“Never was a nomination made which has been received by friend and foe with such evidence of hearty respect, admiration, and confidence.  The applause is universal.  Even the Democratic House of Representatives suspended its business that it might congratulate the country upon the nomination of the distinguished leader of the Republicans.

“James Abram Garfield is, in the popular mind, one of the foremost statesmen of the nation.  He is comparatively a young man, but in his service he commands the confidence and admiration of his countrymen of all parties.  His ability, his thorough study, and his long practical experience in political matters gives an assurance to the country that he will carry to the Presidential office a mind superior, because of its natural qualifications and training, to any that has preceded him for many years.  He will be a President worthy in every sense to fill the office in a way that the country will like to see it filled—­with ability, learning, experience, and integrity.  That Gen. Garfield will be elected we have no question.  He is a candidate worthy of election, and will command not only every Republican vote in the country, but the support of tens of thousands of non-partisans who want to see a President combining intellectual ability with learning, experience, and ripe statesmanship.”

The prediction recorded above was fulfilled.  On the second of November, 1880, James A. Garfield was elected President of the United States.

Had this been a story of the imagination, such as I have often written, I should not have dared to crown it with such an ending.  In view of my hero’s humble beginnings, I should expect to have it severely criticised as utterly incredible, but reality is oftentimes stranger than romance, and this is notably illustrated in Garfield’s wonderful career.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

On the evening of March 3d, preceding the inauguration, the President-elect met twenty of his college classmates at supper at Wormley’s Hotel, in Washington, and mutual congratulations were exchanged.  He was the first President of the United States selected from among the graduates of Williams College, and all the alumni, but more especially the class of 1856, were full of pride and rejoicing.  From none probably were congratulations more welcome to the new President than from his old academic associates.  If I transcribe the speech which Gen. Garfield made upon that occasion it is because it throws a light upon his character and interprets the feelings with which he entered upon the high office to which his countrymen had called him: