of certain victory. To the struggles in Indiana and Ohio was immediately added the fight in New York. Here also the Pennsylvanians came to the rescue; and Wharton Barker, in consequence of his connections and abilities, worked effectively. Both sides were over-heated; one only absolutely confident. There were, however, planning and manœuvering until the 2d of November. Then men of all parties paused for breath before the final issue. Among them all no one was cooler, or more keenly alive to the actual situation, than the great Republican himself. With that well-known calmness of contemplation of the great events, in which he was the most interested observer, he wrote as follows to a friend on the very eve of election day:

MENTOR, Ohio, November 1st, 1880. DEAR: The evening mail brings me your letter of the 31st; and I take a moment in the lull before the battle to say, how greatly glad I am for all the earnest and effective things you have done for me. Whatever may be the issue of tomorrow, I shall carry with me through life most grateful memories of the enthusiastic and noble work my friends have done, and especially my college class-mates. The campaign has been fruitful to me in the discipline, that comes from endurance and patience. I hope defeat will not sour me, nor success disturb the poise, which I have sought to gain by the experiences of life. From this edge of the conflict I give you my hand and heart, as in all the other days of our friendship. As ever yours,

J. A. GARFIELD.

Happily for the country, defeat did not sour him. The total vote on the morrow was 8,872,360. Of this General Garfield received 4,437,345, and his opponent 4,435,015. The wild excitement of election-night was everywhere succeeded by an evident sense of security. The country rang with rejoicing; for the people felt, that they had secured a President with an unclouded title one, who was an able statesman, a loyal citizen, and a

true man.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE INTERIM AND INAUGURATION.

T

HOUGH the feeling of joy and satisfaction at the result of the election was so universal, yet he, who should have most rejoiced, was not so elated as the humblest of his supporters. He felt the great weight of responsibility that had been placed upon him; and this feeling, which was continually deepened as the weeks passed, was especially apparent on inauguration day. He did not lightly assume the duties of his high office. On the day after the election, the faculty and several hundred students of Oberlin College—the first of many delegations -came to Mentor to offer General Garfield their congratulations and kind wishes. He thus greeted

them:

MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :-This spontaneous visit is so much more agreeable than a prepared one. It comes more directly from the heart of the people who participate; and I receive it as a greater compliment for that reason. I do not wish to be unduly impressible or superstitious; but, though we have outlived the days of augurs, I think we have a right to hold some events as omens; and I greet this as a happy and auspicious omen, that the first general greeting since the event of yesterday is tendered to me by a venerable institution of learning. The thought has been (479)

FF

abroad in the world a good deal, and with reason, that there is a divorce between scholarship and politics. Oberlin, I believe, has never advocated that divorce; but there has been a sort of a cloistered scholarship in the United States that has stood aloof from active participation in public affairs; and I am glad to be greeted here to-day by the active, live scholarship of Ohio; and I know of no place where scholarship has touched upon the nerve-centre of public intelligence so effectually as at Oberlin. For this reason I am specially grateful for this greeting from the faculty and students of Oberlin College and its venerable president. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this visit. Whatever the significance of yesterday's event may be, it will be all the more significant for being immediately indorsed by the scholarship and culture of my State.

The months came and went rapidly. Lawnfield soon became a shrine for pilgrims almost as numerous as those, who cast their prayer-carpets before the gates of Mecca. Every train from Cleveland or the East brought many or few to Mentor-politicians and office-seekers, or oftener, citizens, who came singly or in delegations to of fer their congratulations. Many newspaper correspondents remained continually at Mentor, while others used Cleveland as a base of operations. As the winter wore away, the stream of pilgrims became greater and more importunate; and the daily mail grew to an enormous size. One private secretary was kept busy, filing applications for office, which became so persistent as to be very annoying. All sorts of devices were adopted. Some of the more persistent ones ap

AFTER THE ELECTION.

481

pealed in vain to the General's gentle wife or aged mother. All applications were filed but not acknowledged.

In the latter part of November, 1880, General Garfield, accompanied by his wife and Hon. Amos Townsend, went to Washington. At his special request no public demonstration was attempted; and conversation about political topics was as far as possible avoided. He remained but three day's in Washington.

It

The result of the election was scarcely known, before the question of General Garfield's Cabinet was raised. It was very generally agreed in consequence of his well-known character, that he would endeavor to harmonize all factions in his party by adopting a policy of reconciliation. Senator Blaine was early mentioned as Secretary of State. was announced, that the supporters of General Grant in the Chicago Convention would not be forgotten. The author visited General Garfield at Mentor in November, 1880 (two days before he went to Washington), and was informed that none but Senator Blaine had been decided upon; and that Pennsylvania would be represented in the Cabinet. Nothing definite could be learned for weeks; but this did not prevent-it rather stimulated-a constantly increasing discussion of the question and speculation concerning it, until the very eve of inauguration-day.

On the 5th of January, 1881, the Vice-President