The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-10-14
General Garfield and the First Voters.

CLEVELAND, Oct S-The First Voters, Garfield and
Arthur battalion, of Cleveland, went to Mentor this
afternoon by special train of six cars, and called
upon General GARFIELD at his Lawnteld home The
train stopped at the farm and the battalion headed
by band, marched to the residence. where Herman
W. Grannis president of the organization, made a
brief enogistic address, to which General Garfield
responded thus:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND YOUNG GENTLEMEN is
no ordinary event in the history of any man. In
deed, in the history of any people, when, as 1 am
told, there are 400 young men here who have made
this journey, not for any personal purpose but to
express that great, general, earnest purpose that
arises in the hearts Of active, intelligent young
men when they first grapple with the great ques-
tons of their country. know of nothing quite like
this in our history. With ali the pleasure It brings
L am bound to say it brings little disenchantment
to me i'll this. Always to this time have been ac-
cuStOmed to consider myself a young man. II be-
fore your arrival anybody had raised the question
should have asserted with good deal of indigna
tion ii anybody had denied it, that L myself was a
young man. But they tell me you are to cast your
first national vote at presidential election. II
that is so, young man as am, voted before any Of
you were born. If you are young and voters, bor-
rowing the language of Rip Van Wrinkle when he
awoke from that long sleep, S|Who in the world am
% must have passed the very flush of youth at
least. But, young gentlemen, have Eo so far LETT
the coast Of youth to travel inland but that can
well remember the state of young manhood from an
experience in it of years. and there is nothing
in this world Inspiring the possibilities that
lie locked up in the head and breast OF young
man. The hopes that lie before him; the great as
pirations above hfm-all these things, with the I'M
tried pathway of life opening up its difficulties and
DANGERS inspire him to courage to force and to
work. 1t is a spectacle that the very gods would
look down upon in ancient Roman days with
than ordinary interest. Now let say single
word two in answer to this great kindness and
compliment of your coming to my house about some
of the thoughts thatI know get into the hearts of
young men, and inspire them, and decisions that
are likely to get into their minds Let speak OF
one delusion that think from the remarks of your
chairman you are not likely to have. 1t is delu-
sion that affects all men less, particularly
the young men. the delusion that good things and
great things are way off yonder, away abroad.
That is one of the delusions hope you liv-
ing in. Now to illustrate that: Where I spent
my childhood there is a lovely little brook
and gorge where we used to go down and find
sate-stones and white them out into pencils for
ourselves, that better than all other pencils
that we brought from abroad. But if any boy ever
brought into school what is not in any dictOna-
ry, but in the schoolboys dictionary s.boughten''
pencil, he could get whole handful of our home
made for it, and yet every of ours was better
than the best that he brought from abroad. There
was a delus1on among us that outside Of us, away
fom US was glory, was greatness Now, as to our
country let us not get any such delusionS into
heads. know ali about abroad. know what t is
to enlarge our minds by it. But want you to feel
in the depths Of your hearts that there is abroad
In all this world that is half equal the glory of be-
ing an American here at home, and to-day. Right
here in this yard is splendid specimen of Ameri-
sovereignty the roof and crown of this world of
sovereignty. Englarge it into the millions of
who vote and you have the grand august sovereign
of this last and best born of time, the American
public NOW that the sovereign shall be
forever; that that sovereign shall be unpurchasabIe
when he stands at the baot-boX to order the SUI
preme will of the nation: that that sovereign shall
be unintimidated by mortal when he utters
that final omn1flc word that commands the CONT
nent That is the great purpose that all true Amer
leans should keep in their minds. When see such
a band of earnest young men meet me here to-
day, feel certain that if they could deploy them
selves as balotbox guard to defend the purity of
the American ballot-box, to stand around it as
around the cradle of our heir apparent of American
sovereignty, such guardians, such defenders, will
keep the republic pure and keep it free.
Young gentlemen. your visit to me gives
compliment of the highest Sort and while it olsen
chants me, said little while ago. it still reach
es the hand OF youth out to me- which take with
all cordially and earnestuess and for your tender
ed support to me, which is not for my sake but for
the sake of the of which the repre-
sentative, give you all the thanks of which my
heart is capable.
The house is small, the farm is small, the town
ship is small, the county is q small one, but all
there is in it to give of generosity and hospitality
and welcome-al1 that is in my hands to giye-is
yours while you stay. Applause and cheers.l I
bid you welcome to all there is of us, gentleman.