American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-10-30
The Garfleldian Issue,

| The Garfieldian Issue.
The Republicans had an issue early
in the campaign presented to them by
their candidate for the Presidency him
| self They might honestly have con-
| Quoted the canvass upon that issue. III
had the sanction OF the Republican can
didate for the Presidency TO begin with.
1t was evidently the purpose of Mr..
| Garfield to turn the campaign and its
| discussions into this channel 1t had
| the sanction of the Republican party
and its tendencies for fifteen years, ten
denotes that are increasing. 1t had the
sanction of all of the antecedents of the
Republican party, in men and in politi-
| cal organizations, known in our history.
The Wing party and the Federal party
and their adherents and distinguishing
ideas were the immediate ancestors of
the motives which Garfield two months
ago tried to make the issue of this can
vass. Garfield wanted any issue other
than his own record. He had recently
said that the party was damned which
should attempt to get power through
fomenting sectional strife, though he
became hottest among the fomenters
after saying SO.
On the 9th day of August last. after
the notorious Republican conference in
New York, when Garfield went to that
city to be snubbed by Conkling, Gar
field was serenaded at the head-quar-
tiers of the National Republican Com
mittee. 1t was an unusual thing
for a Presidential candidate to
journey so far to conciliate promi-
nent member of his own party. 1t
was still more singular that he journey
ed in vain. There was sufficient for
mality attached to the serenade and
speech to give the country reason to
believe that Garfield intended to pitch
the keynote of the canvass in his re-
Spouse to the serenade. What did he
say? He praised the great State of
New York chiefly because it had pro-
duced Alexander Hamilton. This is
New York, and yonder. toward the bat
terry, more than hundred years ago,
young student of Columbia College was
arguing the ideas of the American
Revolution" etc. 'tThat student,
soldier. statesman and great leader of
thought, Alexander Hamilton, made
the Republic glorious" etc. ''And
here, on this island, the scene of his
early triumphs, we gather tonight, SOL
diers of the new war, representing the
same IDEAS" etc. Garfield had previ-
ously said, years before, that the prin-
ciples of Jefferson were on the wane,
and that those of Hamilton were OBJ
tanning. 1.-The people want a stronger
Government; and l, for one, am glad
of it,
1t is plain that Garfield wished to
draw the attention of the American
people from his own record. which
was inevitably an issue, and a true
one, and from issues which he
knew were false and repulsive to
intellect and patriotism, to the
discussion of the fundamental princi-
pies of government Had he been a
strong, commanding, potential cand-
date, the canvass would have taken the
he sought to give it. He ar
rayed the Hamiltonian. idea against the
Jeffersonian idea, and invited a COM
bat. He pleaded for strong Govern
ment as against individuals, strong as
against strong people. and asked for a
trial of the relative strength of these
ideas before the voters of the country. |
tic raised inc issue or government +
against the people, and asked for a
verdict.
This was, to large degree, honest
and consistent Garfield and Alexander |
touching the principles of |
government. 1t is the Hamiltonian no
Jon that Garfield wants-that the Re-
publican party wants. Garfield, in this
is the lineaI descendant of
Hamilton; and it is interesting to recol-
ect that Hamilton was the first promi-
1ent man in the history of the Republic
taught in financial irregularities. Men
called him defaulter. And his excuse
was as old as the story of the human
ace: 1.-The woman gave me and l did
,at.' He did not say 81 borrowed"
But this is aside.
Shrewd Republicans saw that this
ssue, though perhaps the real, honest
ssue of the canvass, would defeat Gar
ield. 1t was plain that if the issue
we're bluntlv presented the people
would not vote against themselves.
Garfield, in his haste to escape from
himself. did not see this. No man in
,ur early history so little sympathized
With our form of Government rs Ham,
lton He nevever believed in Re-
public, in Democracy. He wanted a
resident for life. He wanted Senate
With members elected for life. He
" the Federal Government, with the
eto power. He wanted Government
emote from the people. This is Gar
eld' ideal Government. This is the I
republican party's ideal Government.
he Jeffersonian idea, the Democratic ,
dea, is exactly the opposite. A small
Government and large individ-
al is the Democratic principle.
| Government close to the
eople and the subject of the people t
1as and is the goal of the Democratic s
arty. A Government above the peo- {
lie is the Republican ambition. t
Garfield named an honest issue. The 6
republican manipulators saw that the !
iscussion of this would be fatal to their |
oe h oEng io1 f1Is They ma real al
)se-to meet the reward of dishonesty t
nd falsehood. - Cincinnati Enquirer. i
The Duty Of Democrats. '