The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-10-14
JUDGE BLACK ON GARFIELD.

ssThe Issues all With Us and the Accidents
Not Against Us"-How Garfield Thinks
Treachery to His Country Fidelity to His
Faction.
The following letter from Hon. J. S.
Black, of Pennsylvania, sent in reply to
an invitation to attend the great Demo
cratic mass meeting of Tuesday evening,
but not received in time to be read that
evening, will command the attention of
thinking men of all shades of political
opinion:
YORK, BRoCKIE, Pa, Sept. %.
GENTLEMEN-I cannot attend the
meeting of the Democratic-R Republicans
at the city of New York on the 23d inst.
But can assure you of my concurrence
in its object, and if time and space per-
mitted l could give you a reason for the
faith that is within ME.
trust we are approaching the end of
our long struggle against the oppression
and fraud of the anti-constitutional party.
They have sought the destruction of our
Government by every possible means in
their reach. By our Government I mean
the whole system or fundamental law
under which we live, including the grant
ed power of the Federal Union, the re.
served rights of the States and the per-
sonal liberty of the citizens. These three
are all vital points of our political or.
ganization, and the life of the nation de.
pends as much upon one as another. If
you want to kill man it makes no diff
ference whether you knock out his brains,
etab him through the heart or tear open
his bowels-either way he is done for.
Certainly an American who forcibly
tramplcs on civil liberty or by violence
extinguishes the rights of the States is
no less traitor to his country than one
who resists the just authority of the Fed
eral Government.
need not remind you with what man.
ifold treachery our opponents got pos
session of the power which they have so
frightfully abused. At the beginning of
the war they solemnly pledged them.
selves to use the forces put into their
hands for the sole purpose of defending
the Federal Government and maintain
ing the supremacy of the Constitution
and laws, with all the rights of the States
and the people unimpaired; and they
promised that when this was accom-
plished the war should instantly cease.
In consideration of this special pledge,
superadded to their oaths, the men and
the money were put into their hands
which completely subdued the armed op-
position of the South to the Union. But
when the conflict was over they an.
nounced that the victory instead of de-
Tending the Government had revolution
lied and overthrown it; that the whole
doctrine of State rights was exploded and
personal liberty was consequently thing
of the past; that the military was above
the civil authority, and through that in
strumentality they land central oil.
garchy) might kidnap, imprison and kill
citizens for political offenses without
Judge or jury. The right of suffrage had
ceased to exist except when it was exer.
cised by their permission and in a way
which suited their purposes. Destroying
all the election laws of half the States in
the Union, they filled the State Offices
with notorious thieves and crowded Con-
gress with redemptionless rogues, who
did not pretend to any title except what
they got by force and fraud, and in all
the States they claimed the right to be
represented at State elections by the bay.
onets of their standing army. Would
you have me enumerate the corruptions
generated by this famous system? Count
the stars if you can; try to number the
sands on the seashore.
Their idea of a strong government was
fully developed. Six years after the war
fraud and force had made it so much
stronger than liberty, justice aud law,
that the Constitution had but seven
friends in the Senate and less than
third of the members in the Lower
House. But the principles of free and
honest government were not destined to
be crushed out forever. The moral in
Huence of the Democracy was itself
power which abashed of the anti-consti-
tutional leaders and benumbed their fac
ulty of evil doing. Thousands of true
men, who, in the moments of error or
alarm, had wandered from the track of
their principles, "hastened to retrace
their steps and to regain the road which
alone leads to peace, honor and safety"
Truth and justice gradually regained
their natural ascendsncy in the popular
heart. First, the Federal House Of Rep.
resentatives was redeemed then the
Senate, and in 1876 an overwhelming
majority of the people attested their de-
votion to free principles by voting for
Democratic President. This looked like
successful vindication of free govern.
ment, but was not. The anti.constitu-
tional party has an advantage which
more than counterbalances the strength
of the people. 1t can cheat at elections,
it can falsify the count, it can forge re.
turns. "There's the respect that makes
calamity of so long life"
Wea about to repeat the experiment.
We may be swindled again, but there is
not any doubt that our honest majority
is greater than il was before. The issues
are all with US and the accidents are not
against US. Our candidate is not only
unexceptionable, but admirable, and has
the unbounded confidence of the whole
country in his talents, integrity and
patriotism.
The impulses of persistent friendship
and the duties of fair political opposition
alike require me to speak of General Gar
field. Intellectually he is first among the
politicians of his party-not the sharpest
or strongest, but the most gifted and best
cultivated. His private life is stainless,
and in everything unconnected with pol
itics his behavior is regulated by princi-
Piles of the soundest morality. But in
public affairs he does not act upon his
convictions; when he passes into the
domain of politics his conscience loses
its grip; and for his party be is willing
to do any wrong which will promote
their interests, or play any card how false
soeyer which will win them power. This
surrender Of his moral and mental integ.
rity is the condition upon which he holds
his high place in the affections of the
party he belongs to. Trcachery to his
country is fidelity to his faction. If at
INV time in the last fifteen wears he had