Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-06-17
General Garheld's Speech
AT THE CHICAGO CONVEN-
TION,
Placing John Sherman i'm Nom
inafiOn.

SOAAA AcA1OA AAA---A -
inafiOn.
Mr.. PRFsIDENT-I have witnessed
the extraordinary scenes of this Conven-
tion with deep solicituded. No emotion
touches my heart more quickly than
sentiment in honor of great and noble
character, but as l sat on these seats
and witnessed these demonstrations, it
seemed to me that you were a human
ocean in a tempest, have seen the sea
lasbed into fury and tossed into spray,
and its grandeur moves the soul OF the
dullest man. But ! remember that it is
not the pillows, but the calm level of the
sea from which all heights and depths
are measured Applause when the storm
has passed and the sunlight bathes Its
smooth surface, then the astronomer
and surveyor takes the level from which
ne measures all terrestrial heights and
depths. Applause.
Gentlemen of the Convention, your
present temper may not mark the health
full pulse of our people. When our en-
thusiasm has passed, when the emotions
of this hour have subsided, We shall find
that calm level of public opinion below
the storm from which the thoughts of a
mighty people must be measured and by
which their final action will be deter
mined. [Applause.l
Not here in this brilliant circle, where
15.OOO man and women are assembled, is
the destiny of the Republican party to be
decreed. Voices-"That's SO. Not
here where l see the enthusiastic faces
of 756 delegates waiting to cast their
votes into the urn,, and determine the
choice of the Republic. Applause.l
But bv 100000 Republican fresides,
where the thoughtful voters, with wives
and children about them, with the calm
thoughts inspired by love of homo and
love of country, with the history of the
past, the hopes of the future, and the
knowledge of the great men who have
adorned and blessed our Nation in days
gone by. The God prepares the verdict
that shall determine the wisdom of our
work tonight. [Applause.I Not in
Chicago, in the heats of June, but in
the sober quiet that come to them be-
tween now and November, in the silence
of deliberate Judgment, will this great
question be settled. (Cries of "Goodp)
Let us aid them tonight. Great ap-
plause.l But now, gentlemen of the
Convention, what do we want? \
yoice-"Garfield! followed by applause.
Bear with me a moment, hear me for
this cause, and for moment be silent
that you may hear. Cries of "GOodp'
Twenty-Five years ago this Republic was
WEARING TRIPLE CHAIN
of bondage. Long familiarity with the
traffic in the bodies and souls of men had
paralyzed the consciences of majority
of our people, the baleful doctrine of
State Sovereignty had shackled and
weakened the noblest and most bene-
ficient powers of the National Govern
ment, and the grasping power of slavery
was seizing the virgin Territories of the
West and dragging them into the den OF
eternal bondage. At this crisis the
Republican party was born. 1t drew
its inspiration from that fire of liberty
which God has lighted in. every human
heart. and which all the powers of ignor-
ance and tyranny can never wholly ex-
tinguish. Applause. The Republican
party came to deliver and save the Re-
public. 1t entered the arena where the
beleagured and assailed Territories were
struggling for freedom, and drew around
them the sacred circle of liberty which
tine demon of slavery has Eever dared to
cross. 1t made them free forever.
Loud applause, and cries of Good"
Strengthened by its victory on the
frontier, the young partyIunder the lead
ership of that great man, who on this
SPOT twenty years ago was made its lead
er. it entered the Matt snal Capital, and
assumed the high duties of Government.
TApplanse.1 The light which shown
from its banner dispelled the darkness
in which slavery had enshrouded the
capital, and that melted the shackles of
every slave, and consumed in the ire OF
liberty every slaVe-pen within the
shadow of the Capitol
Our great National industries, by an
unprotected policy, were themselves
Frustrated, and the streams of revenue
flowed in such feeble currents that the
Treasury itself was well nigh empty.
The money OF the people was the
wretched notes of two thousand uncOn-
trolled and irresponsible State banking
corporations which were filing the
country with circulation that poisoned,
rather than sustained, the life of busi-
ness. loud applause.) Phe Republi-
can party changed all this. 1t abolished
THE BABLE OF CONFUSION
And gave the country currency as ma
tional rs its flag, based upon the sacred
faith of the people. Applause. 1t
threw its protecting arm around our
great industries, and they stood erect as
with new life. 1t filled with the spirit
of true Nationality all the great func-
tions of the Government. 1t confronted
a rebellion of uuexampled magnitude
with slavery behind it, and under God
fought the final battle of liberty, until
the victory was won. [Applause.l Then,
after the storms Of battle, were heard
the sweet calm words of peace spoken
by the conquering Nation. and saying to
the conquered foe that lay prostrate at
its feet; "This is our only revenge, that
YOU ioin us in lifting into the serene fir
mament of the Constitution, to shine like
stars forever and ever, the immortal
principles of truth and justice, that all
men, white or black, shall be free and
stand equal before the law" Loud ap-
plause.l Then came the questions of re-
construction, the public debt and the pub
lie faith. In the settlement of these ques-
tions the Republican party has completed
its TWENTY-FIVE years of glorious exist