General. Had this question been decided from the standpoint of stirling ability, honesty in political life, or reward for political service, the President would have selected Mr. Wharton Barker, to whom first of all he owed his nomination and election. But considerations of popular applause and the weight of Mr. Blaine's influence, which he was led to cast in favor of Mr. McVeagh because he believed Mr. Barker would be a "Garfield man" rather than a "Blaine man," determined the President to appoint Mr. McVeagh, an appointment that has not been so satisfactory—at least to politicians as they were led to believe it would be.

But I am anticipating events. On the 5th of January, the Vice-President laid the following letter before the Senate of the United States:

"MENTOR, OHIO, December 23d, 1880.

"SIR: On the 13th and 14th days of January, A. D. 1880, the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, pursuant to law, chose me to be a Senator in the Congress of the United States, for said State, for the term of six years, to begin on the 4th of March, A. D. 1881. Understanding that the lawful evidence of that fact has been presented to the Senate and filed in its archives, I have the honor to inform the Senate that I have, by letter dated December 23d, 1880, and addressed to the Governor and General Assembly of the State of Ohio, formally declined to accept the said appointment, and have renounced the same. I am, sir, very respectfully, "Your Obedient Servant,

"J. A. GARFIELD.

"To the President of the Senate of the United States."

ager

On the first day of March, the President-elect set out from Mentor for the capital. His family accompanied him and many of his personal friends. He traveled in a special train composed of Pullman and private cars. That occupied by the President-elect was the private car of the manof the Lake Erie and Western Road. His progress from his home to Washington was the occasion of a great outburst of affection on the part of his old neighbors and of popular regard along the route, which made the journey a marked contrast to that of his predecessor. It was not until he reached Harrisburg that Mr. Hayes learned definitely that he had been declared the President-elect. It recalled also, by contrast, the still more gloomy journey of the first Republican President to Washington, when the nation seemed going to pieces, and when it was necessary to change the proposed route to avoid assassins, who were lying in wait for the life of the Presidentelect. Mr. Garfield's speeches at the few stopping places along the road, were all that could be desired. They were frank, unpremeditated utterances of a man who feels both the honors and the responsibilities of his new place, and who responds in a candid way to the popular regard. This regard was spontaneously shown, and every one believed he was about to begin for the country a most brilliant administration, that should even astonish his friends. For his abilities are of that

high order which adapt themselves easily to new situations. The man who turned from teaching to soldiering and from soldiering to legislation, and made his mark in all these, was not likely to be at a loss when called as President, while still a young and teachable man, to duties less alien to his previous career than each of these was in its turn.

A committee of citizens met the President-elect on his arrival, and escorted him to the Riggs House, where he took up his residence until after the inauguration.

This, as the Constitution duly provides, took place upon March 4th. The day opened unfavorably. Snow and ice had covered the broad avenues of the capital with slippery slush. The sky had a dull gray tinge, that seemed to preclude all smiles from the sun. At daybreak everything seemed inauspicious. The flags over the many triumphal arches were wet and lifeless; the prospect was exceedingly dull. Yet it was a great day. The President rose from his bed in the Executive Mansion for the last time as Chief

Magistrate of the nation. On the morrow he would be only a private citizen, on his way to oblivion. The President-elect awoke for the last time-for four years-as a freeman, responsible for himself alone. It was just nine months since his nomination. Five months of these he had little to do, save speculate on the result. They were months of apprehension, of course, but

months during which there was nothing he could personally do to help his cause. The next four months his mind had had little rest; and, as he is a great, conscientious, sensitive man, who never falls to appreciate the responsibilities before him, there could have been-in this gray morning— but little room for self-congratulation. He could not regard the office which he was that day to accept as a personal gift or trust, because for four years to come he was not to see a day on which he could say he was free from anxiety. No wonder he watched the light steal into the quiet streets with some doubts as to whether he had strength sufficient to meet the coming dawn.

The promise of the cold gray morning remained unfulfilled as the day wore on. The sun coming out soon cleared the streets of all the ice and snow they contained, and, a little later, dried them completely. They were thronged by an enormous crowd, far surpassing anything ever seen on similar occasions. The masses were patient and happy, and waited eagerly to see the procession on its way to the Capitol.

out

At 10.15 the Presidential party came of the White House, entered their carriages, and, preceded by the Cleveland Troop, moved through the west gate to Pennsylvania Avenue. The Presidential party, occupying two four-horse carriages, consisted of President Hayes, President-elect Garfield, Vice-President-elect Arthur,

and Senators Bayard, Pendleton and Anthony. The Marine Band saluted them with "Hail to the Chief," and the booming of a gun started the first division of the great procession, which was the Presidential escort, on its way to the Capitol. This escort consisted of picked troops of United States infantry, cavalry, artillery and the Annapolis Cadets. The avenue was by this time one mass of humanity. From the Capitol to the Treasury, looking from the balcony of the Library, no grander sight of the sort was ever witnessed-one mile of street, two hundred feet wide, crammed from house-line to house-line with variegated humanity. It was a continuous struggle of an hour to get through this mass of people from one of these points to the other. The gayly-decked banners, flags and national bunting flying from every house, the happy faces at the windows, the thousands of spectators installed in the banks of temporary seats made up a picturesque scene which will last long in the memory of those pres

ent.

But it was only after the ceremonies at the Capitol had been concluded that the real procession of the day began to move. After the President had delivered his inaugural, his party entered their carriages, and the march up the avenue to the White House began. General Sherman was in command, and the army which he commanded was composed of fully fifteen thousand men. The