The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-11-11
General Garfield.

Among the practical common sense
men of the day is James A. Garfield
Ohios son. There Is something grand
and always interesting about his sayings,
no matter whether at his home or on the
RESTRAIN A few days ago a special train
of his old county friends paid him visit,
and this is what he SAID: Judge Day
Ladies and gentlemen: I once read of a
man who tried to wear the armor and
WELD the sword of some ancient ancestor,
but found them too large for his statue
and strength. If should try at this mo-
ment to sway the memories which your
presence awakens, should be over
whelmed and wholly unable to marshal
and master the quick-comlng throng Of
memories which this semi-crcle Of old
friends and neighbors has brought to me-
Here are school-fe fellows of twenty-eight
years ago Here are men and women
who were my pupils quarter of cen
fury ago. Here are venerable men who,
! twenty one years ago, IN the town OF
| kent launched me upon the stormy sea
| OF political life. see Others who were
| soldiers in the old regiment which had
the honor to command; and how could
| listen to the touching and thoughtful
words Of my friend, the venerable late
chief justice of Ohio, who has just
! spoken, without remembering that even
| ing ia 1867, Of which he has spoken too
modes,iy, when he and l stood together
| in the old church at Hiram, and called
! upon the young men to go aud battle for
the Union and be enlisted before they
slept; and this laid the foundation Of the
Forty second regiment. How can for
| get ali these things and all that has fol-
lowed9 How can forget that twenty
FIVE years of my life were braided and en-.
twined with the lives of the people OF
Portage county, when l see men and wo
men from all its townships standing a,
my doors 1 cannot forget these things
while life and consciousness remain
No other period Of my life can be like
spring tribe of life, the Frightening on to-
ward MONDAY all were with you and OF
you. My neighbers, my friends, my cher,
lshed comrades IN all the relations of So
cial, student, military and political life
and friendship you are here so close tc
my heart that cannot trust myself to AZ
attempt to marshal the memories with
anything like conference. l know that
neighbors and friends in Portland county,
since the first day OF congressional life
have never sent to any convention dele
gate who was.hostile to me; that through
all the term Of detraction that roared
around me, the members of the old guard
of Portage county have never wayered in
their faith and friendship, but have stood
in unbroken phaIanx with their locked
shields above my head, aud have given
me their hearts in every contest. If a
man can carry in his memory level
more precious than this, I am sure Judge
Day has never heard what II is. Vel
gentlemen, on the eve of great events, q
grea: campaign, look into your faces
and draw from you such consolation as
even you cannot understand. Whatever
may be, our past is secure, and Whatever
may befall me hereafter, if l succeed in
keeping the heats of Portage county near
to NE, | shall know that do not go taI
wrong in anything; tor they are men who
/ love the truth for the truths sake Tar more
than they love any man. Ladies and gen,
tlemen, all the doors of my house are open
to you, the hand of every member of my
family is outsUeiched 10 you. Our hearts
/ greet you and We ask you to come IN"