essions about them, but I do
not feel at liberty to insert it. In my answer of the date of
February 16, after expressing my opinion of those named, I said:

"Since our last conversation in Mentor I have turned this important
matter over and over again in my mind, and I drift back pretty
nearly to the opinion I then expressed, that, assuming that a
western man is to be appointed, my judgment would lead me to select,
first, Windom. . . . He is certainly a man of high character, of
pleasant manners, free from any political affiliations that would
be offensive to you, on good terms with all, yet a man of decision."

I knew Garfield well. From his early advent in 1861 in the
legislature of Ohio, when I was a candidate for the Senate, to the
date of his death, I had every opportunity to study his character.
He was a large, well developed, handsome man, with a pleasing
address and a natural gift for oratory. Many of his speeches were
models of eloquence. These qualities naturally made him popular.
But his will power was not equal to his personal magnetism. He
easily changed his mind, and honestly veered from one impulse to
another. This, I think, will be admitted by his warmest friends.
During the trying period between his election and inauguration his
opinions wavered, but Blaine, having similar personal qualities,
but a stronger will, gained a powerful influence with him. When
I proposed to him to be a delegate at large to the Chicago convention,
he no doubt meant in good faith to support my nomination. When
his own nomination seemed probable he acquiesced in, and perhaps
contributed to it, but after his election he was chiefly guided by
his brilliant Secretary of State.

There was a striking contrast between the personal qualities of
Garfield and Hayes. Hayes was a modest man, but a very able one.
He had none of the brilliant qualities of his successor, but his
judgment was always sound, and his opinion, when once formed, was
stable and consistent. He was a graduate of Kenyon college and
the law school at Cambridge. He had held several local offices in
Cincinnati, had served with high credit in the Union army, and had
attained the rank of major general by conspicuous heroism in battle.
He had been twice elected a Member of Congress from Cincinnati and
three times as Governor of Ohio, and in 1876 was elected President
of the United States. The contest which was ended by his inauguration
has already been refer