Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-06-09
GARFiELO'S EULOGY OF SHERMAN.
Delivered at the Convention Of 1880
That Nominated Garfield.

Iidfc NIiueSStu tIG EXTRAORDINARY
scenes Of this convention with deep So
licitude. No emotion touches my heart
more quickly than a sentiment in honor
of a great and noble character But as
l sat on these seats and witnessed these
demonstrations II seemed to me YOU
were q human ocean in q tempest |
have seen the sea dashed into a fury and
tossed into spray. and its grandeur
moves the soul of the dullest man. But
| remember that it il not the hillows,
but 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 baihes its smooth surface. then
the astronomer and surveyor takes the
restial heights and depths
Gentlemen of the convention. your
Present temper may not mark the health
fnl pulse Of our people. When our en-
thnsiasm has passed. when the emotions
Of this hour have subsidcd. We shall
find the calm level Of public opinion he
low the storm from which the thoughts
and by which their final action will be
determined. Not here in this brilliant
circle where II 900 men and women are
assembled Is the destiny Of the republic
to be deCreed; not here, where see the
enthusiastic faces Of 80 delegates wait
ing TO cast their votes into the nrn and
determine the choice Of their party, but
by 4,oo0,O Republican firesiaes. 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 VI the
past, tho hopes of the future, and the
knowledge Of the great men who havo
adorned and blessed our nation in dav.
gone hy-there God prepares the verdict
that shall determine the wisdom Of our
work tonight. Not in Chicago in the
heat Of June, but in the sober qnet that
comes between now and the melancholy
days Of November, in the silence of de
liberate judgment, will this great ques-
tion be settled. Let us aid them tonight
But now, gentlemen Of the conyeu-
tion, what dc we want? Bear with me
. moment. Hear me for this cause, and
for moment be silent that You ma,
hear. Twenty-Five years ago this re
public WAS wearing a triple chain Of
bondage. Long familiarity with traffic
in the bodies and souls of men had para
lyzed the conscience Of a majority of
our people. The baleful doctrine Of
state sovereignty mad shocked and weak
ened the nohiest ana luost herefcent
powers of the national government, and
the grasping power Of slavery was SELF
ing the virgin ierritory Of the west AMI
dragging it into tho den Of eternal
bondage.
At that crisis the Republican party
was born Ii drew its first inspiration
from that fire Of liberty which Gud mas
lighted III every mans heart. and which
all the powers Of ignorance and tyranny
can never wholly extinguish. The Re
publican party came TO deliver and save
the republic. 1t entered the arena when
the beleasuered and aseailed territories
were struggling for freedom, ami drew
around them the sacred circle Of liberty
which the demon Of slavery has never
dared TO cross IL made them free for
ever. Strengthened bv its victory on the
frontier the young party, under the
leadership Of that great man who, On
TINS SPOT twenty years ago was made
its leader entered the national capital
and assumed the high duties of the gov-
ernment The light which shone from
its banner di-T+lled the darkness in which
slavery had en-hrouded the capital. and
melted tine shackleS Of every slave and
consumed in the fire Of liberty. every
slave pen within the shadow Of tho
Capitol.
Our national industries. by an impov-
erishing policy. We're 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
1900 uncontrolled and irresponsible state
banking corporations, which was filling
the country with circulation that poi
soned rather than sustained the life of
business. The Republican party changed
all this. 1t abolished the babel of CON
fusion and gave the country currency
as national as its flag, based upon the
sacred faith of the people 1t threw its
protecting arm around our great indus
tries and they stood erect as with new
life. 1t filled with the spirit Of true ma
tionality all the great functions Of the
government.
1t confronted rebellion Of unexaln-
pied 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 conqnering nation 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 firma-
ment Of the constitution, to shine like
stars for ever and ever. the immortal
principles of truth and justice, that all
men, white or black, shall be free and
stand equal before the law"
Then came the question of reconstruc-
ton. the public debt and the public faith.
In the settlement of the questions the
Republican party has completed its
twenty-five years Of glorious existence,
ana IL mas sent US mere 10 prepare IL Tor
another lustrum of duty and of victory.
How shall we do this great work? We
cannot do it, my friends. by assailing
our Republican brethren. God forbid
that should say one word to cast a
shadow upon any name on the roll Of
our heroes. This coming fight is our
ThermopylR. We are standing upon a
narrow isthmus. If our Spartan hosts
are united we can withstand all the Per-
SLAMS that the Xerxes of Democracy can
bring against us. Let us hold our ground
this one year, for the stars in their courses
fight for us in the future The census
taken this year will bring reinforce
ments and continued power.
But in order to win this victory now
we want the vote Of every Republican,
of every Grant Republican and every
anti-Grant Republican in America, Of
every Blaine man and every anti-Blaine
man. The vote of every follower Of
every candidate is needed to make our
success certain; therefore say. gentle
men and brethren, we are here to take
calm counsel together and inquire what
we shall do. We want man whose life
and opinions embody all the achieve
ments Of which | have spoken. We want
a man who, standing on mountain
height, sees all the achievements of our