The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-02
GARFIELD SERENADED.
A bright Affair In NashingtOn..Irhe
General Makes n Neat Speechs


WASHINGTON, June 16.-This evening
serenade was rendered Gen. James A.
Garfield by the National Republican as-
ISOLATION. The portico Of the Riggs
house was tastefully decorated with flags
and bunting, and the surrounding streets
were brilliantly illuminated with calcium
lights, while at frequent intervals rock
cts and other fireworks were set off from
the steps Of the treasury department.
As the procession filed past cheers were
given for Garfield, and us that gentleman
appeared on the platform, accompanied
by Attorney General Devens, they were
renewed. Gen. Dcvcns, In introducing
Gen. Garfield, referred to the great Re-
publican presidents, Lincoln, Grant and
Hayes, and each name was greeted with
loud cheers. "H," he concluded, "you
sought to find IN example in one person
of the mode in which by our free ciiviliza-
ton hope Is given to the humblest as
well as to highest born to aspire, by
lofty aim, by high ambition. by noble
prophesies, to the greatest Office In your
gift, where would you seek it but in Jas.
A Garfield? Cheers. l introduce to
you, therefOre,.a scholar who has found
the path of learning no primrose path,
but has Won his way along by steady
industry; soldier whose shield is I'M
soiled and whose sword is spotless; a
statesman on whom rests no stain or dis
honor; a Christian gentleman, and re-
speeding the rights of every man because
he himself is kind, considerate and self
respecting always. l introduce Gen.
James A. Garfield" Loud cheering.
Gen. Garfield spoke as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS: While have looked upon
this great array believe have gotten new
idea Of the majesty of the American people.
When reflect that wherever you find sovereign
power every reyerent heart on earth bows before
il; and when remember that here for hun
drcd years we have denied the sovereignty Of
any man, and in place of it We have asserted the
sovereignty Of all in place of one, sec before
me 30 vast concourse that il il easy for me to
imagine that the rest of the American people arc
gathered here tonight, and if they were all here
every man would stand uncovered and with I'M
sandacd feet i'll the presence of the only majesty
Of the only sovereign power in this government
under Almighty God. tCheers. And, there
fore, to this great audience pay the respectful
homage that in part belongs to the sovereignty
Of the people. thank you for this great and
glorious demonstration. ! am not for one
moment msled INTO believing that il refers to 30
| "
it means your reverence to your government,
your reverence for its laws, your reverence for
lts institutions, and your compliment to one who
Is placed for u moment in relations to you OF
peculiar importance. For all these reasons ]
thank you. l cannot of this time utter word
on the subject of federal politics.
would not mar the cordially of this wei
come, TO which TO some extent all are gathered,
by any reference except to present for a moment
its significance. But wish to say that large
portion of this assemblagc tonight were my
comrades in the late war for the Union. For
them can speak with entire propriety and can
say that these very streets heard the measured
tread Of your disciplined feet years ago when the
imperiled republic needed your hands and your
hearts to save il, and you came back with your
numbers decimatod; but those you left behind,
were immortal and glorified heroes forever, and
those you brought back came carrying under
tattered banners and in bronZed hands the ark
of the covenant of your republic in safety out
of the bloody baptism Of war. lCheers.1 And
yOu brought it in safety to be saved forever by
your valor and the wisdom of your bre hren at
home, and by this you were again added to the
civil army Of the republic. / greet you, COM
rades and fellow soldiers, and the great bOdyof
distinguished citizens who are gathered here to-
night. who are the strong stay and support Of
business, of prosperity, of peace, of civic ardor
and the glory of the republic, and thank you
for your welcome tonight 1t was said in
welcome to one who came to England to be
part of her glory, and all the nation spoke when
il was said, "Normans and Saxons and Danes
are We, but all of us Danes in our welcome of
thee" And You say tonight Of all the nation,
of all the people, soldiers and civilians, there is
one name that molds us all one into one-it is
tue name of the American citizen under the
Union and under the glory Of the flag that led
us to victory and to peace. lApplause,l For
this magnificent welcome thank you with all
there is in my heart.
Loud cheers were then given for Gen.
Garfield as he retired from the platform,
and his place was taken by other speak
ers. Senator Logan came in for large
share of the applause when he announced
that first, last and all the time he had
been for the nominee of the Republican
norfv