Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-09


field asd Arthur battalion, of Cleveland, went
to Mentor this afternoon, by a special train of
cars, and called on Garfield, at his Lawnfeld
home. The train stopped at the farm, and the
battalion, heSded by band, marched to the
residence, where Herman w. Granris, presi-
dent of the organization, made a brief address.
| to which Gen. Garfield responded thus: Mr..
Chairman and Young Gentlemen: This is no Or
dinary event in the history of any man-indeed
In the history of any people, when, IS l am
told, there are 400 young men here who have
made this journey. not for any personal pur-
| pose but to express that great general, earnest
purpose that arises in the hearts of active, in
| telligent young men, when they first grappled
| the questions of their country. know nothing
all the pleasure 1t brings me,
I am bound to say it brings
u little enchantment to me in this: Always, to
this time have been accustomed to consider
myself young man. daughter aud applause
II before your arrival anybody had raised the
question / should have asserted with good
deal Of indignation, if anybody had denied
lt,that myself was young man; bat they tell
me that you are to cast your first national vote
at Presidential election. If this is so, young
man as ! am, I was voter bsfore any of You
were born. (Applause.) Now if you are young
men and voters, borrowing the language of
Rip Van Winkle, when he awakened from his
long sleep ''Who in the world am II" Laugh
ter and applause. must have passed the
very flush Of youth at least. But young gen.
tlemep, haveEnot SO far left the course of
youth to travel inland but
that l can very well remember
the state of young manhood, from an expert.
ence in it OF some years, and there is nothing
to me in this world SO inspiring as the possi-
bilities that lie locked up in the head and
breast OF young man. (Applause). The
hopes that lie before him, the great aspirations
around him. the great aspirations above him
all these things, with the untrod pathway of
life opening up it's difficulties and dangers,
inspire him to courage and force and work.
1t is spectacle that the very gods would
look down on, even in ancient Roman days,
with more than ordinary interest. (Applause).
Now let me say single word or two is
swer to the great kindness and compliment of
your coming to my house, about some of the
thoughts that have known get into the heads
of young mep, to inspire them, and some de-
lusions that are likely to get into their minds.
Let me speak of one of the delusions that
think, from the remarks of yonr chairman, you
are not likely to have. 1t is q delusion that
effects all men, mora or less, particularly
the young men. The delusion tkat good things
and great things are some way off yOnder,
rway abroad-that is one of the 6elusions
that hope you are not living to illustrate.
But right over here fifteen miles, where I
spen: my childhood, there is lovely little
brook gorge where we used to GO down and
find slate stones and whittie them ont into
pencils for ourselves. that were better than ell
the pencils brought from abroad; but If any
boy brought into our school what is not in any
English dictionary, but in the school boys
dictionary, a "boughten pencil" he could get
a whole handful of our home made pencils for
it, and yet everyone sof. ours twas better
than the best that he brought from abroad.
There was delusion among us that outside of
NE, away from us, was glory, was greatness.
Now, as to our country, let US not get any such
Gelusion into eur heads. l know that Is q
good thing for us to know all about abroad
to know what it is to enlarge our minds by it,
but want you to feel, in the depth of your
hearts, that there is no abroad in all this world
that is half equal to the glory of being an
American here at home and to-day. (Great
applause.) Right here, in this yard, is q splen-
did specimen of American sovereignty-the
room, the roof, and crown Of this world of
sovereignty. Enlarge it into the millions of
men who vote and you bave the grand, august
sovereign of this last aud best born of time,
the American republic. (Applause.) Now,
that that sovereign shall be unsaackled for
eyer-that that sovereign be unpurchasable
when Ii stands st the ballot box
to order the supreme will
of the nation-that that sovereign shall be un-
intimidated by mortal man when it utters that
final omnifc word that commands the conti-
neIt-that is the great purpose that ell true
Americans should keep in their minds. (Great
applause). When see such band of earnest
young men as meet me here to-day, feel GER
tain that If they would deploy themselves as
ballot box guard to defend the purity Of the
American ballot boz; (applause), to stand
around 1t rs around the cradle of our heir ap-
parent of American sovereignty--such
guardians. such defenders, will keep
the republic pure and keep it
free. Young gentlemen, your visit
to me gives me compliment of the highest
sort. and while it disenchants me. as said q
little, while it still reaches the hand of youth
out to me- which take with all cordiality and
earnestnsss, and for your rendered support to
me- which is not for my sake, but for the sake
of the cause of which am now the representa-
tive, give you all the thanks of which my
heart is capable. (Applausel. The house is
small, the township is small, the county 10 a
small one-but all there is or it to give of gen.
erosity and hospitality and welcome that is in
my hands to give, is yours while you stay.
| (Applause and cheers). bid you Welcome to
all there is OF US, gentlemen.