Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-07-23
General GarfleId's Letter.


The inter- Ocean can most heartily in
dorse General Garfield's letter of ac-
ceptance. 1t is pleasure to read it,
and pleasure to commend it. 1t has
ring that will inspire confidence, ex-
cite animation, and do much toward
starting the campaign on the road to
triumphant success.
General Garfield properly gives the
first place in his letter to u discussion
of the rights of citizens before the law.
he says, in stirring way, what the
Inter Ocean has iterated and reiterated
for years, that until all men are pro-
tected in their right to vote and to
have their vote honestly counted, other
questions must sink into comparative
insigniticance. Indeed, upon the abili-
ty OF the Government to extend this
protection impartially and completely
depends the success or failure of our
institutions. This is the plain, unvar-
nished truth. 1t is admitted bys the
Democratic party itself, when it de-
clares in its platform that ''the right of
free ballot is the right preservative
of all rights" The difference is that
with Republicans the resolution to en-
force this right comes from the heart,
while with the Democracy it is the dec
laration of the lips merely; in one in
stance the sincerity of the declaration
is attested by twenty years of honest eff
torti in the other it is belied by every
act of the party making it.
But General Garfield goes further
than mere declaration in favor of
free and fair ballot. He shows in
brief and concise manner how the rec
/ iT.Ntf h., 4
the honor and advantage of the whole
country, and how its denial must neces-
sarily impair our National reputation and
work particular injury to the section
refusing it. 1t is an appeal dignified
and manly to the fair and honest. mind
ed citizens of the South, who realize
the disgrace and disadvantage which
accrues to that community which re-
strains thought and checks the liberty
OF the citizen. In the same vein--we
had almost said in the same language
but in similar language, General Grant
portrayed the evils OF such denial of
justice in many of his messages to Con-
gress, and particularly in his special
message on affairs in Louisiana in 1874.
The Republican party insists, says Gen
eral Garfield, that "every elector shall
be permitted, freely and without intim.
idation, to cast his lawful vote at such
election, and to have it honestly count
ed" Said Grant, in summing up his
policy: 1--WE should have pure, un-
trammeled ballot, where every man en-
| titled to cast a vote may do SO, Just
once at each election. without fear
of molestation or prescription on ac-
count of his political faith, nativity, or
color.h
There is no fear of that sentiment be-
coming threadbare or unwelcome to
lovers of liberty, and it is an honor to
General Garfield and the party he
represents that it is thus voiced again
in manner which enforces its grand
truth and fixes the attention of the
country on its overshadowing impor-
tance.
No stalwart Republican will have
reason to bow his head over this letter.
Every one Of them will be encouraged
and strengthened by it. In all parts it
is manly, straightforward, and in
tensely American.
1t is not offensive in that part devoted
to the finances, but, rising above the
preiudices of the past, echoes the gen.
eral sentiment to let well enough alone.
| 1t epltomlzes the proper course of
the Nation on the question of the tariff
by tersely declaring that eve legislate
for the people of the United States and
not for the whole world"
1t hits the popular sentiment in re-
! gard to ciyil-service reform by saying
that we must have faithful and efficient
performance of duty by public servants,
without depriving them of their rights
as citizens.
There are doubtless parts of the let
ter that will provoke criticism, but, as
a whole. it is one of the strongest, most
dignifed and admirable documents of
the kind ever given to the public. 1t
will commend General Garfield most
cordially to the working members of
the party and strengthen his candidacy
in every direction. = Chicago Inter-
! Ocean.