The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-09-08
GENERAL GARFIELD's SPEECH.

FELLO w-CITIzENs.-The time has
arrived when the peOpleO of Ohio are
about to resume those powers which
two years ago they intrusted to theil
representatives in the councils of the
state and nation. Several important
officers Of the Executive and the Ju-
dical departments of the State Gov
ernment, and all the representatives
to which Ohio is entitled in one
branch of the National Legislature,
for the next two years, are soon to be
chosen by the people.
In accordance with a time-hOnOred
custom, the event ismade the occasion
when the people re-eXamine the foun-
dations on which their Governments
are built, and inspect the new work OF
their servants, to see IL it has
been done honestly and wisely, in ac-
cordance with the plans of the mas
tar-builders. This frequent resump-
ton OF power, by the people them
selves, Is the American method of
managing revolutions, or, rather, of
avoiding them. It's value, as prinei-
pie of government, finds a striking
Illustration i'm the condition OF the
United States as compared with that
Of Europe at the present moment
Two nations Of the highest ciYiliza-
tion, each having a population OF
nearly forty millions Of souls, have
put two million Of their best citizens
into battle array, within the LAST six
weeks, and are bringing measureless
disaster upon each other and upon all
Europe, because a third nation pro-
posed to invite n young man to ill the
Office made vacant by the expulsion
Ofa weak woman. Even il the cause
of the war be stated more broadly, il
must still Be charged to tine personal
pride and ambition Of not more than
three or four persons who wear bau-
bles called crowns. For that vague
and shadowy phantom called the
'sbalcnee Of power" all the nations of
Europe maintain vast ornaments on
sea and land, and stand ready at any
moment to deluge their continent in
blood. In nearly all their wars, the
question is one of family dynasty, or
other matter of mOnRrchical concern.
It Is the Kings quarrel and the peo-
ble's fight He plots and schemes,
while they pay and bleed. Happily
NLlG LOuAlAElE VI OLA
established q Government Of the
people. by the people and for the peo-
ple," and our first President left as a
farewell legacy the sentiment and
warming that the nation should forev-
er keep clear Of entangling alliances
and interference with the quarrels Of
other States.
And though when foreign or do
nestle war assails the Republic, the
whole nation can form in order OF
battle, and make all its soil one vast
camp, yet, in time Of peace, relying
on the obedience Of all tO.the lawfully
expressed will of majority, we reduce
our army and navy to the smallest
size consistent with proper police of
the sea and the shore, and with keep
ing abreast with thedevelopements Of
military and naval science, our con-
tinental position and immense re-
sources render us safe against foreign
assaults and enable the nation to di-
rect its vast energies to the aTtC of
peace and civilization. The political
psrty whose doctrines and aspirations
accomplish most in this direction will
eaioy the confidence and support of
the people. By this test all political
organizations must be judged, and in
its application I confidently challenge
the most searching comparison Of the
career, doctrines and character Of the
Republican and Democratic parties Of
to-day.
Democratic leaders will hardly dare
to appeal TO the history of their party
during the last eventful decade as a
pledge of their fitness to be trusted
with power. The shameful story Is
painful one to rehearse. The people
know it by heart, and I shall not
weary you With the recital. / viii
only remind you Of 8 few significant
facts which no intelligent Democrat
will deny.
!. That sfter long period of DEM
ocratic subOrdination to the interests
of the slave power, and the prOstitu-
ton of every department. Of the Ma
tiOnal Government to the support and
extension of slavery, the Republican
party, in 1850, made a successful an
peal to the people through the ballot
box 10 forbid the further spread Of that
baneful institution; and thereupon
the most fermidably conspiracy
known In history was Matched in the
bosom Of the Democratic party for
the destruction of the nation and the
perpetuation of human bondage. In
this conspiracy not one Republican
toak part; its leaders and supporters
were Democrats all.
9. That from the beginning TO the
end of our great war for the preserva-
tion Of the Union the Democratic par
ty, through its conventions and wher-
ever it had control, threw the whole
weight Of its political and moral in
f1uence against the Union and in fsv-