Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-30
Garaeld's Letter Of Acceptance.

UAiheiu hotteE vi ACCbpuinces
Theinter- Ocean can most heartily in
dorse General Garfeld's letter OF ac-
ceptance. IL Is a pleasure to read it,
and pleasure to commend It. 1t has
ring that will inspire confidence, ex-
cite animation, and do much toward
starting the campaign on the road to
triumphant success.
General Garfield properly gives the
first place in his letter to a discussion
OF the rights Of citizens before the law.
He says, in stirring way, what the
inter- Ocean has iterated and reiterated
for years, that until all men are pro-
tected in their right to vote and to
have their vote honestly counted, other
questions must sink into comparative
insigniicance. Indeed, upon the abili-
ty OF the Government to extend this
protection impartially and completely
depends the success or failure of our
institutions. This is the plain, unvar-
nished truth. 1t is admitted by the
Democratic party itself, when Il de-
clares in its platform that "the right of
free ballot is the right prescrvative
of all rightsn The difference is that
with Republicans the resolution to en-
force this right comes from the heart,
while with the Democracy it is the dec
laration Of the lips merely; in one in
stance the sincerity of the declaration
is attested by twenty years Of honest eff
fort; in the other it is belied by every
act of the party making it.
But General Garfield goes further
than a mere declaration in favor of
free and fair ballot. He shows in
brief and concise manner how the rec
ognition of the right will rebound to
the honor and advantage of the whole
country, and how its denial must necos-
sarily impair our National reputation and
work particular injury to the section
refusing it. 1t is an appeal digniiied
and manly to the fair and honest-mnd-
cd citizens of the South, who realize
the disgrace and disadvantage which
accrues to that community which re-
strains thought and checks the liberty
OF the citizen. In the same vein--we
had almost said in the same language
but in similar language, General Grant
portrayed the evils Of such a denial of
justice in many of his messages to Con-
gress, and particularly in his special
message on affairs in Louisiana in 1874.
The Republican party insists, says Gem
eral Garfield, that "every elector shall
be permitted freely and without intim-
idation, to cast his lawful vote at such
election, and to have it honestly count
ed" Said Grant, in summing up his
policy: ave should have a pure, un-
trammeled ballot, where every man en-
titled to cast vote may do 30, just
once at each election. without fear of
molestation or prescription on account
Of his political faith, nativity, or color"
There is no fear of that sentiment be-
coming threadbare or unwelcome to
lovers Of liberty, and it is an honor to
General Garfield and the party lie
represents that it is thus voiced again
in u manner which enforces its grand
truth and fixes the attention OF the
country on its overshadowing impor-
tance.
No stalwart Republican win have
reason to bow his head over this letter
Every one Of them will be encouraged
and strengthened by IL. In all parts 1t
is manly, straightforward, and in
tensely American. l.i '.'H !
1t is not offensive in that part devoted
to the finances, but, rising above the
prejudices of the past, echoes the gem
eral sentiment to let well enough alone.
1t epitomizes the proper course Of
the Nation on the question of the tariff |
by tersely declaring that "we legislate
for the people of the United States and |
not for the whole world"
1t hits the popular sentiment in re-
gard TO civil,seryioe reform by saying
that we must have faithful and efficient |
performance of duty by public servants,
without depriving them of their rights
as citizens.
There are doubtless parts of the let
ter that will provoke criticism, but, as
a whole, it is one Of the strongest, most |
dignihed and admirable documents of |
the kind ever given to the public. 1t |
will commend General Garfield most |
cordially to the working members of |
the party and strengthen his candidacy |
in every direction - Chicago Inter-
Ocean.
I