His great popularity and usefulness an representative very naturally suggested his name to the Republicans of Ohio, when a United States Senator was to be elected by the legislature in January, 1880, to succeed Mr. Thurman. When the subject was opened to Garfield, he remarked:

“Just as you please; if my friends think it best, I shall make no objection.”

“We want you should go to Columbus when the election is pending.”

“I cannot consent to any such plan. I shall not lift my finger for the office. I never sought an office yet, except that of Janitor at Hiram Institute. If the people want me, they will elect me.”

“Very true,” urged his friends; “it is no engineering or finesse that we desire you to do at Columbus. We only want you to be where your friends can see you and confer with you.”

“And that will be construed into work for the office, the very appearance of which is distasteful to me. I decline peremptorily to go to Columbus.” This was Garfield’s characteristic decision and reply.

When the legislature assembled, the feeling was so strong for Garfield that all other candidates withdrew, and he was nominated by acclamation at the party caucus, and unanimously elected.

After the election was over he visited Columbus, and addressed both branches of the legislature in joint convention. The closing paragraph of his remarkable speech illustrates the courage and independence of the man—qualities that have recommended him to the confidence and support of the people. He said:

“During the twenty years that I have been in public life, almost eighteen of it in the Congress of the United States, I have tried to do one thing. Whether I was mistaken or otherwise, it has been the plan of my life to follow my conviction, at whatever personal cost to myself. I have represented for many years a district in Congress whose approbation I greatly desired; but though it may seem, perhaps, a little egotistical to say it, I yet desired still more the approbation of one person, and his name was Garfield. He is the only man that I am compelled to sleep with, and eat with, and live with, and die with; and if I could not have his approbation, I should have bad companionship.”

In view of this last triumph, President Hinsdale said:

“He has commanded success. His ability, knowledge, mastery of questions, generosity of nature, devotion to the public good, and honesty of purpose, have done the work. He has never had a political ‘machine.’ He has never forgotten the day of small things. It is difficult to see how a political triumph could be more complete or more gratifying than his election to the senate. No bargains, no ‘slate,’ no ‘grocery’ at Columbus. He did not even go to the capital city. Such things are inspiring to those who think politics in a bad way. He is a man of positive convictions, freely uttered. Politically, he may be called a ‘man of war’; and yet few men, or none, begrudge him his triumph. Democrats vied with Republicans the other day, in Washington, in their congratulations; some of them were as anxious for his election as any Republican could be. It is said that he will go to the senate without an enemy on either side of the chamber. These things are honourable to all parties. They show that manhood is more than party.”

And so James, the hero of our tale, stands upon the highest round of the ladder of fame, save one!

The final step to the top of the ladder followed quickly—so quickly that he had not time to take his seat in the United States senate. He had but just planted his feet upon the highest round of the ladder, save one, when the call to come up higher—to the top —was heard from Maine to the Golden Gate.

The National Republican Convention, five months later, assembled to nominate a candidate for the presidency of the United States. James A. Garfield was a member of that convention, and his magnetic presence was the occasion of much enthusiasm and applause. Although he was not a candidate for the position,