The Portland daily press., 1880-09-01

Reference has already been made to the let
ter of General e. N. Bates of Illinois, who was
the Greenback candidate for State treasurer in
1878, declaring that he should support Garfield
and giving his reasons therefor. The letter is
such an able presentation of the issues in
volved, and comes from a man of such promi-
nence in the National party that it is worthy
of publication:
CHICAGO, Aug. list, 1880.
DEAR SIR-I am in receipt of your note of
the 18th, asking for al expression of my opn-
ions on the subject of national affairs as in
volved in the present political canvass. Such
expression shall be given as frankly as it has
been asked. AS you are aware l was in 1878
nominee of the Greenback party of Illinois for
the Office of State Treasurer. Under like con-
ditions of national finances and of national
affairs, my political afsociat ohs would be now
as they were then.
But the conditions have changed. When
business depression covered the country like
pail the paramount questions were whether or
not willing labor should have employment and
compensation; whether Or not capital should
be locked up in the vaults of mammoth corpor-
ations and money kings, beyond the control of
idle industries eagerly seeking activity and be-
yond the reach OF the poor, piteously crying
tor bread. These questions are no longer par
amount. The varied industries of the country
are now fully employed at remuneratiye rates.
and prosperity gladdens the hearts of the peo
pie everywhere. In this campaign the vital
question is not one of labor or capitol or the
quality or quantity of the currency, but wheth-
er or not we are to have national govern
ment; whether or not the men who fought for
and preser yed that government during its great
peril shall administer it. For three years l
was in the Union army, and to the best of my
ability aided in the def nee of the national
cause. For fifteen months was a Union pris-
oner OF war-Libby and other Southern pris-
ons. Since the close of the war have by
my voice and my vote, co-operated with those
whose purpose serm med to be to maintain the
principles for which the war was fought, and
to guard the rights of all the people as secured,
especially by the last three amendments of
the Constitution of the United States. l shall
not knowingly cooperate with those who
would depart from these principles or over
throw the rights guaranteed IN these amend
ments
For twenty years the National Democratic
party has been the defender of disunion and
the ally of disunionists. Its last presidential
representative, James Buchanan, denied the
power of the general government to defend
itself against armed rebellion. A majority of
its Senators and Representatives in Congress
opposed the levying, arming equipping and
subsisting of the Federal troops for the nation
al defence; opposed the issue of greenbacks
and national bonds for the maintenance of the
national credit; opposed the abolition of slavery
when such abolition became a needed measure
OF the war; opposed the arming of the manu-
mitted blacks, when that policy would mani
testify weaken the enemy and strengthen the
Federal arms. On the eve of one of the most
important battles of the rebellion its delegates
IN national convention assembled declared the
war in defence of the Union had been four
years Of failure, and demanded cessation of
hostllities. At the close of the war it attempt
ed through Andrew johnson, the reconstruc-
tion OF the seeded States by placing political
power in the exclusive control of the rebels.
1t opposed the final policy of reconstruction,
which recognized the blacks as citizens and
voters, and it now pledges itself anew to the
constitutional doctrines and teachings of the
Democratic party.
We are told also by one of their most trusted
and prominent leaders that the Democratic
party, under Hancock'S lead, is fighting for
the same principles that Lee and jackson
fought for, and for which the Southern soldiers
died. After ten years of rebel fraud intoler-
ance OF opinion, prescription, assassination and
misrule, the political and pe:senal rights of the
white and black unionists, whether, Republi-
cans, Greenbackers or Independents, are
trampled in the dust by this party. They are
the defenders and benefciaries Of these atroci-
ties against humanity and constitutional lib
erty. The possession of the executive office
Will place the entire government in their
hands, and proclaim to the world that we think
the men who sought to overthrow the govern
ment are its best and natural defenders.
In my Judgment no greater peril ever threat
cuou luo OulOn cause Uudu UudG WHICH Unreal
ems it to-day. l could not, as Union soldier
and believer in the equality of the rights of all
men, be Indifferent to this national danger if
would, and would not if / could. There are
practically only two national tickets in this
political contest. Either Hancock and Eng
lish, nominated and supported by the solid
South, or Garfield and Arthur, supported by 1
the liberty loving and law abiding Unionsts,
North and South, will be elected President
and Vice President of the United States for the
next four years.
have stated reasons to my mind conclusive
why cannot support the former. Ineed state
onlya few why shall support the latter. The
Republican party has record of twenty years
in behalf of liberty and loyalty. 1t has shown
itself the advocate and defender of free speech,
free education, free labor and free homes. 1t
has exemplifed its devotion to this line of poll
cy by the selection of James A. Garfield as its
candidate for President. He is to the people
of this country in 1880 what Abraham Lincoln
was in 1860, an example of the possibilities
open to every boy and to every man in the ma
ton. Springing from poverty and obscurity,
by his own labor, diligence, integrity and
ability, he has raised himself to his present
high position and has demonstrated his fitness
for the still higher Office of chief magistrate to
which he has been nominated. believe that
a continuation of the present unparalleled
business prosperity of the country, the protec-
tion of the rights of all the people, and the sta
bility of the national Union, can only be se-
cured by the success of the Republican part
In this campaign. l, therefore, tender to the
party, through you, whatever service by pen
or voice, or vote may be able to render from
this hour to the close of this Presidential cam
paign. Very truly,
ERAsTUs N. BATES.
To Hon. A. M. Jones, chairman Illinois Re-
publican Sta central committee.