Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-06-19
THE SPEECH
In Which Gen. Garfield Tried to
Nominate John Sherman.
But Did in Fact Nominate James
A. Garfield.

But Did in Fact Nominate James
A. Garfield.
Its Remarkable snecs Upon the Au
3ks dience.
The nomination of Gen. Garfield gives
peculiar interest to the speech in which
on Saturday night in the Chicago con.
ventiOn he nominated John Sherman fol
the presidency, producing an effect upon
his audience which, undoubtedly led tC
his own nomination. The following is
its full text:
Gen. Garfield-Mr. President, l have
witnessed the. extraordinary scenes OF
this convention with deep sOlicitude
No emotion touches my heart more
quickly than sentiment in honor of q
great and noble character. But as sal
on these seats and witnessed these
demonstrations, it seemed to me YOU
were human ocean in a tempest.
have seen the sea dashed into fury and
tossed into a. 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
lAUUlduStsI Utu tIlt 6IOIUl lldS DdSSetl
and the hour of calm settles on the ocean,
then the astronomer and surveyor takes
the level from which he measures all
terrestrial heights and depths. Zap
s,ause.l Gentlemen of the convention,
year present temper may not mark the
healthful pulse of our people. When Our
enthusiasm has passed, when the emo
tons of this hour hayesubsided, we shall
find the calm level of public opinion, be-
low the storm, from which the thoughts
of mighty people are to be measured,
and by which their final action will be
determined. Applause. Mot here, in
this brilliant circle. where 1900 men
and women are assembled. is the destiny
of the Republic to be decreed [''That is
sO"l; not here, where see the enthusiast
tic faces of 756 delegates waiting to cast
their votes into the urn and determine
the choice of their party; fapplause1 but
by 100000 Republican firesides, where
the thoughtful fathers, with wives and
children about them, with the calm
thoughts inspired by love of home and
love of country, with the history of the
past, the hopes of the future, and the
knowledge of the great who have adOrn-
ed and blessed our nation in days gone
by-there God prepares the verdict that
shall determine the wisdom of our work
tonight [applausel. Not in Chicago in
the heat of June, but i'm the sober, quiet
that comes between now and November,
i'm the silence of deliberate judgment,
will this great question be settled. [Cries
of good. Let US aid them tonight.
[Great applause.] But now, gentlemen
of the convention, what do we want? IA
voice, Garfield" Bear with me a
moment. Hear me for this cause, and,
for moment, be silent that you may
hear. [Cries of "GOod."] Twenty years
ago this republic was wearing a triple
chain of bondage. Long familiarity
with traffic in the bodies and souls of
men had paralyzed the cOnscienees of
q majority of our people. The baleful
doctrine of state sovereignty had shocked
and weakened the nOblest and most
beneficient powers of the national gov
eminent, and the grasping power of
slavery was Selling the virgin territories
of the west and dragging them into the
den of eternal bondage. At that crisis
the Republican party was born. 1t drew
its first inspiration from that fire of lib
erty which God has lighted in every
mans heart, and which all the powers of
ignOrence and tyranny can never wholly
extinguish. [Applause]. The Repub-
hean party came to deliver and save the
republic. 1t entered the arena when the
beleaguered and assailed territories were
struggling for freedom, and drew around
them the sacred circle of liberty which
the demon of slavery has never dared to
cross. 1t made them free forever. [Great
applause and cries of good" Strength
ened by its victory on the frontier, the
young party under the leadership OF
that great man who, on this spot 20 years
ago was~made header, entered the
national capital and assumed the high
duties of the government. Applause.
The light which shOne from its banner
dispelled the darkness in which slavery
had enshrOuded the capital and melted
the shackles of every slave, and consumed
every slave pen within the shadow of the
capitol. Our national industries, by an
imp0yerishing policy, were themselves
prOstrated, 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 1000 uncontrolled and irrespOns-
ible state banking corporations, which
were filling the country with a circula-
ton that poisoned rather than sustained
the life Of business Loud applause. I
The Republican party changed all this,
abolished the bable Of confusion and
gave the country a currency as national
as its flag, based upon the sacred faith of
the people. [Applause.l 1t threw its
protecting arm around our great indus
tries and they stO0derect as with new life,
1t filled with the spirit Of true nation
atty all the great functions of the gov
eminent. 1t confronted. a rebellion OF
unexampled magnitude, with slavery be.
hind it, and, under God, fought.the final
battle of liberty until victory was won
[Applause.] Then. after the storms OF
battle, were heard the sweet calm words
of peace uttered by the cOnquering ma.
tion. and saying to the conquered foe
that lay PROSTATE at its feet: "ThiS is
our only revenge, that you join us In
lifting to the serene armament of the
constitution, to shine like stars forever
and ever, the immortal principles OF
truth and justice, that all men, white OF
black shall be free and stand equal be-
fore the law" Loud applause. Then
came the questions of reconstruction
the public debt, and the public faith
In the settlement of these questions the
Republican party has completed its q
years of glorious existence, and 1T has
sent us here to prepare 1T for another
lustrum of duty and of victory. How
shall we do this great work? We can
not do it, my friends, by assailing Oul
Republican brethren. [Great applause