Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 10.djvu/156

 THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS

ident 's serenity for many weeks before that fatal day in July, form an important chapter in his career, and, in his own judgment, involved ques- tions of principle and right which are vitally es- sential to the constitutional administration of the federal government. It would be out of place here and now to speak the language of con- troversy, but the events referred to, however they may continue to be a source of contention with others, have become, as far as Garfield is concerned, as much a matter of history as his heroism at Chickamauga or his illustrious service in the House. Detail is not needful, and per- sonal antagonism shall not be rekindled by any word uttered to-day. The motives of those op- posing him are not to be here adversely inter- preted nor their course harshly characterized. But of the dead president this is to be said, and said because his own speech is for ever silenced and he can be no more heard except through the fidelity and the love of surviving friends: From the beginning to the end of the controversy he so much deplored, the president was never for one moment actuated by any motive of gain to himself or of loss to others. Least of all men did he harbor revenge, rarely did he even show resentment, and malice was not in his nature. He was congenially employed only in the ex- change of good offices and the doing of kindly deeds.

There was not an hour, from the beginning of the trouble till the fatal shot entered his body, 126

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