Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-20
GENERAL ARrHURs LETTER OF Ac.
CEPTANcE.

General Arthur has forwarded to the
proper committee his letter accepting the
nomination for the Vice-Presidency at the
hands of the Republican party. He an
nounces his approval of the platform OF
the party in single straightforward SEN
tence. But on certain topics he adds few
expressions of his own, and devotes them
largely TO arraignment of the Democracy
for its persistent effort to break down the
guards the Republican party has thrown
about the ballot-box to secure its purity.
He shows that he has thorough compre-
hension of the wisdom and necessity of
those laws, and the dangers to follow their
abrogation. These laws, have as he says,
crushed evidence and wrong, and to their
undoing the Democracy has bent it's energy,
even going to the extent of threatening to
refuse appropriations for the carrying on of
the Government if the demands of the
party in this regard were not acceded to,
by the President signing the destructive
bills the majority in Congress had passed.
He points out that in the former slave
holding States and increase of representa-
ton was attained by the elevation to citi-
zsnship of former slaves, yet the
men thus accorded greater powers in
national legislation have sought to rob OF
their votes those through whose enfran-
chisement the increased representation was
gained. Give the Democracy the power
and it will accomplish this end. The Re.
publican party is a necessity to prevent
this. 1t longs for full and real reconcile
alton, and, sincerely offering the hand OF
good will, asks only in return the pledge
of good faith. Coming to the question of
the public service, he pronounces unhesi-
tatingly in favor of stability in the tenure
of office, the calling to it of those thor
oughly qualified by ability, fidelity and in
tegrity, and he applies to the question what
he deems the best methods by which to at
tain the highest results, a simple test, to wit:
the rules which should be applied to the
management of public service should in
the main conform to such as regulate the
conduct of successful private business.
Undoubtedly when the Government can
secure in its service as good management
as the correct business man enforces in his
private business affairs an exceedingly high
standard will have been attained. He holds
that the acceptance of public Office in no
wise impairs any right of citizenship in the
officer or infringes his liberty of thinking,
speaking or acting in political matters
according to his own will and conscience,
provided only he honorably, faithfully
"and fully discharge all his official duties. y
Concerning the financial question, he re-
fers with pride to the resumption brought
about by his party, and the prosperity con-
sequent. "There must be no deteriorated
"coin, no deprecated paper, and every
dollar, whether of metal or paper, should
''stand the test of the worlds fixed stand
ard" These principles he announces
as those which to him seem the right rules
for the government of the relations of the
elements of currency. He is emphati-
cally opposed to the diversion of any rev.
enues of the State or nation to the support of
sectarian schools, and holds that the advan-
tagea of our common school system should
be brought within the reach OF every cit
izen.
He favors such changes in the tariff
system "as will relieve overburdened
Industry, and enable manufacturers and
artisans to compete successfully with
:. those of other lands Works of inter-
nal improvement, national in character,
should have Government aid, and it should
promote the development Of our water
courses and harbofs, wherever the general
interests of commerce require it. He calls
attention to the political situation, the at
tempt of a party to gain complete political
ascendency which finds its main support
among those who sought forcibie disrup-
ton OF the Union, and believes there
is grave reason to fear that It's triumph, if
its candidates are elevated to power, viii
be signaled by exorbitant claims upon
50 the public treasury, by no means limited
:. to the hundred of millions already COW
" cred by bills introduced in Congress
''within the past four years The letter
is frank one. It fairly sketches the po-
iitical faith of the man who, in event of
his election to the Vice Presidency, might
become, on the happening of contingency,
the Chief Magistrate. The letter is not OF
the scholarly cast of General Gartield's,
but the patriotism of the writer is manifest,
and its open expression admits OF no doubt
in the mind of the reader. The Republi-
canism OF its author cannot be questioned.
He clearly foresees the dangers liable to
follow the success of the Democratic party,
and does not hesitate to point them out.
It is the letter of the fearless man, who
knows the political history of his country
and understands it. It is the unmistakable
expression of one who sincerely believes
as he forcibly declares-and that belief IS
in the current with the best thought of the
age-that the career of his party, $50 Illus
trious in great aud patriotic achieve
''ment, viii not fulfill its destiny until
"peace and prosperity are established in
cali the land until liberty of thought,
conscience and action, and equality OF
opportunity shall not be merely cold
d" formalities of the statutes, but living
"birthrights which the humble may conf
=" IDENTIFY claim, and the powerful dare not