The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-07-17
GARFIELD ACCEPTS
The Republican Nomination for Presi-
dent Of the United States.
GarfieId's Letter OF Acceptance.

GarfeId's Letter OF Acceptance.
MENTc R, o., July l2.-General Garfield has
forwarded to Senator Hoar. of Massachusetts,,
the following letter of acceptance OF the nomt-
nation rendered him by the Republican Ma
tional Conventions:
MENTOR, o., July 10, 1880.
DEAR SIR-On the evening of the Sth of June
last had the honor to receive from you, In
were Chairman. the offioiai announcement
that The Republican National Convention at
Chicago had that day nominated me as their
candidate for President of the United States.
accept the nomination with gratitude for
the confidence it implies, and with eep
sense of the responsibilities IL imposes.
set forth In the platform adopted by the Con.
vention on nearly all the SUBJECTS OF wnlcn IL
treats NV opinions are on record among the
published proceedings % Congress venture.
however, to make specisl mention OF some OF
come subjects Of discussion. without review.
ing the controversies which have been settled
during the last twenty years, and with no Pur.
| pose or wish to revive the passions of the late
! war. 1t should be said that while the RepuD-
! licans fully recognize and will strenuously de-
all the rights reserved to the states, they re-
ject the pernicious doctrine OF State SUI
Rrs@acy Which SO long crippled the o Tpno
ment, and at one time brought ous.ns,, the
ton, with ample powers OF self. preservation;
that its Constitution and the laws made Ii
pursuance thereof "are the supreme law OF the
| land; ;" that the right of the Nation to deter
mine the method by which its own Legisla,
| ture shall be created can not be surrendered
powers of the Governments; that the National
| laws relating to the election of Representatives
in Congress shall neither be Violated nor
evaded: that every electOr shall be permitted
/ freely ana without intimidation to cast his
lawful vote at such election, and have It hon
es''v counted and that the potency OF MS vote
and al TD energies Of '' our people should be
o OF National w seHSe being sA' in whien
all have a common interest; such efforts will
soonest restore to perfect peace those VINO
/ were lately In arms against each other, for
| justice and good will Outlast passion. But 1t
is certain that the wounds of the war can not
be completely healed, and the spirit OF BROTH
erhood IN not fully pervade the whole coun-
try, until every citizen, rich and poor, WHITE
or black. Is secure in the free and equal enjoy.
ment or every civil and political right guaran-
teed by the Constitution ana the laws.
Wherever the enjoyment of these rights Is
ton will case, and the social and Industrial
forces will continue to be disturbed by the
migration of labor and the consequent dimi
ment should exercise all its Constitutional
Sa as for an m ins people snd body
and 20 member can suffer without in jury
to all The mt ST Sc tous evils which no W affiict
the South arise from the fact that there Is not
such freedom and federation o, political opin-
ion and action, that the minority party can
exercise an effective and wholesome restraint
upon the party in power; without such re-
straint party rule becomes tyrannical and cor.
rupt. The prosperity which Is made pos.
soil and ciimaiej win never be realized until
every voter can freely and safely support any
party he pleeses.
Next in Importance to freedom and justice Is
popular education, without which, neither
justice nor freedom can be permanently main
tanned. Its interests are intrutted to the States
and to the voluntary action OF the people
Whatever help the Nation can justly afford
should be generously given to and the States In
unjust to our people and dangerous to our In
situations, to apply any portion of the reye-
nues of the Nation, or Of the States, TO the sup,
port of sectarian schools. The separation OF
the Church and the State on everything relat
ing to taxation should be absolute.
On the subject of National finances, my
views have been so frequently and fully ex-
pressed, that little is needed in the way OF an
additional statement. The public debt is now
est has been so reduced by refundfng,
that rigid economy In expenditures, and the
faithful application Of our surplus revenues niue,
will gradually but certainly free the people
from its burdens, and close with honor the
financial chapter of the war. At the same
time the Government can provide for all Its
ordinary expenditures and discharge It's sacred
obligations to the soldiers of the Union, and TO
Its defense. The resumption Of specie pay
monts, which the Republican party so cOur-
!. removed from the field Of controversy many
questions that Ong and seriously disturbed
The credit of the Government and the business
as National as the flag, and resumption has
not only made 1t everywhere equal TO coin,
but has brought into use our store OF gold and
more abundant than ever before, and
vye need only to maintain the quality OF
ar measure Of value from the use of which no
one can suffer loss. The great prosperity
which the country is now enjoying should
doubtful financial experiments In reference
to our custom laws, policy should be pur-
sued which will bring revenue to the Treasury,
and Will enable the labor and capital EN-
pleyed ia our great Industries to compete
fairly in our own markets with the labor and
for the people of the United States, not for
the whole world, and IL is our glory that the
An erican laoorer Is more intelligent and
country can not be independent unless its
people, with their abundant natural re.
sourcg,, possess the requisite skill
selves for war; and in time of peace TO pro-
duce all the necessary implements of labor.
1t was the manifest intention of the fOunde rs
of the Government to provide for the com
| mon defense not by standing armies alone,
Sy
should powerfully contribute to the safety and
glory of the Nation. Fortunately for the In
erests of commerce, there Is no longer any
formidable opposition to the appropriations
| for he improvements of our harbOrs and great
| navigable rivers, provided that the expendi-
| lures for that purpose are stricnS limited to
! works OF National Importance. The Mlssis
sippi River, with its great tributaries, is Of
| such vital I'm pOrtance to so many millions OF
people, that the safety OF its navigation re-
quires exceptional consideration. In order to
secure to the Nation the control of all its wa
| tiers, President JEFFERSON negotiated
the purchase Of vast terrific
| Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The wisdom of
| Congress should be invoked to devise some
plan by which that great river shall cease to
be terror 70 those who dwell upon Its banks.
| the Industrial products OF 25,OO0,OO0 people.
| The interests of agriculture. which Is the
| basis of ali our mat rial prosperity, and In
| which seven-twelfth Of our pOpu alton are en-
gagged, as well as the In terests of manufacturers
and CONNER &c, demand that the facilities for
| cheap transportation shall be Increased by the
use OF all our great water courses. The mate
rial Interests of this country the traditions of
pie have led the Government TO offer the
widest hospitality to emigrants who seek our
shores for new and happier homes, willing to
share the burdens as well as the benefits of our
shall become an undistingu unstable part of our
| population. The recent movement of the
Chin SO to our Pacific Coast partakes but little
OF the qualities of such an emigration, either
! In It's purposes or Its results. 1t Is too much
like ali Importation to be- welcomed without
| restriction; too much like an invasion to be
| looked upon without solicitude We can not
consent to allow any form of servie labor
to be introduced among us under the guise OF
this subject, the pre- sent administration, sup
ported by Congress, has SeLt to China Com
mission OF distinguished citizens for the pur-