Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-21

Plainly Setting Forth his Views
ON Public Affairs.
Gen. Garieid's Accordance.
NJ nnron n lima 1s

MENTOR, o., June 10.
Gen. Garfield has forwarded to Senator
Hoar, of Massachusetts,, the following
letter of acceptance of the nomination
rendered him by the Republican National
Convention:
MENTOR. o., July 10, 1880.
DEAR SlR:-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 the
Republican National Convention at Chicago had
that day nominated me as their candidate for
President OF the United States.
l accept the nomination with gratitude for the
confidence 1t implies, and with deep sense of
the responsibilities 1t imposes. cordially en-
dorse the principles set forth In the platform
adopted by the convention nearly all of the
subjects of which 1t treats. My opinions are on
record among he published proceedings OF Con-
gress. venture, however, 10 make special men
tion OF some OF the principal topics which are
likely to become snbjecss of discussion. Without
REVIEWING THE CONTROVERSIES
which have been settled during the last twenty
years, and with no purpose or wish to renew the
passions OF the late war, 1t should be said that
while Republicans fully recognize and will siren
uously defend all the rights retained by the peo-
pie and all the rights reserved to the States. they
reject the pernicious doctrine OF State suprems-
cy which so long crippled the functions of the
National Government, and at one time Drought
the Union very near to destruction. They insist
that the United States Is a Nation with ample
powers OF self-preservation; that its constitution
and the laws made n pursuance thereof are The
supreme law of the land; that the right of the
legislature shall be created cannot be surrendered
without abdicsting one of the fundamental pow
ers of the government; that the national laws
relating to the election of Representatives
in Congress shall be neither violated
nor evaded; that every elector shall
be permitted freely and without int'mida-
ton. 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 people should be
directed to those great questions of national
we'll being in which we have a common interest
Such efforts will soonest restore to perfect peace
those who were lately in arms against each other.
i0r justice and good will will outlast passion
But ii is Ger tai that the wounds of the can
net be completely healed and the spirit of brota-
erhood cannot fully pervade the whole country
ontil every citizen rich or poor, white or black,
Is secure in the
FREE AND EQUAL ENJOYMENT
of every civil and political right guaranteed by
the constitution and the laws. Wherever the
enjoyment OF these rights is not assured, discon-
tent will prevail, immigration will cease and the
social and industrial forces will continue to be
disturbed by the migration of lsborers and the
consequent diminution OF prosperity. The Ma
tionai Government should exercise all its consti-
tutional authority 20 put an end to these evils.
For al the people and all the States are members
OF one body, and no member can suffer without
injury to all. The most serious evils which now
af1ct the South arise from the fact that there is
not such freedom and federation of political opin-
ion and seton that the minority party can exer-
else an effective aud wholesome r, straint upon
the pa ty in power. Without such restraint,
party rule becomes tyrannical and corrupt. The
prosperity which is made possIbl in the South
by its great advantages of soil and climate Will
never be realized until every voter freely and
safely support any party he pleases.
Next in Importance to freedom and Justice is
popular education. without which neither justice
nor freedom can be permanently maintained It
il entrusted to the States and to the Voluntary
VI lolv1 49,
can Justly afford should be generously given to
aid the States IN supporting common schools.
But 1t would be unjust to our people and danger
Gus to our institutions to apply any portion of
the revenues of the Nation or OF the States to the
support of secIarien schools. The separation Of
the Church and the State in everything relating
to taxation should DE absolute. On the
SUBJECT or NATIONAL FINANCES
my views have been so freqently and fully ex-
pressed that little is needed in the way of addi-
tional statement. TIE public debt is now so
well secured and the rate OF annual interest has
been so reduced by fefunding that rigid economy
in expenditures and the faith application of
our surplus revenues TO the payment OF the
principal debt will gradually but certainly free
the people fir IN its burdens and close with honor
the financial chapter of the war. At the same
time the Government can provide for all lis ordi.
nary expenditures and discharge It's sacred obli-
CATIONS to the soldiers of the Union and to the
widows and orphans of those who fell in its de-
Tense. The resumption Of specie payment which
:he Republican party so courageousy and sue
cessfu'ly accomplished, has removed from the
field of controversy many questions that long
and seriously disturbed the credit of the Govern
ment and the business of the country. Our pa
per currency Is now as national as the flag. and
resumption has not only made it everywhere
equal TO coin, but has brought into use our store
of god and silver The circui atlng medium ls
more abundant thsn ever before. and We need
only to maintain the
EQUALITY OF ALL OUR DOLLARS
to insure TO labor and capital measure of value
from the use of which can suffer loss
The great prosperity which the country is now
enjoying Ould not be endangered bv any violent
chaIg es or doubtful financial experiments and
in reference to our custom laws poiey should
be pursued which will bring revenue to the treas
ury and will enable the labor and capital employ
ed in our great industries to compete fairly in
own markets with the labor and capital OF foreign
produce We leglslate for the people OF the United
states, not for the whole world, and it Is our
glory that the American laborer is more free, in
telligent and better paid than his foreign COM
petltor. Cur country cannot be Independent IN
less it's people, with their abundant natural re-
sources, possess the requisite skill at sny time to
clothe, arm and equip themselves for war, and in
time OF peace to produce all the necessary imple-
ments OF labor. 1t was the manifest intention of
the founders OF the government to provide for the
common defense. not by standing armies alone,
but by raising among the people greater army
OF artisans, whose intelligence and skill should
powerfully contribute to the safety and glory OF
the nation
Fortunately for the interests of commerce.
there Is no longer any formidable
OPPOSITION TO APPROPRIATIONS
for the improvement of our harbors and great
navigable rivers, provided that the expenditures
for that purpose are strictly limited TO works o.
national Importance. The Mississippi river WITH
its great tributaries is Of such vital importance
to 80 many millions of people that the safety oil
its navigation requires 0tional considers ton
in order to to the nation the control of all
its waters. President Jefferson negotiated the
purchase of vast territory. extending from the
Gulf of Mexico to the PAc hc Ocean. The wis
dOIn OF Congress should be invoked to devise
some plan by which that great river shall cease
to be terror to those who dwell upon It's banks
and by which its shipping may safely carry the
industrial products of twenty five millions @
people.
The interests of agriculture. which is the basis
OF all our material prosperity, and in which
seyen-twelfths OF our population engaged, ae
well as the interests OF
MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE
demand that the facilities for cheap transports
ton shall be increased by the use of our grea
water courses. The material interests OF fhi
country. the traditions of it's settlement and thu
sentiments of our people have led the Govern
ment to offer the widest hospitality to emigran.i