Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-08-14

| =" VI oil pdItl6S WHICH mas
never been doubted or impeached. There
Is not man among them to-day that
would hesitate for an instant to take his
WOrd OF trust his honor. My own conf
dence in him is entire.
Inere is no more brilliant man i'm Con.
gress intellectually speaking, than James
A: Gar1eld. In his private character he is
Dlameless. scholarly in his habits, clean
~ In all his associations, he is an ex-
ample OF what is best in the best class of
men In his party. There need be no fear
that the character of the great office will
surfer In his hands. His nomination at
chicago was fortunate. He was not one
OF the stock candidates. 1t had not been
arranged in the caucuses. 1t came, if
not prOyldsntially, as your chairman has
lntlmated, yet through the almost in
tultive good judgment of the convention.
| when all the candidates had failed and
all the states were broken and nothing
seemed left for the convention to do but
10 look over its list of statesmen and
soldiers and patriots and select the best
they could find, how quickly they turned
10 zen. Garfield and saluted him as, all
things considered, the best they had. DO
you think you could have done better? |,
dt ledSI, 10 not.
AS for myself L am not here to apologize
Tor anything back. My position has
been for some years past that of an in
dependent in politics; and l can assure
you there is some solid comfort i'm in
dependence. But have seen clearly for
some time past that the issues were be-
Ing steadily made up between the two
great parties, and the time was rapidly
approaching when there would remain
no middle ground, and every citizen
would lind himself compelled to take one
side or the other, if he took any interest
at all in public affairs.
AS we drift away from the war and
the questions arising Immediately out
OF 1t, those questions of finance and taxa
tl0n and reform, which concern the
administration of the government under
It's changed constitution and laws, must
rise into prominence, and the positions
taken now are likely to be enduring.
Inc Chicago convention recognized
this In placing in nomination for the
presidency a civilian with well-knOwn
record in public affairs. 1t indicates
the willingness of the party to lay aside
TO some extent at least the old war is
sues and to enter upon the discussion of
those questions of administration which
are now pressing for solution. | think
it is not too much to say that that nOmi-
nation has changed the attitude of the
party quite materially i'm some respects.
Upon these questions | have very de-
clded convictions, and while, perhaps, it
would not be quite true to say, as nv
friend MIR. LOOmis has said, that have
always been a Republican land he has
my candid thanks for his kind remarks).
IL may be said truly-bOrrOWing the the
express idea of Mr.. Chase-that | have
been Republican out of practical rela-
ton with any party.
Upon the tariff question, have ALWAYS
supported the tariff for revenue. with
so adjusted as to afford incidental pro-
lection to American industries. Hold |
these views, how could vote for a party |
whose platform distinctly declares for a |
tariff for revenue only.
Then upon the financial issue, which I |
regard as vital, the Republican party
has a record of fidelity to "honest
but the Democratic record is
quite otherwise. 1t seems upOn this
subject to conform its theories to the
single purpose of catching votes. 1t is
enough to say that it cannot be relied
upon to protect the country against the
of Greenbackism. 1t is now al
most everywhere dickering with the
Ireenback people, and on the question
IL honest money seems to have no sim
,erity anywhere. How, then. can thew
-airly object if men of my ways of think
ng go to the Republicans for the pur-
pose of maintaining a sound currency?
The reform of the civil service has
been for many years with me matter of
he first Importance. In this matter the
republicans have not risen in practice to
he height of their promises. Not very
much In this direction has been done:
tut 1t still stands i'm the platform as one
# the purposes of the party. There
lid seem, at Chicago, at one time a dis
'OsitiOn to abandon it, but on a motion
rom Massachusetts, it was retained.
hat is something.
The Democrats complain very bitter
y that the SpOils system still remains.
nd reprOach the Republicans for it.
'ut what have they done to bring about
genuine civil service reform? The lib
raj Republicans Joined them in 1874.
nd gave them the house of Representa-
ives, which they have retained ever
lnce; and we kept on voting with them
ntll they also got possession of the Sen.
tie. And now for two sessions thew
ave had entire control of both branches
t Congress. Why have they not REFORM
d the civil service? Why have thew not
assed the bill to abolish spoils, which
hey knew MIR. Hayes was signing to
ign.
Is it possible that our Democratic
trends have been thinking that some
me they might get into power them
elves, and then spOils would not be SO
cry bad thing?-that contributions {
rom otficehOlders are corruption fund
My when your adyersaries have them?
an it be?
| will not detain you longer. 1t was
OF my purpose to have said even so
luch as L have, but merely to thank YOU
nd to assure you of my settled cOnVic-
Ons in regard to the coming campaign. S
nd my determination to support Gen.
arfeld for President, as the best and
test thing for an honest and patri-
nc citizen of my way of thinking to do.