The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-23
GARFIELD'S ACCEPTANCE.
The Letter Of Gen. Garfield In Acknowledgement
Of the Nomination..-His Policy
Outlined.

the following letter Of accept
ance Of the nomination rendered him by
the Republican national convention:
MENTOR, o., July 10, 1880.
DEAR SR: On the evening Of the 9th Of June
last had the honor to receive from you In the
presence of the committee of which you were
chairman, the official announcement that the
Republican National convention Mt Chicago had
that day nominated me AZ their candidate for
president OF the United States.
accept the nomination with gratitude for the
confidence it implies, and with deep sense Of
the responsibilities it imposes. cordially ell
dorse the principles set forth in the platform
adopted by the convention. On nearly all
the subjects Of which 1t treats my opinions are on
record among the published proceedings Of con-
gress. l venture, however, to make special
mention OF some Of the principal topics which are
likely 10 become subjects of discussion. With
out reviewing the controversies which have been
settled during the last twenty years, and
with no purpose or wish TO review the
passions of the late war, it should be said
that while Republicans fully recognize and will
strenuousy defend all the rights retained by the
people, and all the rights reserved to the states,
they reject the pernicious doctrine OF state su-
prcmacy which 70 long crippled the functions Of
the national government and at one time
brought the Union very near to destruction.
They insist that the United States is nation
with ample powers OF seif.preservaton; that its
constitution and laws, made mpursuance there
Of, are the supreme law OF the land; that the
right Of the nation to determine the method by
which its legislature shall be created cannot be
surrendered without Indicating one of the fun
damental powers OF the government; that the
national laws relating 10 the election OF repre-
sentativeS in congress shall neither be violated
nor evaded; that every elector shall be permitted
fr. md With intip m 10
full vote at such election. 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 thoughts and energies
of our people should be directed TO
those great questions Of national we'll
being in which We have a common interest.
Such efforts will soonest restore to
perfect peace those who were lately
in arms against each other, for justice and good
will will outlast passion. But it Ii certain that
the wounds Of the war cannot be completely
healed, and the Spirit Of brotherhood cannot
fully peryadc the whole country until every citl-
zen, rich or poor, white or black, IL secure III
the free and equal enjoyment of every civil
and political right guaranteed by the constitu-
ton and the laws. Wherever the enjoyment Of
these rights is not assured, discomfort will pre-
vail, immigration will cease, and the social and
industrial forces viii continue to be disturbed
by the migration OF labOrers and the cOnse-
quent dimlnliion Of prosperity. The national
government should exercise all its constitutional
authority to rut an end to these evils. For all
the people and all the states are members of
on" BODY, and no member can suffer without
injury to all. The most serious evils which
now atllict the South arise from the fact that
there is no. such freedom and liberation of pub
lie opinion and action that tho minority party
can exercise ali effective and wholesome restraint
upon the party power. Without suchrestralnt
party rule becomes tyrannical and corrupt. The
prosperity which j. made possible of the South
by its great advantages of soil aud climate will
never 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 JUS
tice nor freedom can be permanently MAIN
tanned. 1t is entrusted 10 the states and TO the
voluntary action of the people. Whatever help
the nation can Justly afford should be gener-
ously given to aid the states in supporting COM
mon schools. But it would DC unjust TO orr
people and dangerous to our institutions to ap-
ply any portion Of the revenues of the nation or
OF the states to the support OF sectarian schools
The separation Of the church and the state IL
everything relating 10 taxation should be abso-
lutte. On the subject of national finances my
views have been SO frequently and fully ex-
pressed that little is needed in the way Of adj
ditional statement. The public debt is now so
well secured and the rate of annual interest has
been 70 reduced by refunding that rigid econ
ony in expenditures aud the faithful application
of our surplus revenues to the payment of the
principal debt will gradually but certainly free
the people from its burdens and close with
honor the financial chapter of the war. At the
same time the government can provide for its
ordinary expenditure and discharge its sacred
obligations to the soldiers Of the union and to
the widows and orphans of those who
fell in its defense. The resumption
of specie payment which the Republican
party so coIrageously and successfully accom-
plshed has removed from the field OF conto-
versy many questions that long and seriously
disturbed the credit of the government and the
business of our country. Our paper currency is
now az national as the flag, and resumption has
not only made it everywhere equal to coin, but
has brought into use our It re OF gold and Sill
yer. The circulating medium is more abundant
than ever before and we need only to maintain
the equality Of all our dollars to insure to labor
and capital measure of value from the Use of
which TO one can suffer loss. The great pros
per1ty which the country is nj W enjoying should
not be endangered by any violent changes OF
doubtful financial experiments and IN reference
to our custom laws policy should be pursued
which will bring revenue TO the treasury and
will enable the labor and capital employed i'll
our great industries to compete fairly in our own
markets with the labor and capital of foreign pro-
duce. We legislate for the people of the United
States not for the whole world, and 1t Is orr
glory That The American laborcr is more free, ill.,
telligent and better paid than his foreign COM
petitor. Our country cannot lie Independent
unless its people with their abundant natural re-
sources possess the requisite skill ut any time to
clothc, arm and equip themselves for war, and
in time of peace to produce all the necessary I'M
plemcEts'of labor. 1t was the manifest intcr-
ton of the founders Of the government to pro-
vide for the common defense, not by standing
armies alone, hut by raising among the people a
greater army of artisans whose intelligence and
skill should powerfully contribute to the safety
and glory of the nation.
Fortunately for the interests of commerce
there Is no longer any formidable opposition to
appropriations for the improvement OF our har-
bors and great navigable rivers, provided that
the expenditures for that purpose are strictly
limited to works Of national Importance. Inc
Mississippi river with its great tributarie Is OF
such vital importance to 10 many millions OF
people that the safety of its navigation requires
exceptional consideration in order to secure to
the nation the control of all its waters. Presi-
dent Jefferson negotiated the purchase OF a
vast territory, extending from the Gulf OF
Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The wisdom of
congress should be invoked to devise some
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 twenty-five millions OF
people.
The interests of agriculture, which is the
basis of all our material prosperity, aud IN
which seven-twelfths of our population are ell
gagged, as well as the interests Of manufactures
and commerce, demand that the facilities tor
cheap transportation shall be increased by the
use of our great water courses. The material
interests of this country, the traditions OF its
settlement and the sentiments of our people
have led the government to offer the widest
hospitality to emigsants who seek our shores fof
new and happier homes, willing to share ths
burdens as well as the benefits Of our society
and intending that their posterity shall become
an undistinguishable part of our population.
The recent movement of the Chinese to oui
Pacific coast partakes but little of the qualities
of such M emigration, either III its purposes OF
its results. II is too much like an importation
to be welcomed without restriction, too much
like an invasion to be looked upon without sole
itude. We cannot consent to allow any form OF
serye labor to he introduced among us under
the guise of immigration. Recognizing the
ravity Of this subject, the present administers
ton, supported By congress- has sent to CHINA q
commission of distinguished citizens for the
purpose of securing such modification OF thu
existing treaty as will prevent the OWLS likely e
arise from the present situation. II Is eonii
IDENTIFY believed that these diplomatic pegotia
tons will be successful without the loss Of com
mercial intercourse between the two powers
which promises u great increase Of reciprocal
trade aud the enlargement Of our markets
Should these efforts fail, it will be the duty Of
congress to mitigate the evils already felt apt
prevent their increase by such restrictions ai
without violence md injustice win place upon {
sure foundation the peace of our commuAtie.
and the freedom and dignity Of labor
The appointment Of eiti6eas TO tho various
executive aud judicial offices Of the government
il perhaps the most difficult of all tho dutie
Which the constitution has imposed upon thu
executive. The constitution wisely demand
that congress shall cooperate with the eAetn
tive departments in rlac',~ tho eitA service "
o better ! has proved thu
t">4ion M
anl