National Republican., 1880-09-06
ENERAA GARfIELD ar HOME.
A visit from n Party of Commercial Tra

A Visit from Party of Commercial Trav-
elers
MENTOR, ONO, Sept. AT 1880 o'clock to-
day party of commercial travellers from In.
diana, with their wives, numbering in all
ninety. five persons, came in special cars to
Mentor and called at General Garfed's house.
1t was a company reprcs enting every leading
branch Of commercial business They assem-.
hled on the lawn In front of the house. When
General Garfield appeared one of the visitors
delivered an address explaining tho purpose of
the visit General Garfield responded as fol-
lows:
Mn CHAIRMAN LADIES AND GESrLENES: can
hardy say that you have taken me by surprise, for
was informed some days ago that party of com.
mcrcal gentlemen from Indiana would call upon
me to-day, but am very pleasantly surprised ut
have honorod me by this visit. | have listened
with deep interest TO the address of your chairman
and give you one and all my thanks for the COM
plimcnt which this visit implies. Your chairman
Informs me that you represent nearly all the lead
ing branches OF commercial industry IN the state OF
Indiana and some of the nc!glbOring states, Few
of our people understand how vast are the enter
prises represented by our internal trade. Almost
every form of human labor contributes It's products
10 the trade that fills Uurthoroughnres and dsupplies
our communities with the recessarles oflifc and
all are moved by tho grand mainsprng-labor.
Permit me to illustrate It's magic powers. Eighty
four years ago q company of forty.two surveyors
landed at the mouth OF COnngaut creek, n little
stream TINT marks tho boundary between Penn
sylvNnia and Ohio They landed on tho dth day
ufJuly, 1896, and commenced their work by cee.
brating our national independence There are
many now living who were boys In their tecus
when this company of surveyors began their work.
At that time from tho Pcnlsylvanin line 10 de-
troit hardly smoke assembled from white mans
| cabin. The Western Reserve was an unbroken
Wilderness; . 30OOO)0 of acres had just been pur-
chased from the state Of Connecticut for forty cents
an acre. To-day the Western Reserve furnishes
happy and comfortable homes TO more than three
Excepting a French settlement the state of
Indiana was Itself an unbroken wilderness but is
now great ana prosperous community, and thou.
sands of miles beyond yon praries the wilderness
aud mountain slopes smile with peace, prosperity
aud the attendant blessings of civilization. What
has wrought this wonderful transformation? The
magical power of human labor through manifold
struggles aud dangers, through suffering and blood.
The blessings have been secured TO US and trust
Will be continued TO our children's children.
lAppause,J venture to notice another fact,
Every stroke of the axe, every blow of the ham;
every sale, in short every EFFORT Of labor
is measured by the standard OF value
| congratulate you as commercial men that your
government has at last restored to It's people the
ancient standard OF value and has made II pos
sbe for our people everywhere TO secure the bless
| ing which bountful hOryCsts and prosperous
| times have brought them by placing our national
finances on the Solid basis of specie values. This
fact torlus no inconsdernble pnrt OF the security
with which the great business transactions of the
! nation ale carried on, aud YOU as It's Representa-
| uNSs, u WtlI uS tlc IhbDTeIs Ol ING lhHt, hTo
sharers of these benefits nGd this security. Jap
plause.l Ladies and gentlemen, accept my most
cordial thanks for your visit. | welcome you to
my home and to the kind greeting of my family
| lApplauso
The company were then introduced to the
| general aud to his wife and mother. They
were cordially and pleasantly received. They
s;rolled through tho orchards aud grounds
and at l;30 took leave aud went down the
farm lane to tho railroad, where they EN-.
barked on the train and returned 70 the west.