Wichita eagle., 1888-06-24
JAMES A. GARFIELD.
Speech in the National Republican Con-
vention at Chicago, June, 1850. Noni-
mating John Sherman for tho Presidency.

/ speech In the national 6epuDican Con-
vention at Chicago, June, 1850. Nori-
mating John Sherman for tho Presidency.
| | have witnessed the extraordinary
scenes of this convention with deep solic
/ itude. No emotion touches my heart moro
/ quickly than a sentiment IN honor of q
! great and noble character But as | sat
! on these seats and witnessed these dem
/ onstrations it seemed to me you were q
/ 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 duilest man But remember that
/ it Is not the pillows, bet the calm level of
/ the sea. from which all heights and depths
are measured When the storm has
passed and the hour OF calm settles on the
ocean when sunlight bathes It's smooth
surface. then the astronomer and surveyor
takes the level from which he measures
all terrestrial heights and depths Gen
tlemen of the convention, your present
temper may not mark the healthful pulse
Of our people. When our enthusiasm mas
passed when the emotions of this hour
have subsidized, we shall find the calm
level OF public opinion below the storm
from which the thoughts of mighty
people are to be measured and by which
their final action will be determined Not
here. in this brilliant circle where Is. 600
men and women are assembled. is the
destiny of the republic to be decreed; not
here, where see the enthusiastic faces
of 756 delegates waiting to cast their
votes into the urn and determine the
choice of their party but by 100000
Republican fresides. where the thought
full 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
men who have adorned and blessed our
nation Ia days gone by-there God pre-
pares the verdict which shall determine
the wisdom of our work to night Not in
Chicago in the heat of June. but in the
sober quiet that comes between now and
the melancholy days of November, in the
silence of deliberate judgment will this
great question be settled. Let Us aid them
TO night.
But now, gentlemen of the conven
ton, what do we wantf Bear with me
moment Hear me for this cause and
for moment be silent that you may
hear Twenty Eve years ago this repub
lie was wearing a triple chain of bondage
Long familiarity with traffic In the body
and souls Of men had paralyzed the con
science of majority of our people. The
baleful doctrine of state sovereignty had
shocked and weakened the nobest and
most benefcient powers of the national
government, and the grasping power OF
slavery was Selling the virgin territorieso 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 liberty
which God has lighted in every mans
heart. and which all the powers of ignor-
ance and tyranny can never wholly ex-
tinguish The Republican party came to
deliver and save the republic 1t entered
the arena when the beieaguered and as
sailed territories were struggling for free
dom. and drew around them the sacred
circle of liberty which the demon of slav-
cry has never dared to cross. 1t made them
free forever. Strengthened by its victory
on the frontier, the young party, under
the leadership of that great man who, on
this spot. twenty years ago. was made its
leader. entered the national capital and
assumed the high duties Of the govern
ment. 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, in the fire Of liberty, every
,lave pnr within the shadow of the esni-
TAI our naJIolI IauuSJrISs, Uy
poverishing policy. were themselves pros
trated, 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 uncontrolled and n
responsible state banking corporations.
which was filing the country with 9
circulation which poisoned rather than
sustained the life of business The Re
publican party changed all this. It abol-
ished the babel Of confusion, and gave the
country currency as national as its flag,
based upon the sacred faith of the people
1t threw it's protecting arm around our
great industries, and they stood erect as
with new life 1t filed with the spirit
of true nationality all the great functions
OF the government 1t confronted q re-
bellion OF unexampled magnitude, with
slavery behind it, and. under God, fought
the final battle of liberty until victory was
won Then, after the storms of battle.
were heard the sweet. calm words of peace
uttered by the conaueriag nation. and
saying TO the conquered foe that lay pros
trate 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 eli
men. white or black. shall be fres and
stand equal before the law
Then came the questions OF rscoastruc-
ton, the public debt and the public faith
In the settlement Of the questions the Re-
publican party las completed its twenty
Eve years of glorious existence. and i. has
sent Us here to prepare I. for another
lustrum Of duty and Of victory. How
shall We DO this great work. We Cannot
DO it. nv friends, by ssssiling our Repub-
liczn brethren God forbid that should
say one word to cas. shadow upon any
name On the roll Of orr heroes This
coming fight is our Thermopyle. We are
standing upon g narrow isthmUs II cur
Spartan hosts are united we can with
stand all tie Persisrs that the Xe-xes Of
can bring against Us Let Is