he shafts
of malice has borne his breast unharmed. He has stood in the blaze of
'that fierce light that beats against the throne,' but its fiercest ray
has found no flaw in his armor, no stain on his shield. I do not present
him as a better Republican or as better man than thousands of others we
honor, but I present him for your deliberate consideration. I nominate
John Sherman, of Ohio."

The speech was over, its effect was like oil upon troubled waters. When
the balloting began a single delegate only voted for Garfield. The fight
was between Grant, Blaine, Sherman and Edmunds; Windom and others were
waiting the possibility of a compromise. Garfield managed Sherman's
forces. He meant to keep his favorite in the field, in vain trying to
win over Blaine's followers. On the thirty-fourth ballot the Wisconsin
delegation determined to make a break, and hence put forth an effort in
an entirely new direction, casting their entire seventeen votes for
Garfield. The General arose and declined to receive the vote, but the
chairman ruled otherwise, and on the next ballot the Indiana delegation
swung over. On the thirty-sixth ballot he was nominated. Then followed
his canvass and election.

Time flew, and he was about to join his old friends at Willams' College,
when an assassin stealthily crept up and shot him from behind, as
dastardly assassins and cowardly knaves generally do. The whole country
was thrown into a feverish heat of excitement between this cowardly act
and the president's death, which occurred two months later. Thus, after
a struggle for recognition, which had won the admiration of the world,
he was snatched from the pleasure of enjoying the fruits of his toil,
and from the people who needed his service. Like Lincoln, he had come
from the people, he belonged to the people, and by his own right hand
had won the first place among fifty millions of people. Like Lincoln, he
was stricken down when his country expected the most of him, stricken in
the very prime of life. Like Lincoln, when that enjoyment for which he
had labored was about to crown his efforts; and like Lincoln, it could
not be said of him he lived in vain.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

Chester Allan Arthur's career, like that of thousands of other
Americans, illustrates the truth that wealth, high social position and
all the advantages with which fortune and affection can surround the
young are not essential to their success and prosperity in professio