The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-03
GEN. GAKFIELD.
He Makes a Neat speech TO the OaIo
Electors.

I
ElectOrs.
Mentor, o., Dec. 2.-Gen. Garfield
said to the Ohio electors to-day: an
deeply grateful 10 you for this call and
these personal and public congratula
tions. II were to look upon the late
campaign and its results merely in the
light Of a personal struggle and personal
success, it would probably be as graft.
flying as anything could be in the histo,
ry of politics. II my own conduct
during the campaign has in any way
been a help and strength 10 our cause,
am glad. 1t is not always an easy
thing TO behave well. II under trying
circumstances my behavior as a candi-
date for the presidency has met with
your approval | am greatly gratihed.
But the larger subject of your congrat-
ulations to the country on the triumph
of the republican party, opens a theme
too vast for me to enter upon now. l
venture, however, to mention 4 reflect
ion which has occurred 10 me in refer
enee TO. TO the election yesterday. /
suppose that no political event has hap
pened in all the course of the contest
since early in the spring which caused
so little excitement, and indeed, so lit
tie public obser cation, as the president
ial election which was held yesterday at
midday. The American people paid but
little attention to the details Of the real
presidential election, and for n very
significant reason. Although you and
all the members Of the electoral college
had an absolute constitutional and
technical right TO vote for anybody you
chose, and though no written law di-
rected or suggested your choice, yet
every American knew it. The august
sovereign of this republic. the 1900, 600
voters, early in November had pro-
nounced the omnipotent fat OF choice,
and that sovereign, assuming rs done
that which he had ordered to be done,
entertained no doubt that his will
would be implicitly obeyed by all the
colleges in all the states. That is the
reason why the people were so serenely
quiet yesterday. They had never yet
found an American citizen who had
failed to keep his trust rs presidential
elector. From this thought / draw
this lesson: that when that omnipotent
sovereign, the American people, speaks
TO one man and orders to do his duty,
upon that man rest the most solemn
obligations of duty, except those that
the God of the universe might impose
upon him. Yesterday, through your
votes and the votes of others in various
states OF the Union, it is probable ''the
returns will shown that our great polit-
ical sovereign has laid his commands
upon me. IL lie has done so am as
much bound by his will and his great
inspiration and purposes rs could be
bound by any consideration that this
earth can impose upon any human be-
ing. In that presence, therefore,
stand, and am awed by the majesty and
authority Of such command. In so far
rs | can interpret the best aspirations
and purposes of our august sovereign
shall seek to realize them. You and
l and those who have acted with us in
the years past, believe our sovereign
loves liberty and desires for all the in
habitants Of the republic peace and
prosperity under the sway of just and
equal laws.
Gentlemen, thank you for this visit,
for this welcome, for the suggestions
your presence and your words bring,
and the hope that you have expressed
that in the arduous and great work Le-
fore us We may maintain the standard
of nationality and promote that which
is good and worthy in this country and
that during the coming four years we
may raise just as large a crop of peace,
prosperity, justice, liberty and cultuee
as it possible for 1900, 600 of people to
raise.