The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and LettersBrown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
History
The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and Letters
Brown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881; Presidents -- United States -- Biography
"MY DEAR CORYDON: Well, I quit writing that evening to attend the
Warrensville Literary Club, of which I am a member. We had a very good
time considering the 'timber.' We have resolved ourselves into a senate,
each member representing some State in the Union. I am not only
President, but also a representative from South Carolina, to watch the
interests of my nullifying constituents. The bill before our senate for
our next evening is, 'That we will assist financially the Hungarian
exiles, Kossuth and his compatriots, from our national Treasury.' We
shall undoubtedly have a warm time. By the way, what do you think of the
effect of the excitement in reference to Kossuth upon our Nation and
popular liberty? How far may our Government safely interfere in the
Hungarian struggle? But I am certainly rhapsodical this time. You must
write to me and trim me up. I am seated in my school-house, a room about
18 by 20, with a stove in the centre and in school, the scholars being
all around me--forty on the list. With these facts before me I am led to
exclaim,--
"Of all the trades by men pursued
There's none that's more perplexing
Than is the country's pedagogue's--
It's every way most vexing.
Cooped in a little narrow cell,
As hot as black Tartarus,
As well in Pandemonium dwell,
As in this little schoolhouse.
"Your friend and classmate,
"JAMES A. GARFIELD."
The following is taken from a letter dated Feb. 2, 1852, written near
the close of the village school at Warrensville, Ohio,--
"Oh, that I possessed the power to scatter the firebrands of ambition
among the youth of the rising generation, and let them see the
greatness of the age in which they live and the destiny to which mankind
are rushing, together with the part which they are destined to act in
the great drama of human existence. But, if I cannot inspire them with
that spirit, I intend to keep it predominant in my own breast, and let
it spur me forward to action. But let us remember that knowledge is only
an increase of power, and is only good when directed to good ends.
Though a man may have all knowledge, and have not the love of God in his
heart, he will fall far short of true excellence."
Here is an extract from a letter written in April, 1853,--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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