Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-09-16
SPEECH OF GENERAL GARFIELD
ATTHE NORTHERN OHIO FAIR.
The Relations Existing Between the
City and Country Happily
Portrayed.

CLEVELAND, Sept. 9.-There was an
immense attendance, the largest for
years. at the Northern Ohio Fair to-day.
The weather was delightful. Among the
guests of the Association were General
Garfield and Ex-Governor Bishop. Brief
after-diuner speeches were made by
Garfield, Bishop and others. General
Garfield said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN
While Governor Bishop was speaking OF
the exhibition of thrift and prosperity
represented on these grounds, l was
thinking of the forces at work in this
country which are secretly but power
fully affecting the relation between two
classes of our population. All who
have thoughtfully considered the re-
ports of the National census during the
last thirty years, have observed the
great growth of our cities and the COM
paratively small growth OF population
in our agricultural districts. In fact,
many of the older agricultural counties
have actually decreased in population.
The tendency of civilization is toward
the city and away from the country.
Let us ask you to reflect whether this is
a good Indication. have time to notice
but one feature of the problem.
\ careful study of the men who have
won distinction in every field of activity,
professional and commercial, will show
that a majority of them were born and
bred in the country. Examine the roS-
ter of all our professions, civil and mill
tary. recount the men who have achiev
ed distinction in all the fresh fields of
manufacture and commerce, and you
will find that far the larger number were
country born boys, whose early man.
hood had touched the soil and drawn
health and strength and inspiration from
| the forces of nature, which play with
freshness and freedom in the green
fields of the country. [Applause.l
Gentlemen, would you willingly see
! the present tendency continued until
the majority of our people are inhabi-
tants of great cities?. If this tendency
must prev all there is one way to miti-
gate its evils, and that is by bringing
the city and country into closer bonds of
sympathy; and this brings me to the
chief significance of this fact. This
great and growing city of the lake has
opened her arms to the country and an
nually invites the people who till our
fields, dig IN our mines and work in the
country shops, to come among you and
bring with them the fruits of the land
and the products of their skill. In re-
! turn you show them the accumulation of
city industry and culture. This inter-
change is beneficial to both, and, let me
add, is especially advantageous to resi-
dents of the city. | am sure that the
many leaders of the commerce and trade
of Cleveland, who were reared in the
country, are refreshed and invigOrated
by the reminder of their youth, which
this Fair gives them. They remember
"the rock from which they were heWn,"
the soil on which they grew, and are
better and stronger for the remem-
brance. In this Fair the city and the
county shake hands in renewed friend
ship, and recognize anew their depend
ence upon each other.
see at this table lawyers, bankers
and merchants, whose eyes brighten at
the remembrance of their country
homes. One of the foremost lawyers
and jurists of this State, an honored
citizen of yonr city, will not forget his
pioneer life in the woods of Portage
county. l am sure that Judge Ranney
does not regret the hardships and inspi-
rations which country life gave to his
bOyhOod.