The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-11-06
4 NEGLECTED. Issue.

The Republicans had an issue early
in the campaign presented to them by
their candidate for the Presidency HIM
self. They might honestly have con-
Quoted the canvass upon that issue. 1t
had the sanction OF the Republican can
didate for the Presidency to begin with.
1t was evidently the purpose Of MIR.
Garfield to turn the campaign and its
discussions into this channel. 1t had
the sanction of the Republican party
and its tendencies for fifteen years. ten.
denotes that are increasing. lthad the
sanction OF all Of the antecedcnts of the
Republican party, in men and in politi-
cal organizations, known in our history.
The Wing party and the Federal party
and their adherents and Distinguishing
ideas were the immediate ancestors Of
the motives which Garfield two months
ago tried to make the issue Of this can
vass. Garfield wanted any issue other
than his own record. He had recently
said that the party was damned which
should attempt to get power through
fomentin. sectional STRIFE, though he
became hottest among the fomenters
after saying so.
On the 9Th day Of August last. after
the notorious Republican conference in
New York. When Garfield went to that
city to be snlbbcd by Conkling, Gar
field was scrcnaled at the head-quar-
tiers Of the National Republican Com
mittee. 1t was an unusual thing
for a Presidential candidate to
Journey so far to conc!iiate prOmi-
nent member of his own party. 1t
was still more singular that he Journey
ed in vain. There was sufficient for
maliy attached to the serenade and
speech to give the country reason TO
! believe that Garfield intended to pitch
the keynote OF the canvass in his re-
spouse to the Serenade. What did he
! say? He praised the great State OF
New York chiefly because it had pro-
duccd Alexander Hamilton. This is
New York, and yonder, toward the bat
terry, more than q hundred years ago, y
young student Of Columbia College was
arguing the ideas of the American
Revolution etc. "That student,
soldier, statesman and great leader Of
thought. Alexander Hamilton, made
the Republic glorious" etc. "And
here, on this island, the scene of his
early triumphs, we gather tonight, SOL
diers of the new war, representing the
same IDEAS" etc. Garfield had previ-
.ously said, years before, that the prin-
ciples Of Jefferson were on the wane,
and that those of Hamilton were OBJ
tanning. 1.-THE people want stronger
Government; and l, for one, am glad
of it."
It's plain that Garfield wished to
draw the attention Of the American
people from his own record, which
was inevitably an issue, and q true
one, and from issues which he
knew were false and repulsive to
intellect aud patriotism. to the
discussion of the fundamental princi-
pies of government. Had he been a
strong, commanding. potential candi'
date, the canvass would have taken the
direction he sought to give it. He ar
rayed the Hamiltonian idea against the
Jelfersonian idea, and invited \ com.
bat. He pleaded for strong Govern.
ment as against individuals, strong as
against strong people. and asked for q
trial Of the relative strength OF these
ideas before the voters of the country
He raised the issue of Government
against the people, and asked for
verdict.
This was, to a large degree, honest
and consistent. Garfield and Alexander
Hamilton and the Republican party are
harmonious touching the principles o.
government. 1t is the Hamiltonian no
ton that Garfield wants-that the Re
publican party wants. Garfield, in thi!
respect, Is the lineal descendant o
, Hamilton; and it is interesting to recOl
lcct that Hamilton was the first promi
nent man in the history of the Republic
. caught in financial irregularities. Mel
called him deiaulter. And his excuse
,, was as old as the story of the human
race: 1.-THE woman gave me and dit
eat" He did not say ~ borrowed.
But this ID aside. 1921.
, Shrewd Republicans saw that thi
: issue, though perhaps the real. homes
, issue of the canvass, would defeat Gar
. field. It was plain that if the ISSUE
were bluntly presented the peopl'
: would not vote against themselves
Garfield, in his haste TO escape from
!; himself, did not see this. No man il
:. our early history so little sympathize'
: with our form OF Government as Ham
. iltOn He nevever believed in a Re
public, in a Democracy. He wanted 1
President for life. He wanted Senat
{ with members elected for life. HI
|. wanted Governors of States appointe'
J by the Federal Government, with tn
t veto power. He wanted Government
a remote from the people. This is Gar
. fields ideal Government. This is tn
! Republican party's ideal Government
!. The Jeffersonian idea, the Democrat
!, idea, is exactly the opposite. A sma
3 Government and large individ
: ual is the Democratic principle
. Al Government Y close 4 TO 4 tn
t peopk and the subject Of the peopl
: ;sas andb the goal Of the Democrat
party. A Government above the pee
! pie is the Republican ambition.
= Garfield named an honest issue. Tn
: Republican manipulators saw that tn
! discussion Of this would be fatal to thei
3 office loving longings. They hid res
u issue behind q false one-0f course (
Z lose-to meet the reward Of dishonest
= and falsehood. Cincinnati Enquirer.
6Ya Democratic Duty. s'aN
Tho Democrats have lost Ohio, Whic
they did not expect to win. and the