From Log Cabin to the White House; The Life of James A. Garfield; Boyhood, Youth, Manhood, Assassination [!] Death, Funeral (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIII. FROM PEACE TO WAR. -T is impossible for a public speaker of Garfield's power to keep out of politics. In political campaigns the public demand his efforts; men will not take no for an answer. It was so with Garfield. He was impressed into the service by leading citizens of his county. In the autumn after his return to Hiram, before he hardly had time to become settled in his great work, his efforts on the platform were sought; and the new Republican party, on the anti-slavery basis, with its first candidate, John C. Fremont, a man of Garfield's stamp in vigor, courage, and force of character, was exceedingly taking to him. Nobody had to tease him long for a speech. Often he went in the evening to make a speech, five, six, ten miles distant, returning after the address. Usually he took a student with him for company and improvement. As soon as they started he would open conversation, seldom upon the subject of his discourse, but upon some topic of real value to the student. Going and returning, his conversation was continued without the least abatement. Alphonso Hart, a stalwart Democrat of Ravenna, 346 delivered a speech in Hiram, full of slavery and Democratic sophistries and errors. Garfield heard it, with many Republican citizens. "Reply to it, Mr. Garfield," appealed an influential citizen to him. "Floor him." "That can easily be done," Garfield answered; "but is it wise?" "It is always wise to refute error and wrong anywhere." "I confess that I should enjoy handling him without gloves for an hour." "Handle him, then," urged the citizen. "It will do the Republican party a world of good." Other citizens put in their pleas for him to answer Hart. "You are just the one to do it." "Everybody wants you should answer him...".