The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-08-07
LETTERS OF ACCEPTANCE.

garded as matters of mere etiquette, their MAJ
ner and matter are often significant and impo
tant as atfording fair gauge of the real cha
acter and calber OF their respective authors
In this light the letters of Gen. Hancock an
Gen. Garfield certainly afford striking cor
trast. That of the latter, even by the adml
sion of his friends, consists of a mere tame
spritless rehearsal and endorsement of tn,
Chicago platform, devoid of all force or crisp
ness of without a single sentenc
or phrase that can be caught up by his friend
and used as party watchwOrd, ending will
a shambllng, deprecatory sort Of soiteninl
down (ciingingly incorporated to placate thu
supposed wrath of Roscoe Conkling) of tn,
rather positive expressions Of the convention
platform in regard to civil service reform, ant
supplying an apparent oversight or omission
of the platform by putting IN humiliatin,
bid for the anti, Chinese vote of the Pacific
states. From beginning to end it shows thu
earmarks of the mere politician, full of Graf
but wholly lacking in the manliness and cour
age of true statcsmanship-O the other hand
the letter Of Gen. Hancock shows manlness
vlgor, and selfassertion all over He disposes
of the party platform summarily by saying
"Ihc principles enumerated by the Convention
are those | have cherished IN the past, and
shall cndeavor to MAINTAIN in the future
From this he turns at once to point on which
IN view of the constant assertion of the oppo
nents of the democracy that their advent to
power would endanger the results of the war,
it was appropriate and needful he should give
forth no uncertain sound. "The 18Th, 14th
and 10Th amendments to the constitution" he
says, "embodying the results of the war tor the
Union, are inviolable. If called to the pres-
dency | shall deem it my duty to resist any at
tempt to impair or cvade the full force and eff
feet OF the constitution which IN every article
section and amendment IS the supreme law of
The land" No answer could be more pointed
and complete than this TO the republican &C.
cusation referred to. He goes a step further,
and by a few vigorous sentences shows that he
has clear perception Of the scope and limits
Of the constitution, and that Its just interpreta
ion affords no countenance to the dangerous
doctrines of Capitalization that have lately be-
come so popular in certain quarters THE
general and state governments have each their
sphere and each acting in its own sphere with
'ut touching upon the lawful jurisdiction of
ba ~
s no less explicit in his reference to the great
fraud " and his depreciation of military in.
difference with elections. Civil service reform
lc dlsposes Of by going to the marrow of it IN
few crisp sentences, saying it must begin
With the people by fixing high standard of
honesty and capacity IN their elections and re-
Iuiring the same test to be applied to officers
" appointment. Public offices are not a |
county bestowed upon the holders, and incom.
'etent or dishonest persons if haply appoint.
d, Will be promptly eJected" There are no
declarations IN regard to the tariff, because the
ubject is really not in issue, the last congress
avng turned it over to a commission of OK. |
erts; nor on the currency question, as that
% is substantially, by agreement of both par.
es, out of the issue. In contrast with the
lmeness of diction of Gen. Garfield's letter
lat OF Gen. Hancock abounds in ringing sen.
'nccs. Here, for instance, 10 a capital war
fy: "A full vote, free ballot, and fair
Dunt' Here is another: "Lct us cultivate
iendship, not animosity" Here is in sub
ance another: at is my duty to take care
lat the laws be faithfully and equally execut
in all parts of the country allke.' The first
proves the unfair count Of 1876; the second
dukes the leaders of the Republican party,
NO cultivate animosity, not friendship; the
ara promises that the South shall not be an
'eland under Gen. Hancock's rule, but that
he North and South shall alike feel the bene.
ccncc of his administration.
The letter of Mr. English, after paving
cordial and graceful tribute to the great
'ldler and citizen who occupies the
fst place on the ticket, strikes the I
'ynole of the situation by declaring tina, ,
C genius of our Institutions demands a fire. II
lent change of rulers, and that the party =,
men has monopolzed the executive depart.
eht OF the general government for twenty 7
ars-the last four years in defiance of the
shes Of a majority of the people and by dis. n
edltable means-should be retired. The letter :,
oceees to enlarge on the great fraud, (which y
ould never be forgotten or forgiven :" asserts {
al the presen: contest Is between the people /,
deavoring to regain the political power out 4
which they were trickcd, and hundred -
'usand federal ofiicc-holders pampered with +,
ace and power and determined not to sur. :,
lder them. THIS Mr. English regards as the &.
y to the present tendency of encroachment q
The federal power upon the domain that be- n
igs to the states and the people; and while a
would oppose any curtallment OF the right ;,
authority OF the national government he :.
'uld arrest that tendency TO an irresponsible -