The Portland daily press., 1880-07-01
A Word With Independents.
By the Pennsylvania National Republican
League.
PHILADELpH1A, june 26, 1880.

PHILADELPHIA, June 26, $780,
The issues of the presidential canvass are
now fully defined, and every voter can deter
mine for himself tho line of action which the
highest interests of the country require. In
the judgment of the national Republican
league there should be no hesitation. The
Democracy with strange inconsistency have
adopted the expedient of nominating man
whose only training has been that of the army,
and whose reputation, entirely military, is the
principal measure of his fitness for the highest
civil position in the gift of the people. On the
other hand, the friends of good government
have every reason to be satisfied with the
nomination of Gen. Garfield and with the
manner in which it was secured Their de-
termination to support him ought to be inten-
siied by the alternative presented. Simple
acquiescence in the Chicago ticket, however,
is not enough. In the coming canvass there is
no place for lukewarmness or indifference.
The united efforts of all who look with disfa-
vor on Democratic methods will be requisite
to preserve the country from the worst of acts.
The solid South requires the aid of but two
northern States to give to the Democracy a
majority in the electoral college, and there are
many devices through which the united action
of both houses of Congress may set aside the
verdict of the people if that verdict is not rem
dered so emphatically as to preclude all re-
course to 'chicane." The attempted capture
of Maine shows that the Democratic party is
prepared to use any means that may enable it
to gain possession of the executive department
with its limitless opportunities OF expenditure
and patronage. We may reasonably antici-
pate events which will strain our institutions
to the utmost, and lead to dangers which no
lover of his country can contemplate without
the greatest alarm. To avert these dangers it
not enough that our candidate shall be fairly
and honestly elected; his majority must be
such that ON no pretext can it be set aside.
For this every vote is needed, and every voter
should use his influence to arouse his friends
to the necessity of vigorous and united action.
If with such candidate as General Garfield,
nominated under the most favorable auspices,
we shall fail, we may well fear for the result
of any effort in the future to prevent the deca-
dence of our public life 1t is moreover of
high Importance that Republican executive
should be supported by Republican House of
Representatives in order TO uphold financial
honesty and industrial prosperity, and with
proper effort working majority in Congress
may be easily regained. The power which
makes and unnaalSes parties and regulates our
national policy lies in the hands of that COM
paratively small number of voters who cast
their ballots ON either side, or who abstain
from voting, as their sense of duty dictates.
To this conscience vote we confidently appeal,
believing that every patriotic motive requires
the Republican electoral ticket.
By order of the executive committee,
WILLIAM RoTCH WISTER, Chairman.
HAMPTON l.. CARSON, Secretary.