New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-17
GENERAL GARFIELD'S SPEECH.
A MARKED EVENT n THE HOUsE-A COURAGEOUS
EFFORT N BEHALF OF HONESTY.
lpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRmUNEI

lpY TELEGRAPH TO THR TRmUNEJ
WAsHINGr0N Nov. 16.-The most important
speoch Of the debate in the House on the ResuInp-
ton Act and, indeed of the extra session Of Con-
eress. was made by General Garfield to-day. 1t
requires no especial courage for representative
from an Eastern State TO take his stand on the side
Of honest money and in defence ofthe public credit;
but a man from the West, where public
opinion has been so much misled by the
sophisms Of demogagues and shallow theorists
stakes his political future when he makes
an effort to stem the tide which is sweeping the
country toward reputation and financial dishonor.
But General Garfield has always been sound on
these vital questions and what is more. he has kept
tie district he represents so educated in regard to
them that the people Of the part Of the Western Re-
serve from which he comes are not carried hither
and tlither by every new-fangled financial idea, OF
every old one revived to do duty in times of pohti
cal excitement
General Garfield is always at home when he enters
upon the discussion Of financial questions. He Is
careful and intelligent student of the history and
laws Of money. and what is more, an honest one.
He does not allow temporary popular prejudice to
warp his judgment, nor to lead him away from the
legitimate conclusions to be drawn from the expert
ence Of nations in the past-Our own among the num-
ber-and the wisdom of those men who have devoted
their lives TO careful investigation.
Farnestness, and ability in the handling Of any
Eubiect always commands attention and General Gar
field rarely speaks to empty benches OF a listless
audience. When he took the floor to-day, he had
the undivided attention Of the whole House from
the time he uttered his first sentence The
infationists knew that he was the strongest
champion Of the Resumption Act who would speak
during the debate. and the advocates Of hard
money felt that if anything was 10 be ac-
complshed by speaking, or If the errors OF
any Of the repudiatiOnsts to be uDroOted tins
was the speech that would accomplish most Cen
eral Garfeld's indignation had been deeply stirred
BY some speeches 10 which he had listened during
the past few days and the fear that he might be be-
trayed into an apparently unfair, or in any degree
passionate treatment of his subject, which might
detract from its influence upon members
flor that was the one object at which ne
aimed made him, if possible. more than usually
careful. His speech, therefore, was from beginning
TO end dignfed, dispas-i0nate and statesmanli Ike.
There was not single passage IN it which any adj
vocate Of the Ewing bill could complain Of ms I'M
far. he took up the arguments and assertions
Of the iuhationists. and simply answered
them with facts and figures and he at
tackled some of the strOughOds Of the opposition
which had been cons deTcd Impreguable and at
which hardly a blow had been aimed by pre- ious
speakers, he has gwen the opponents of resump-
ton texts enough for oil the speeches they may
wish 60 make.
When General Garfield closed he was overwhelmed
with CONGRATULATIONS all of which be gracefully ac-
knOwledged; but hIs greatest anxiety was shown in
the que~' ION, which he asked more than once when
surr.unced by his feiiow-nembers "Wil 1t do any
go0dW