Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-23
GEN. ARTHURs ACCEPTANCE.
An Able, MANLY, and Comprehensive
Letter.

Chairman of the Republican National conven-
ton, accepting the nomination for the Vice.
Presidency:
NEW YoBK, July 10, 1880.
Dear Sir II accept the position assigned
me by the great party whose action you an
nounce. This acceptance implies approval
of the principles declared by the convention,
but recent usage permits me to add some ex-
preston of my own views The right and
duty TO secure honesty and order in popular
elections is a matter so vital that 1t must
stand in front. The authority Of the nation
al government to preserve from fraud and
force elections at which its own officers are
chosen is a chief point on which the two par
ties are plainly and. intensely opposed. Acts
of Congress for ten years have, in New York
and elsewhere, done much to curb the vio-
lence and wrong to which the ballot and the
count have been again and again subjected
sometimes despoiling great cities, sometimes
sitting the voice of a whole State, often sent
ing, not only in Congress, but on the bench
and in legislatures, numbers of men never
chosen by the people. The Democratic par
ty, since gaining possession of the two houses
of Congress, has made these just laws the OBJ
ject of bitter ceaseless assault, and despite
all resistance, has hedged them with restric
tons cunningly contrived to battle and paral-
we lutlu. Ills hbBItbblNt ululOilg bbluig
attempted to extort from the Executive his
approval of various enactments destructive of
these election laws, by revolutionary threats
that constitutional exercise of the veto pow
er would be punished by Withholding the APP
preparations necessary to carry ON the gov
eminent And these threats were actually
carried out by refusing the needed appropri-
ations and by forcing an extra session of
| Congress, lasting for months and resulting in
concessions to this usurping demand, which
are likely, in many States, to subject the ma
| iority to the lawless will of a minority. ON
inous signs Of public disapproval alone sub
dued this arrogant power into n sullen sur
render for the time being of part Of its de-
mands. The Republican party has strongly
| approved the stern refusal of its representa-
| tives TO suffer the overthrow Of statutes be-
lieved TO be salutary and just II has always
| insisted, and now insists, that the govern
ment of the United States of America is en-
powered and in duty bound to efiectually pro
tect the elections denoted by the constitution
as national Moro than this the Republican
party holds rs q cardinal point in its creed
| that the government should, by every means
! known TO the constitution protect all Ameri-
can citizens everywhere in the full enjoy
ment of their civil and political rights. As a
| great part of its work Of reconstruction, the
Republican party gave the ballot to the eman-
cipated slave as his right and defense. A
large increase in the number of members Of
Congress, and Of the Electoral College, from
the former slave holding States was the i'm
mediate result The history of recent years
abounds in evidence that in many why's and
in many placos-cspecially where their num-
Der has been great enough to endanger Dem
ocratic control-the very men by whose ele-
walton to citizenship this increase of repre-
sentation was effected have been debarred
and robbed Of their voice and their vote. II
is true that no State statute or constitution
in so many words denies or abridges the ex-
ercise of their political rights but the modes
employed TO bar their way are no less effect
ual. 1t is a suggestive and startling thought
that the increased power derived from the
enfranchise mont of n race now denied its
share in governing the country-wielded by
those who lately sought the overthrow of the
government-is now the sole reliance to de-
feat the party which represented the sover-
eighty and nationality Of the American peo-
pie in the great crisis of our history. Repub-
licans che rish none of the regentments which
may have animated them during the actual
conflict of arms. They long for full and
real reconciliation between the sections which
were necdcssly and lamentably at strife
they sincerely offer the hand of good will.
but they ask in return a pledge Of good faith.
lntN uttIll lttl luHt lne party, NHOht Ch-
rcer is so ilustrious in great and patriotic
achievement, will not fulfill its destiny until
peace and prosperity are established in all the
land, nor until liberty of Thought, conscience,
and action, and equality Of opportunity shall
be not merely cold formalities of statutes,
but living birthrights, which the hnmblC
may confidently claim and the powerful dare
not deny.
The resolution referring TO the public ser.
vice seems to me deserving of approval
Surely, no man should be the incumbent OF
an Office the duties of which he is for any
cause unfit to perform, who is lacking in the
ability, fidelity, or integrity which proper
administration Of such office demands. Thil
sentiment would doubtless meet with genera
acquiesencc but opinion has been widely di
vided upon the wisdom and practicability Of
the various reformatory schemes which have
been suggested, and Of certain proposed reg
ulations governing appointments to public Of
fee. The efficiency of such regulations ha,
been distrusted, mainly because they have
seemed to eXalt mere educational and alb
stTact tests above general business capacity
and even special fitness for the particular
work in hand. 1t seems TO me that the ruei
which should be applied TO the managemen
of the public service may properly conform
in the main, 10 such as regulate the conduc
of successful private business. Original ap
pointments should be based upon ascertainet
fitness. The tenure Of Office should be sta
bic. Positions of responsibility should, 81
far as practicable, be filed by the promotion
Of worthy and efficient officers. The invest
CATION of all complaints, and the punishment
of all official misconduct, should be promp
and thorough. These views, which l hav
,, long held, repeatedly declared, and uniform
ly applied when called upon to act, find EN-
, bodied in the resolution, which, of course,
approve. will add that, by the acceptanc
, of public Office, whether high or low, on
does not, in my judgment, escape any of hi
responsibilities as a citizen, or lose or impai
any of his rights as a citizen, and that h
should enjoy absolute liberty to think AM
/, speak and act in political matters according
to his own will and conscience, provided tina
he honorably, faithfully, and fully discharge
, all his official duties.
The resumption of specie payments-one o
the fruits of Republican policy-has brough
the return of abundant prosperity, and the set
Element of many distracting questions. Tn
restoration of sound money, the large reduC
ton of our public debt and of the burden @
interest, the high advancement of the publ
credit, all attest the ability and courage of tn
Republican party to deal with such inancil
, problems as may hereafter demand solution
, Our paper currency is now as good as gold
ana SILVER IL performing us leBltlnute iunI
ton for the purpose of change. The princi
pies which should govern the relations {
these elements of the currency are simple an
, clear. There must be no deteriorated coiI
: no deprecated paper. And every dollar
, whether of metal or paper, should stand III
Z test of the worlds fixed standard.
, The value of popular education can hardl
! be overstated. Although its interests mui
of necessity be chiefly confded TO voluntaT
effort and tho individual action of the sever
States, they should be encouraged, so far {
: the constitution permits, by the generous CO
\ operation Of the national government. I'll
interests of the whole country demand thu
the advantages of our common school systei
should be brought within the reach of ever
citizen, and that no revenues of the nation {