The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-08-25
SPEECH OF GENERAL GARFIELD.
WHEN sEBENADED BY THE BOYS ~
BLUE OF NEW YORK, AUGUST ..
Comrades Of the BOYS IN Blue and f'3-
Iom-citi-ens of Nnr Iark:

Comrades Of The BOYS IN Blue and ,fet-
lor-citi-eas Of Ner York.
cannot look upon this great as
sombly and those cid veterans that
have marched past "a and listened
to the welcome from our comrade
who has just spoken without remem-
bering how great n thing it is to live
in this Union and TO be part OF It.
This Is New York. and yonder to
ward the Battery, more than Il hun
dred years ago a young student OF
Columbia college was arguing the
ideas Of the American revolution
and American union against the un-
American loyalty to monarchy OF
his college president and professors.
Bv-and-by be went into the patriot
ic army was placed on the staff OF
Washington to fight the battles OF
his country [cheers], and while IN
camp. before he was twenty-onc
wears old. unon a drum head ne
wrote a letter which contained eve
nv germ of the constitution of the
United States. [Applause.l That
studen. soldier. statesman and great
leader Of thought, Alexander Hamil-
ton. OF New York, made this repub-
lie bv his thinking, and left his last
ine impress upon New York, the
foremost State OF the Union. APP
plause.l And here on this island,
the scene of his early triumph, we
gather to night soldiers Of the new
war, representing the same ideas Of
union and glory, and adding to the
column of thcmonumcnt that Ham
ilton and Washington and the he
roes of the revolution reared. Gen
tlemen. ideas outlive men; ideas
outlive all things; and YOU who
fought in the war for the Union,
fought for immortal ideas. and by
their might YOU have crowned our
war with victory. Great applause.
But victory was worth nothing cX-
cept for the fruits that were under
it. in it and above it. We meet to-
night as veterans and comrades 10
stand sacred guard around the
truths for which we have fought
loud and prolonged cheering. !
And while we have life to meet and
grasp the hand OF Il comradc we will
stand by the great truths of the war
F"Good - good and loudchcers !
And, comrades, among the convic-
tons Of that war which have sunk
deep in our hearts, there are some
we can never forget. Think of the
great elevatine spirit of the war it.
self We gathered the boys from al
our farms and shops and stores and
homes from all over the republic,
and they went forth unknown 10
fame. but returned enrolled on the
roster of immortal heroes. [Grcat
applausc.l They went in the spirit
OF those soldiers of Henry at Agn-
court, OF whom he said;
WIDTHS day sheds his blood with ne
+ To-day shall he my brother.
Were be rc'cr so vile.
This day shall gentle his condition.
And II did gentle the condition and
elevate the heart of every working
soldier who fought in it [applau-el
and he shall be our brother forever
more: and the thing we well rdmem-
/ Der is our allies who fought with Us.
Soon after the great struggle began
we looked behind the army of white
rebels and saw 100000 OF black
people condemned to toll rs the
slaves for our enemies. and we found
that the hearts Of these 100000
people were God-in-spircd with the
spirit Of liberty, and that they were
our friends. We have seen white
. men bctray the flag and fight to Kill
/ the Union. but in all that long,
/ drcary war we never saw traitor IN
/ the black skin. our prisoners cs-
Gaping from the starvation of prison,
. fleeing to our lines by the light of
/ the north. never feared To enter the
/ black mans cabin and ask for bread
( IT~Good. good. That's so. and loud
cheers In all that period of suf-
fering and danger no Union soldier
was ever BETRAYED by a black man
or woman, and now that we have
made them free 50 long as we live
we viii stand by these black citizens.
/ [Great applause We will stand
by them until the sun Of liberty fix
cd in the firmamcnt of our constitu-
tioH shall shine with equal rays up
on every man, black or white,
throughout the Union. IChccrs !
Now. lellow-citizens. fellow-soldicrs,
in this there is all the bcncfccncc of
eternal justice, and by this we will
stand forever. [Applause.l The
great poet has said in Individual
life we rise on stepping stones of
our dead selves to higher things,
and the republic ON the glorious
achievements of its dead and living
heroes to a higher and nobler ma
tional life [Applause.l We must
stand guard over our past, rs sol
dicrs. as patriots, and over our coun-
try as a common heritage of us all
[Applausc. | thank YOU fellow
citizens. for this magnificent demon
stration In so far as ! represent in
nv heart and life the great doctrines
for which you fought, accept this
demonstration as a tribute to my
representative character. Applause. |
In the strength of your hands, in
the feryor of your hearts, in the
firmness of your faith, in all that be-
tokens greatness OF manhood and
nobleness of character, the republic
finds its security and glory. ZAP
plause. ! do not enter upon CON
trovertcd questions. The time, the
place, the situation forbids it. re-
spect the traditions that require me
to speak only Of those themes which
elevate us all. Again | thank YOU
for the kindness and enthusiasm of
your greeting. Tremendous cheer
ing.
blocked the Trade.