Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-22

following letter of acceptance of the
nomination rendered him by the Ma
tional Republican Convention:
MENToN, Ohio, July IS, 1880.
DEAR SIR:-On the evening of the 18th of June.
you, in the presence of the committee, Of which
you were chairman, conveyed to me
the official announcement that the
Republican NaIional Convention at Chi
cagO had that day nominated ME as their candi-
date for President of the United States. accept
the nomination with gratitude for the confidence
1t implies and with deep sense of the RESPONSE
btlities ii imposes. cordially endorse the prin-
convention. On nearly all the subjects of which
1t treats, my opinions are on record among the
published proceedings of congress. I venture,
however, to make special mention or some OF the
principal topics which are likely TO become sub
jects of discussion. Without renewing the contro-
Hersies which have been settled during the last
new the passions of the late war, it should
be said that while republicans fully recog-
3ze sSt and will defend eadn all hS ths
all the rights reserved to the states they re-
ject the pernicious doctrine of state supremacy
which long crippled the functions of the national
government, and at one time very near brought
the union to destruction. They insist that the
United States Is 4. nation with ample powers of
self preservation; that its constitution and laws,
made in pursuance thereof are the supreme law Of
the land; that the right of the nation to deter
mine the method by which its legislature shall be
elected cannot be surrendered without abdicating
one of the fundamental powers of the government:
that the national law relating to the election of
representatives in congress shall neither be vioa
cd nor evaded that every electOr shall be permit
ted freely and without intimidation to cast his
lawful vote at such elections and have it honestly
counted and that the potency of his vote shall not
be destroyed by the fraudulent vote of any other
person. The best thought and energy of our
people should be directed to those great questions
of national well being in which all have common
interest Such effort win soonest restore to perfect
peace those who were lately In arms against each
other, for justice and good will win out
last passion. But it is certain that the
wounds of the cannot be completely healed.
and the spirit of brotherhood cannot fully per-
wade the whole country until every citizen, rich
poor, white or black, is secure in the full and
equal enjoyment of every civil and political right
guaranteed by the constitution and laws. Where
ever 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 diminshment of prosperity. The ma
tional government should exercise all its constitu-
tional authority to put an end to these evils, for
all the people and all the states are members Of
one body, and no member can suffer without in
jury to all. The most terrible evils which
aiict the south arise from the fact that there is
not such freedom and liberation of political
opinion and action, that the minority party can
exercise effective and wholesome restraint upon
the party IN power. WithoIt such restraint,
party rule becomes tyrannical and corrupt. The
prosperity which is made possible in the south by
its great advaI tages Of soil and climate will nc7eL
be realized until every voter can freely and safely
support any party he pleases
Next in Importance to freedom and justice is
popular education without which neither freedom
nor justice can be permanently maintained. This
ntrusted to the states and to the voluntary ac-
tion of the people, and whatever help the nation
can justly afford should be generously given 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 re-
sources OF the nation or the states to the support
of sectaran schools. The separation of the chnrch
and the state in everything relating to taxation,
should be absolute.
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 pub
lie debt is now so well secured and the rate Of an
nual interest has been reduced by refundng, that
rigid economy in expenditures, and the faithful
application Of our surplus revenues TO the pay
ment of the principal debt, will gradually but GER
tainly free the people from its burdens, and close
with honor the final chapter of the war. At the
same time the government provide for its ordi-
nary expenditures and discharge its social obhga-
tions to the soldiers Of the union, and the widows
and orphans of those who fell in its defence. The
resumption OF specie payment which the repubh.
complished, has removed from the Seld of
controversy many questions that
long and seriously disturbed the
credit of the government and the business of the
country. Our paper 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 gold and silver. The circulating.
medium is more abundant than ever before and
weneed only to maintain the equality Of all our
dollars to insure to labor and capital measure of
value from the use of which suffer
loss. The great prosperity which the country
is now enjoying should not be endangered by any
violent changes or doubtful financial experiments
and in reference to our custom laws q policy
should he pursued which will bring revenue to the
treasury and will enable the labor and capitol
ployed in our great industries to compete fairly
in markets with the labor and capitol of foreign
produce We legislate for the people of the United
States not for the whole world and it is glory
that the American laborer is more
free, intelligent and better paid than
his foreign competitor Cur country
can not be Independent unless its people
with their abundant natural recourses possess
the requisite skill at any time to clothe arm and
equip themselves for war, and in time of peace to
produce all the necessary implements of labor
It was the manifest intention of the founders of
the government to provide for the common de-
fense, not by standing armies alone, but by rails
ing among the people greater army of artisans
whose intelligence and skill should powerfully
cont, Jute to the safety and glory of the nation.
Fortunately for the interests of commerce there
is no longer any formidable opposition to appro-
priations for the improvement Of our harbors and
great nayigable rivers; provided that the expen-
ditures for that purpose are strictly limited to
works OF national importance. The MlssssIppl
river with its great tributaries is of such vital i'm
portance to SO many millions of people that the
safety of its navigation requires exceptional con-
sideration in order to secure to the nation the con-
troll of all its waters. President Jefferson nego-
tiated the purchase of vast territory, extending
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.
The wisdom of congress should be invoked
to devise plan by which that great river shall
cease to be a terror to those who dwell upon its
banks and by which its shipping may safely carry
the industrial products OF $4,000 600 of people.
The interests of agriculture which Is the basis OF
all our material prosperity and in which seven
twelvths Of our population are engaged, as well as
the interests Of manufacturers and commerce, de-
nand that the facilities for cheap transportation
shall be increased by the use of all great wa
ter courses. The material interests OF this country
the traditions of its settlement and the sentiments
of our people have led TIE government to offer the
widest hospitality to enigrants who seek our
shores for new and happier homes, willing to
share the burdens as well as the benefits of our
society; and intending hat their posterity shall
become an undistinghisbable part of our pcpula-
ton.
The recent movement OF the Chlnese 10 our
Pacific coast partakes buE little of the qualities OF
such an emigration either In its purpose or its re-
suit. 1t is too much ike an Importation to be
welcomed without restriction, too much nke an
invasion to be looked upon without soileltude
We cannot consent to allow any form OF serV!le
labor TO be introduced SmOng US under the gulse
of immigration Recognizing the gravity of this
subject, the present administration supported by
congress, has sent to CTna commission OF DIS
tinguished citizens for the purpose OF securing