Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-03

moment. General Garfield is acceptable
to both wings Of the party, and to the
supporters Of all the Chicago candidates.
An outspoken anti-third-term man, he
had nevertheless retained the personal
respect and liking Of the third-,erm lead
ers. The friends of Grant will work for
his election as cnergetically as will those
of Blaine and Sherman. His moderation
in debate and hearty kindliness of man
ner dis prejudice and win friends
amongs. those who differ with him in
opinion. Had Blaine or Sherman been
nominated. New York might have been
thrown away by the lukewarmness OF
Mr.. Coukling and his adherants, as 1t
was in 1876. Now the assistance OF this
powerful element in the pivotal State Of
the contest is doubly assured; first, by
the frlendliness and confidence 1t feels
towards Garfield; and, second. by the
nomination of Chester \. Arthur, Mr..
Conkling's nearest political friend, for
vice. president. General Garfield has a
gallant record as a soldier, and is popular
among the soldier class, which likes 70
see its services TO the country recognized
by the selection OF is representative men
for hish positions. The farmers like him
because he is one of them. He is a
product of the soil, and his only property
beside his house in Washington Is his
Ohio farm where, in the vacations OF
Congress. he delights in the wholesome
ou; door labors of the farmer. The work
ingmen of the towns and cities. who are
growing more restless year by year al the
limitations of their condition, and who
have no strong political ties, admire
man who once worked for wages, like
themselves, and who has had no favors
from fortune that he has not won by his
own toll of hand or brain. Cultivated
people of all sorts have hearty sympathy
for him because of his broad culture, AMI
see in him the student and the friend Of
letters as well as the successful politician.
Business men have full confidence in him.
His record on all questions affecting the
debt and the currency Is as clear as sun
light. Never has he swerved hair s.
breadth from the straight line of principle.
Honest money based on coin and an
honest payment Of the nations obliga
tons has been his motto through all the
fluctuations of public opinion and all the
vagaries of party action No other man
in Congress has made so thorough a study
of the history and science of political
economy and national finance, or is better
grounded in his convictions upon sound
principles. Independent republicans re-
member that he has never been an ultra
partisan, and that he has more than once
shown the courage 10 stand almost alone
in opposition to his party in Congress.
Straight-ou., stalwart republicans know
that his Judgment as to the best course
for the party to pursue has always been
safe and conservative, and has generally
been justified by events. His leadership
in the house has not been dashing and
brilliant, but when he has marked out a
position for the republicans to take they
have always been able to hold it, and
have come out victors in the contest be-
fore the people. Better, perhaps than
any man in public life, he represents the
strong, average good sense, patriotism,
liberality. tolerance, and progressive i'm
pulses Of the republican organization.
He will have to go through an angry
contest and face much detraction and
SANDER. Unfortunately for both parties,
the democrats are without clearly de.
fined, vital issue this year. In theil
poverty of principles on which to appeal
to the public, they will yield to the temp
ta,iou to resort to abuse and vilificatiou
of the opposing candidate, and the re.
publicans will no doubt be led to retori
in kind. The charges the democrat:
bring against General Garfield have been
fully tried before the most exacting jury
a man can face,-that of his own neigh
bors and constituents,-and have been
rejected as unworthy of belief. They
will be repeated, however. and new ones
will be invented, but his character is tor
we'll established and his record too vel
known for him to suffer from them. The
leader Of the republicans of the house
with eighteen years of congressional
service behind him and a term OF 81,
years in the senate ahead, to resign ii