New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-13
THE LETTER.

education.
THE LETTER.
MENTOR. Ohio, July 12.-General Garfield
has forwarded to Senator Hoar, OF Massachu-
setts. the following letter of acceptance of the
nomination rendered him by the Republican
National Convention
MENTOR, o., July ~.
DEAR SIR: On the evening of the Sth of
June last | had the honor to receive from you
in the presence of the committee of which you
were chairman, the official announcement that
thc Republican National Convention at CHI
cago had that day nominated me
as their candidate for President Of
nation ne m"'ST with gratitude for the confidence
il implies, and with deep sense of the re-
sponsibilties it imposes L cordially 1nd0rse
the principles set forth In the platform ADOPTED
by the Convention. On nearly all the subjects
of which it treats, my opinions are on record
among the published proceedings of Congress.
] venture, however, to make special mention
of some of the principal topics which are likely
to become subjects of discussion.
Without reviewing the controversies which
have been settled during the last twenty
years. and with no purpose or wish TO revive
the passions of the late war, 1t should be said
that while the Republicans fully recognize
tanned by the people. and, all the rights
nernicious doctrine of State supremacy
which so long crippled the functions of the
National Government, and at one time brought
the Union very near to destruction. They
insist that the United States is a nation with
ample powerof self-preservation that Its Con.
stitution and the laws made in pun suance thereon
are the supreme law OF the land; that the
right of the Nation to determine the metnod
by which its own Legislature shall
be created cannot be surrendered without ab-
dicating one of the fundamental powers OF
Government that the National laws relating
to the election of Representatives In Congress
shall neither be violated nor evaded; that
every eector shall be permitted freely and
without intimidation to cast his lawful ballot
at such election and have 1t honestly counted,
and that the potency of his vote shall not be
destroyed by the fraudulent vote OF any other
person.
The best thoughts and energies of our peo-
ple should be directed to those great ques-
tons of National wellbeing in which all have
a common interest. Such efforts will soonest
restore perfect peace to those who were lateiy
in arms against each other; for justice and
goodwill will Outlast passion. But it is GER
tain that the wounds of the war cannot be
completely healed, and the spirit Of
brotherhood cannot fully pervade the whole
country until every citizen, rich or poor
white or black is secure in the free ana
equal enjoyment of every civil and political
light guaranteed by the Constitution and the
laws. Wherever the enjoyment of these rights
is not assured discomfort will prevail,
immigration will cease, and the social
and industrial forces will continue
to be disturbed by the migration of laborers
and the consequent dimmutiOn of prosperity;
The National Government should exercise. all
Its constitutional authority to put an end TO
these evils; for all the people ana all the
States are members of one body, and ri no
member can suffer without injury to all. The
most serious evils which now aflict the South
arise from the fact that there Is not such
freedom and liberation of political opinion ana
action that the minority party can exercise an
effective and wholesome restraint upon the
party in power. Without such, restraint
party rule becomes tyrannical and corrupt.
The prosperity which is made possible In the
South by ITS great advantages OIL sPil anu anu
voter can freely and safely support any party
he pleases.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
Next in importance to freedom and
justice is popular education, without
which neither freedom nor justice
can be permanently maintained. Its interests
are intrusted to the States and to the volun-
help the Nation can justly afford
should be generously gwen to aid the
States in supporting common schools; but 1t
would be unjust to our people and dangerous
to our institutions to apply any portion OF the
revenues of the Nation, or OF the States, to the
the Church aud the State in everything re-
latiug to taxation should be absolute.
THE NATIONAL FINANCES.
On the subject of National finances, my
views have been so frequently and
fully expressed that little is needed
in the way of additional statement.
The public debt is now so well secured and the
refunding, that rigid economy III expenditures
and the faithful application OF our sur
plus revenues to the payment of the
principal of the debt will gradually
but certainly free the people from
its burdens, aud close with honor the fnan-
cial chapter of the war. At the, same
time the Government can provide for
all It's ordinary expenditures, and
discharge its sacred obligations to the
soldiers of the, Union. and to the wid,
specie payments, which the Republican
party so courageously and successfully accom-
pllshed, has removed from the
that long and seriously disturbed the credit of
the Government and the business Of the cOun-
try. Our paper currency is now as National
as the nag, and resumption has not
only made it everywhere equal to
CON, but has brought into use our store of
Is more abundant than ever before,
and we need only to maintain
the equality of all our dollars to in
sure 10 labor and capital a measure
OF value from the use of which
no one can suffer loss. The great
prosperity which the country is now enjoying
should not be endangered by any violent
changes OF doubtful financial experiments.
THE TARiFF
In reference to our custom laws policy
should be pursued which will bring revenues
TO the Treasury, and will enable the labor
and capital employed in our great industries
10 compete fairly III our own markets with
ine labor and capital of foreign producers.
States, and not for the whole world. and
u Is our glory that the American laborer
more intelligent and better paid
ulan his foreign competitor. Our country