Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-13

Gen. Garfield'S Letter of Accept.
anCes


OF Mass, the following letter Of acceptance OF
the nomination rendered him by the republican
national convention:
Mentor, Ohio, July 10th, 1sso.-Dear Sir: On
the evening OF the sth Of June last had the
honor to receive from you, In presence OF the
committee OF which you were chairman, the an
nouncement that the republican national con
vent1on at Chicago had that day nominated me
for their candidate for President OF the United
States. | accept the nomination with graft
tude for the confidence 1t implies, and with a
deep sense of the responsibilities it imposes. 1
cordially tndorse the principles SET forth
I'll n. On nearly all the subjects Of which it
treats my opinions are on record among the
published proceedings OF Congress- l venture.
the principal topics which are likely to become
subjects OF discussion, without renewing the
controN ersies which have been settled during
wish to revive the passions of the late war. It
should be said that while republicans fully
recognize and will strenuously defend all the
rights maintained by the people and all the
pern1ctouS doctrine of state supremacy which
SO long crippled the functions of the national
Union very near to destruction. They tn-
sist chat the United States Is a nation with
ample power OF preservation; that its con-
sututioD. and laws made in pursuance thereof,
are the supreme law of the land; that the right
OF the nation to determine the method by which
It's own legislature shall be created cannot be
damental powers OF the government; that the
national laws relating to the election of Repre-
sentatlves In Congress shall neither be violated
or eYaded: that every elector shall be permitted
freely and without intimidation to cast mis- law
ful ballot at such election and have it honestly
counted; and that the potency OF his vote shall
not be destroyed by the fraudulent vote CT any
other person. The best thoughts and energies OF
our people should be directed to those great
questions OF material Well-being in which all
nave common interest. Such efforts will
hn
were lately in arms against each other. for JUS
t1ce and goodwill Will OutlaSt passion: but II
is certain that the wounds of the war cannot
be completely healed and the spirit OF
brotherhood cannot fully pervade the whole
country until every citizen, rich Or poor white
or black, is secure in the free and equal enjoy
ment or every civil and political right guar
anteed by the constitution and the laws.
Wherever the enjoyment OF this right Is not
assured discomfort will prevail, Immigration
VIII cease, and the social and industrial force
Will continue to be disturbed by the migration
OF laboreIS and the consequent diminutIon OF
prosperity, The national government should
exercise all its constitutional authority to put
an end 10 these evils for all Ihe people and all
the states are members OF one body, and no
member can suffer without injury to all. The
most serious evils which now affect the south
arise from the fact that there is not such free
dom and federation Of political opinion and
action that the minority party can exercise an
e1lectiVe and wholesome restraint upon the
party In power. Without such restraint party
rule becomes tyranical and corrupt. The pros
pe'ity Which is made possible in the south by
It's great advantages OF soil and climate will
never be realized until every voter can freely
ana safely support any party he pleases. Next
In Importance to freedom and justice is popular
educat1On without which neither justice nor
freedom can be permanently maintained. Its
interests are entrusted to the states and the
voluntary action OF the people. Whatever help
the nat1on can justly afford should be gener-
ously given to aid the states In supporting
common schools, but it would be unjust to our
people and dangerous to our institutions to ap-
norton n fha
OF the state to the support Of sectarian schools.
The separation of the church and the
be absolute. On the subject OF national finance
my views have been so frequently and fully
expressed that little is needed in the way of aG-
d1tional statement. The public debt is now so
well secured and the rate of annual interest
has been SO reduced by funding that rigid econ.
Omy I'D expenditures and the faithful apDlica-
th non OF our surplus revenues to the payment OF
talnly 1ree the people from its burdens and
close with honor the financial chapter of the
war. At the same time the government can
pIov1Ge for all its ordinary expenditures and
discharge its sacred obligations TO the soldiers
OF the Union and to the widows and orphans OF
specie payments, which the republican party so
cOurageously and successfully ACCOMPLISHED
has removed from the field OF controversy
many questions that long and seriously dis
turbed the credit OF the government and the
business Of the country. Our paper currency is
now as national as the flag, and resumption has
III.
has brought into use our store of gold and sill
yer. The circulating medium is more abundant
than ever before, and we need only to maintain
the equality OF all our dollars to insure to labor
and capital measure OF value from the use OF
which no one can suffer loss The great prosper
ny winch the country Is now enjoying should
not be endangered by any violent changes or
doubtful financial experiments. In reference to
our customs laws, policy should be pursued
Which VIII bring revenues to the treasury and
will enable the labor and capital employed In
our great industries to compete fairly In our
own markets with the labor and capital of for
eign producers. We leglslate tor the people OF
IL Is our glory that the American laborer is
more intelligent and better paid than his for
e1gn competitor. Our country cannot be tnde-
pendent unless its people, with their abundant
natural resources, possess the requisite skill at
any time to clOthe, arm and equip themselves
lor war, and In time OF peace to produce all the
necessary implements OF labor. It was the
manifest intention of the founders of the gov
ernment to provide for the common defence.
not by standing armies alone, but by raising
among the people greater army Of artIzans
contribute to the safety and glory of the nation.
fortunately for the interests OF commerce
to appropriations for the improvement nnt@'c Of
our haIboTs and great navlgable rivers,
provided that the expenditures for that
national Importance. The Mississippi river
with Its great tributaries, is OF such vital i'm.
portsnce to so many millions OF people that the
consideration. In order to secure to the nation
the control OF all its waters President Jeffer-
son negotiated the purchase Of a vast territory
extending from the Cult of Mexico to the Pa
cifc ocean. The wisdom of Congress should be
invoked to devise some plan by which that
great river shall cease to be terror to those
who dwell upon its banks, and by which its
shipping may safely carry the indus
trial products OF twenty-five millions of
people. The interests OF agriculture, which
Is the basis OF all our material pros.
perity, and in which seven-tNe elfths of our
population are engaged, as well as the interests
OF manufactures and commerce, demand that
the facilities for cheap transportation shall be
Increased by the use OF all our great water
courses. The material interests OF this country,
the traditions OF its settlement and the senti-
ment OF our people 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
peEefits OF our society, and intending that their
poSter1ty Shall become an undiStinguiShable
part OF our population.
The recent movement of the Chinese to our
Pacific coast partakes but little OF the qualities
OF such an emigration, either in its purposes or
its result. 1t Is too much like an importation
10 be welcomed without restriction; TOO much
like an invasion to be looked upon wi hOut
sol1citude. We cannot consent to allow any
Ioim OF serv1le labor to be introduced among
US under the Ru1Se OF Immigration. RoCOg.