The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-07-18
THE PRESIDENCY.
EPIrOME OF CURRENT rACrs Ann
. OPINIONS. q "a
Coroe,a.. Weoh y,c,fcr.

UWF"SsuS WeHH tsesttEs
The letter of acceptance OF Gen. Garfield |
repudiates an unnamed portion OF the Chi. |
cago platform on which he was nominated;
plainly seeks to make the issue Of the cam,
paign one of Capitalization against civil lib
erty; waves the bloody SHIFT behind Trans
parent screen; demands that the Executive
Department of the Government shall elect
the Congress of the people; paves the way
for the emigration of negroes to the States
where their votes are needed talks of
schools that are beyond the jurisdiction of
the Federal Government; bids for the votes
of soldiers whose Arrears of Pensions Bill
found an enemy in him; divides his pleasant
words upon the question of a protective
tariff between the Golden Club of which
Garfield is a member, and his hope OF carry
ing Pennsylvania; compliments the founder
of the Democratic party as 1t speaks of our
splendid domain; denounces Gen. Garfield
as hypocrite in mentioning the Chinese
question; and actually has the audacity to
allude to civil service reform while Arthur
is at the tail of the Presidential ticket. This
is the substance, this is the essence, of the
letter of acceptance Enquirer, (Dem.)
New York Times: "On the tariff Gen. Gar
fields expressions are generalities. Of no
value in themselves, but, interpreted in the
light OF his recent course in Congress, giving
little cause for expecting any aid from him
in those rational reforms which are impera-
lively demanded by the interests of the coun-
try, and by none more than by the great
body of unprotected and overtaxed manufac-
lures. Neither in substance nor form is
this part of his letter worthy of his position,
or calculated to strengthen him where he
Garield's letter relating to the reform of the
| civil service are below the level of the plat
| form adopted at Chicago. He calls for legis-
| lation from Congress which would certainly
| be desirable, If ii were of the right kind, but
| he ventures no definite suggestion as to what
such legislation should be, nor does he pledge
his personal support to the principles of the
system which has been in places applied
with perfect success by Mr.. Hayes without
| any aid whatever from Congress. On the
contrary. he distinctly takes stand less
elevated than that of the platform-which
declares that " fitness, determined by prac-
teal tests, should admit to the service by
announcing the necessity of consulting mem
bers of Congress, whom he indicates plainly,
| though he describes them in roundabout
fashion, as to appointments. On the whole,
| the letter of Gen. Garfield is very uneven,
| and fails to place him in that commanding
position which he might easily have assumed.
II is, however, in its most essential parts, a
fair statement of the principles of his party,
and will be so accepted"
| The Philadelphia Times OInd.) says of Gen
Gariield's letter of acceptance: - 1t has been
| urged against Gen. Hancock with some force
that nobody knows what his opinions are on
the currency, the tariff, internal improve
ments, and the rest of the issues upon
| which the people are more or less divided in
| opinion. To what extent does Mr.. Garfield
jects He does indeed point to his Con-
gressional record, but he must know that
his record is not a consistent one, quite apart
from the charges which affect his integrity.
As to the policy of a Garfield administration
the country is quite as much in the dark as
ever. The letter is, therefore, n great disap-
poinment The passing tribute of a glance
is all that it can claim There are in it 10
thoughts that breathe nor words that burn
to hold the attention or command conviction.
1t will not revive dropping campaign; it
will not make converts it will not recall de-
serters; it will be simply read and forgot
ten"
Gen. Garfield is compelled to play the
hypocrite upon the Chinese question. He
is on record on this issue. The Republican
party is also on record upon this question by
the most solemnly formal acts. Garfield $
in Congress. The words in this letter OH
this subject mean next to nothing; but il
they meant tenfold more they would be un-
availing. His party would not permit him
to antagonize it's record on this question. II
is the same party that caused President
Hayes to veto a bill providing for restrictions
OF Chinese importation, and Garfield is the
same Garfield that labored and voted to sus.
tain that veto.-Cm. Enquirer, (Dem.)
Ecnmg Post, (Rep.) "He [Gar6eld] is
neither courageous nor frank, only respecta-
BILE and moderate and we fear that his ull-
certain phrases will fail to give satisfaction
to either branch of the party he represents,
or to stir the hearts of the people like the
sounds of a trumpet"
Springfield Republican: 1.-The reforming ele-
ment of the Republican party will accept
Gen. Garfed's letter, but they will not
especially glory in it. This is not the voice
of a prophet of the future crying in the will
derness of politics."
Duly Graphic, Rep.:) "The General [Gar.
field is much too mild on certain topics, and
is silent on others on which he might well
have been outspoken.'