The daily gazette., 1880-07-13
gKN. -GARrrrLp's LErrER OF Ao-

GRN. GARyIELD's LETTER OF AC-
cHPTANcE.-In commenting upon the
Gen. Garfeld's letter Of acceptance,
issued last night, the New York Her.
aid accuses him of 'sturning his coat"
on various subjects, as will be seen
from the extract we copy below:
Notwithstanding that the archi-
tects Of the Chicago platform did not
plan it to hold General Garfield, and
that some of.its resolutions are in di-
rect contradiction of honorable pas
sages in his Congressional career, he
does not shrink from stepping squarely
upon it. In his own words he .'cor-
daily indorses the principles it set
FORTH" making no reservations out oi
remembrance Of his repeated confes-
sions upon the floor Of the House Of
Representative that the federal cleo
tion laws deserve amendment, nor any
out of respect for consistency with his
well known entertainment of liberal
economic principles until q compare
lively late period Of his public service.
In pursuance of this surrender OF his
individuality to partisan expediency
he therefore undertakes to exalt Sec
tional differences into the main issue
of the canvass, and contends that the
federal government has the capacity
to compel the creation Of minority
party" in the Southern States which
shall "exercise an effective and whole
some restraint" upon the present ma
jority in their politics. The process
by which he argues that this can be
accomplished through federal agency
he asserts is the subject to which the
''best thoughts and energies should be
directed" regardless of his solemn as
sertion in Congress at recent day
that ''the man who attempts to get up
q political excitement in this country
on the old sectional issues will find
himself without party and without
support" and ''the man who wants to
serve his country must put himself in
the line Of its leading thought, and
that is the restoration Of business,
trade, commerce, industry, sound po-
litical economy, hard money and hon
est payment of all obligations.
"After = renunciatioD OF doctrine so
absolute as this concerning whist should
be the pleading thought Of the country
nothing that follows in General Gar
fields letter is surprising. 1t therefore
need not astonish anybody-as:other-
wise 1t might-that in his discussion Of
the National finances he uses phrases
which imply tolerance Of the perpetuity
of "greenbacks" as permanent part OF
the public currency; that in his CON-
ments upon the subject OF revenue
legislation be surrenders his former con-
victions Internationally TO high ''pro-
tective" fallacies; that in mentioning
the topic of internal improvements ht
signifies TO the South and West hi
eagerness to assist in expending nniolt
millions out OF the public treasury il
developing the Mississippi Valley tina
he assents to tbs prescription Of th,
Chinese, in language adapted 10 pro
pitiate the hoOdlums of the Pacific coast
and that he advocates the reception by
the Executive Of the assistance" O
Congressmen in making appointments /,
office as an essential feature of civi
service reform.
There certainly are Republicans, VIII
remembering General Garfield's difieren
Congressional record ON many of thes
subjects with more affectionaLe regart
than he appears 10 entertain for it him
self, will be troubled in mind by th'
facility with which he has "turned hi
coat"