The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-31


well known for him to suffer from them.
The leader of the Republicans of the
House, with eighteen years of Congress
sional service behind him and n term of
six years in the Senate ahead. to resign
in case he should be elected President,
will not be damaged in the eyes of Re
publicans by the personal abuse of the
opposing party. We are going to have a
square fight between the two parties this
year, each polling its full vote, and the
one which has the most votes at the
start will win. The campaign will not
change the party attachments of any
considerable number Of voters. 1t will
only consolidate the two parties, and
rally all their stragglers.
There are questions concerning this
nomination other than the popularity,
availability, and good character of the
candidate, questions which will be asked
by men who care nothing for politics
save rs means of securing good govern
ment, and value parties only as instru-
ments to that end. What sort of an adj
ministration, they ask, will General Gar
field makeo Will the good tendencies of
the Hayes administration be continued
and strengthened by him, or will the
country be thrown back into the rut of
selfish, trading, machine politics? 4
beginning has been made in Washington,
during the last three years, towards the
elevation of national politics to the plane
of patriotic craftsmanship and
cautious at times, it is true, but still an
honest beginning. VIII the good work
90 on, OF will it stop
The answers to these questions must
be sought in the career, surroundings,
and bent of thought and purpose of the
Republican candidate. During his seven-
teen years service in the house, General
Garfield has taken SO prominent Il part
in debate and legislation that his opin-
ions, and even the intellectual processes
by which he arrives at conclusions con-
corning public questions, are known to
all his associates. No other man in Con-
gress has 4 record of such fullness and
clearness. The political history of two
decades might be written from his
speeches, if no other material existed.
Not only on the general questions of pol
tiles has he made this broad, plain re-
cord, but his ideas on all the details of
government policy and expenditure have
been expressed again and again, with
such detiniteness and consistency that
there is scarcely question likely to arise
during his term in the White House, if
he should be elected, on which his views
might not be found by searching the
pages of the Congressional Record. The
country is not called upon to make al
experiment with this man. The general
course of his administration can be con-
fidently predicted in advance. A strong
believer in the value of the Republican
party as the best political organization
the country has, or is likely to get in our
day, General Garfield is not bigoted
partisan. The temper of his mind is cs-
sentially judicial. He never jumps to a
conclusion. He gathers his facts with
conscientious care before making up his
mind. Instinctively he asks himself,
rs there not another side to this ques-
ton than the one | now seeo ~ If he
90: -,
both to his judgment before lie decides
This inherent desire to be fair has often
weakened his position as party leader
i'll the House, but it is an excellent quail
ification for high executive station.
General Garfield has not grown up in
the spoils school of politics. Represent
ing a district overwhelmingly Repub-
lican, he has never been tempted to make
use of official patronage for his own adj |
In recommending appointments
to Office in his district he has always |
the public sentiment of the To-
cality where the place was to be filled. |
Where there was doubt as to the can
didate favored by the people, an informal |
election has frequently been held, at his |
and he has then recommended
the man having a majority of the votes
cast. He was one of the first, if not the |
first, Congressman to institute competi-
tive examinations for applicants for APP
pointment to the Military and Naval
In more than one instance
he has appointed a young man of obscure
wholly unknown to him, be-
cause he had passed the best examina-
ton before board of teachers and ply |
sieians. All practicable ideas of civil |
service reform have always found in Cen
cral Garfield an earnest advocate, and we
have right to expect from him an even
fuller development and wider application
of these ideas than we have witnessed
under the present administration, because
he will have the advantage of Mr.. Hayes
experience to guide his own efforts.
We have no reason to apprehend an
attempt at personal government from
General Garfield. He is essentially man
of the people, open, cordial, and accessi- |
bic. Like President Hayes, he will be
with all, wholly free from
the arrogance and conceit of office, and
the Presidency as grave pub
lie trust to be conscientiously admins
tered for the good OF the people. The
of his tastes and manners has |
not been affected by his long career in
Washington, and will not be changed if he
goes to the White House. He is still the
wholesome product Of Western Reserve
farm life that he was in his younger
days, and will always remain so. His
personal surroundings are good. His
near family friends are without expcep-
ton persons of intelligence and character.
The best men i'll politics, science, litera-
ture, and journalism are his associates.
lie never had the slightest inclination for
low company. His administration will
not SAVIOR of the barrack and the stable
yard, nor will it initiate the pride and ex-
clusiveness of Old World courts. The
plain, practical, hearty Republcanism of
President Hayes will continue to be the
rule at the White House under his sue
cesSor.
Besides the judicial temper. of his
thought, his perfect familiarity with pub
lie affairs, and his excellent personal as