Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/231

JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD 189 (September 26, 1882) in a beautiful cemetery, which overlooks the waters of Lake Erie, where an imposing monument now marks his last resting- place. His tragic death assures to Garfield the attention of history. It will credit him with great services rendered in various fields, and with a character formed by a singular union of the best qualities industry, perseverance, truthfulness, honesty, courage all acting as faithful servants to a lofty and unselfish ambition. Without genius, which can rarely do more than produce extraordinary results in one direction, his powers were so many and well- trained that he produced excellent results in many. If history shall call Garfield great, it will be be cause the development of these powers was so com plete and harmonious. It has no choice but to record that, by the wise use of them, he won dis tinction in many fields: a teacher so gifted that his students compare him with Arnold of Rugby ; a soldier, rising by merit in rapid promotion to highest rank; a lawyer heard with profit and appro bation in the supreme court; an eloquent orator, whose own ardent faith kindled his hearers, speak ing after thorough preparation and with practised skill, but refusing always to win victory by forensic trick or device; a party leader, failing in pre eminence only because his moral honesty would not let him always represent a party victory as a neces-