Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-08-18
Gen. Garfield on American Loyalty.

06u. JhIutlu vi anClA Chu Ivy oAey
At the great ovation rendered Gen.
GARFIELD, the evening of the 9th inst, at
the headquarters of the Republican Ma
tlonal Committee in New York city, he
made the following eloquent, stirring
speech:
COMRADES AND Boys IN BLUE, AND FELLOW
CITIZENS OF New York; cannot look upon
this great assemblage and these old veterans that
have marched past us, and listen to the welcome
from our comrade who has Just spoken, without
this Union and be part of 1t. [Appisuse:l This
liz New York, and yonder toward the Battery,
more tnan hundred years ago, young student
American Revolution and American Union
against an American LOYALTY to monarchy Of his
college President and Professors. By-and by he
went to the patriot army, was placed on the
staff of Washington [cheersl to fight the battle OF
his county [cneersl, and while In camp, before
he was 81 years old, up IN drumhesd he wrote
a letter which contained every germ Of the Con-
stitution of the United States. [Applause That
student soldier. sta ,esman. and great leader oil
Observation-Disclosures Hamilton, of New York
made this Republic glorious by his thinking, and
left his lasting impression upon New York, the
foremost State of the Union [applausel, aud here
on this island, the scene of his early trlumphs,
we go there tonight soldiers OF new war. repre-
sentlng the same ideas of union and glory, and
adding to the colanln of the monument that
Hamilton, and Waship gton, and the heroes Of
the Revolution reared.
GENTLEMEN:-Ideas outlive men Ideas out
live all things, and You who fought in the war for
the Union fought for immortal ideas, and by their
might you crowned our war with victory tGreat
applause But victory was worth nothing except
for The fruits that under 1t, N it, and above
1t. We ought tonight as veterans and comrades
10 stand sacred guard around the truths Tor which
we fought ILond and prolonged cheerlngJ And
while we have life to meet and grasp the hand of
the conrad, we will stand by the great truths OF
the war. l'.Good! Goool" ami loud cheers And,
comrades, among the connections OF that war
i0h hay In
some we can never forget. Think OF the great
eleyating spirit of the war ITSELF We gathered
the boys from all our farms, and I shops, and
Republic They went fol tn unknown to fame,
but returned enrolled on the ros Ter of immortal
heroes. (Great applause They went in the
spirit OF those soldiers of Henry OF Agincourt OF
whom he said: Who tn day sheds his blood
with me, to day shall be my brother. Were he
ne'er so vle this day shall gentle his condition.
And it did gentle the condition aud elevate the
heart oil every working solder who fought in 1t
(applausel anc he shall be our brother forever
forever more; and one thing we will remember:
we will remember our allies who fought With us
Soon after the great struggle began we looked be-
hind the army of white rebels, and saw 100000
OF black people condemned to toll as slaves for
our enemies, and we found that the hearts OF
this 1900, 900 were Godlnepired with the spirit
Of liberty. and that they were our friends. lAp-
plause we have seen white men betray the flag
and fight to kill the Union, but in all that long.
dreary never saw a traitor In black skin.
[Great cheers. Our prisoners escaping from the
starvation of prison. fleeing 10 our lines by the
light OF the North star, feared to enter the
black mans cabin and ask for bread. ('Good!
"Goodn "That's SOL" and lond cheers. In all
that period of suffering and danger, no Union
soldier was ever betrayed by the black man or
woman [Applause.l And now that we have
made them free, so long we live, we will stand
by the black citizens. CRenewed applause ] We
will stand by them until the sun of liberty fixed
In the ornament OF our Constitution shall shine
with equal RAYS upon the black and white
throughout the Union. [Cheers.l
Now, fellowcitlzens, fellow-soldiers. in all this
&1a-a 4co hor,o sonr akNfa Eina and
this we will stand forever. [Great applause The
great poet hae said that in individual life rise
"On stepping-stones of our dead selves to higher
things,' and the Republic rises on the glorious
achievements of its dead and living heroes to
higher and nobler National lie. [Applause.l We
must stand guard over our past soldiers, as
patriots. and over our country as the common
heritage of us all. Applause.
thank you, fellow citizens, for this ma9nth-
cent demonstration. In so far as | represent in
my heart and life the great doctrines for which
you fought, / accept this demonstration a
tribute to my representative character. Zap
plause.] IL the strength of your hands. In the
fervor of your hearts the rmness of your faith,
in all that betokens the greatness of manhood
and nobleness OF character, the Republic finds it's
security aud glory. [Appause.l | do not enter
upor controverted questions. The time, the
place, the situation forbid it. l respect the ira
ditions that require me to speak only of these
themes which eevate US ell Again thank you
for the kndress and enthusiasm OF your greet
ing, Tremendous cheering.1