Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-03-02
Speech Of Gen. Garfield at the
Opening of the Cleveland sam
itary Fair.

Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
II do not believe that any of Us ever read
or ever saw anything like what we all see
this day, before the beginning of the pres
ent war. 1t IS a wonderful thing to be able
TO say: There is something new under
the SUM-" but | believe we may say it
truthfully of this thing to-day, and of all
of which it forms part. And if it be
| true, why is il true? There seems to be a
question Of philosophy behind and un-
derlying it all, which makes it one Of the
most interesting themes that could be
considered. In the words to which We
have just listened, we were carried back
this day to the days of great thoughts and
great deeds, of which it was said: There
were giants in those days But believe
we now live and move in time greater
than any that has passed. As the pillar
Is greater than single block composing
it-as the monument is greater than sin
gle stone-as the whole house is greater
than one brick-as the glorious frma-
ment of stars is greater than single orb,
so is the fate of this nation of greater i'm
pOrtance now than that of the country
when Washington lived. has grown in
size, IN grandeur, and in importance, and
the fate OF the nation in its full grown
manhood IS therefore of more moment,
and the struggle for its preservation gran
der than when the country was in its in
fancy.
The American Revolution did a great
work for the world, but we are doing a
greater. We look at the past with too
much reverence. The telescope through
which we view il makes its deeds greater
than they are, and we degrade ourselves.
Let us not look back to-day, TO find great
er interest or more momentous questions,
but open our eyes and look about US
The scenes presented today, have never
been exceeded. The present war is great
er, and has greater interests at stake, than
any other.
Emerson has said that To-day is a
King in disguise" If you would see won
ders-if you would see grandeur-if you
would see mysteries your eyes and
look at the life we are living. Look at it
closely and you will see that the Present
is teeming with wonders, with grandeur,
and with magnifcence,
Emerson has told us, too that man is
more than a lawyer, more than King
and that to be q man in the full measure
of manhood, one must be not King, but
a man ruling, not a farmer, but a man
farming. So we are not merely nation,
but people fighting. And there is 2
wonderful difference between the mere
soldier and the man, between the nation
with hireling armies in the field, and
people who are all fighting. All are do
ing their work for the war; from the first
man to the last child; in the field or at
the fresides.
There is something behind bayonets.-l
The science of war is not reduced to
matter of artillery, horses, men, forage
and ammunition. The soldiers stand in |
the front, in unbroken line of battle
back of all, there is another rank-the |
people, cheering the hearts and filling |
the spirit of the soldier with bravery
And behind them all, giving strength and !
confidence to them ali, are the affections
of home-the prayers and blessings OF
the family circle-the active assistance of
the women and children left at home
Thus the whole people are massed into
one grand army. They are arrayed rank
by rank, from the child at home to the |
soldier in line of battle. And when you |
find whole people marching forward TO
strike down the last vestige of treason |
and rebellion, ia IL not a spectacle never /
before seen? And this is the spectacle T
which we see this day. We are sll one
grand army. The soldiers and officers
which are with US to-day, who have won /
badges of glory by their service in the /
field, are here merely on visit of inspec-
ton. They have come TO see what the
rear guard is doing, and soon they willre-
turn and make a report to their comrades
in the field, that all Is well, whole
grand army closed up and pressing on.
This war is making q revelation of this
people. 1t has shown US things we had
not dreamed of. 1t is said that when the
prairie is on fire you can see all the wild
beasts rushing before it, and thousands of
creatures no one believed there, are seen
fleeing for their lives. The hidden mys-
teries of the prairie are laid bare by the
great calamity. a fire in the city unfolds
the dens Of shame, uncovers its mystery
and lays bare strange places and strange
lives. The lurid blaze Of calamity un-
covers vices, miseries and sins, before IN
known and unsuspected. So when great
calamities fall upon nation and great
tear its internal life apart.
The human heart IS shown. And
know of nothing which has so opened Up
the heart Of people as this war. Though
It is great calamity, blessings grow out
Of it, such as only come from sorrow and
grief. As Sampson found honey in the
dead lions carcass, so we may find good
in the horror and evils of this war. GOD
means good for US in it. He who rules
The destinies of man would not let down
the upper milestone upon as and grind
US TO powder beneath it, unless from the
good was to come. Il
Though the mills Of God grind SLOWLY,
Yet they grind exceeding small
Though with patience BE stands waiting,
Yet he grinos exactly all II
We have all thought of the horrors Of
war, but who of US have reflected upon
Ihe horrors Of pesoeS There are are great