The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-07-24
ARTHUR's LETTER OF AcoEprANoE.
Con. Chester A. Arthur. Republican Nomi
moo for the Vice Presidency, on the
Issues OF the Canvass.

n
i must stand in the front. The authority Of the
National Government to preserve from fraud aud
force elections at which its officers are chosen
Is n chief point on which the two parties arc
plainly and intensely opposed.
The acts Of Congress for ten years have. in New
York and elsewhere. done much TO curb the
violence aud wrong TO which the ballot aud the
count have been subjcctcd-somctimes dcspoiling
great eites-sometimcs sitting the voice of n
whole State-ottcn seating, not only in Congress-
but on the bench and in legislatures. numbers of
men never chosen by the people.
The Democratic party, since gaining possession
Of the two Houses Of Congress, have made these
just laws the object Of bitter and assault
and despite all resistance has hcdged them with
restrictions cubningly cOntrivcd % battle and
paraiyzc them This aggressive majority boldly
attempted t. cxtOrt from the Executive his APP
prevail oi various cnactments destructive Of these
election laws by strong revolutionary threats that
q constitutional exercise Of the veto power would
be punished by Withholding the appropriations
necessary TO carry On the Government, aud these
threats are actively carried out by refusing the
needed appropriations, and by forcing an extra
session OF Congress lasting for months. and result
ing in concessions To this usurping demand which
are likely IN many States to subject the majority
to the lawlcss will Of the minority. The ominous
signs Of public disapproyal alone subducd this ar
rogant power into q sullen surrender for the time
being Of part Of It's demands.
The Republican party has strongly approx ell
the stern refusal Of its representa-, 20 suffer the
overthrow Of statutes believed 20 be salutary aud
just. IL has always insisted and now insists that
the Government Of the United States Of America
Is empowered and in duty bound e. eIcc,ually
protect the elections denoted BY the Constitution
~ National. More than this. the Republican
party holds NJ a cardinal point in its creed that
the Government should by every means known To-
the contribution protect all American citizens
everywhere in the full enjoy Of their civi
political rights. As great part Of its work .;
rceonsiIuction. the Republican party gave the bal
lot 10 the cnancipatcd slave n his right aud de-
fcnsc.
large increase in the number Of members of
Congress aud ct the electoral college from the for
incr slave holding states. was the immediate re-
suit. The history Of recent wears abounis in cVi.
dcncc that in many ways and many places. cspc
cially where their number has been great enough
t. enlanscr Democratic control. the Ncry men by
whose elevation g. citizenship this increase Of rep
rcscntation was effected. have been dcbarrcd aud
robbed Of their voice and their vote.
Ii j. true that state statute or constitution.
in :" many words. denies or abFiigcs the exercise
uf their political rights. but the modes employ ci
60 their way less ciicciuai IL il a susee.-
tive anil startling though; that the increased
power derived FROM the acknowledgements Of a race
now denied it. share of governing the country.
welded 10y those who lately sought the overthrow
of the Government. i now the sole reliance 20 dc
feat the party which represented the sovereignty
ami nationality Of the American people in the
greatest crisi. ui our history.
The Republican. cherish none of the resent.
mcnis which may have animated them durin, the
actIal conflict IT arms. They-luug for a full AMI
'N"' 'vvvnci"atinn between the sections which
were ccllcs.ly anl llmcntably a.; strife. They
sincerely oscr the hand Of good faith Thcy
deeply ircl that the arty whose career j. 20 ilu.
tr"Hs IN great AMI patriotic achicS encn,. will not
iuldl! IT. ie'iny until peace and prosperity are
established 10 all the land. nor until liberty o,
thought cousciencc AMI action ami equality %.
opportunity shall be not merely cold iormaiitic.
% statute. bu; living bir,Lrisht. which the hum.
bic may nhdcn,Iy Slain AMI the powerful dare
To-; deny.
The Fc'oluiion referring T. the public service
sccm' q the deserving Of approval. Surely no
man should be the incumbent Of an Office the
duties 81 "aIca hc i Cor any cause unit 60 per.
form who j. lacking in ability. fidelity OF in
ie:riiy. which proper administration Of such
Office demands.
Thi, sentiment would doubles. nee; with
general acquicsccncc; but opinion has been iiyil-
ell upon the wisdom and practicability u the
various feiurmaiory schemes which have been
suggested. and oi certain proposed regulations
governing appointments 10 public Office. The
efficiency %! zach regulations has been l.;rusici.
mainly becausc they have seemed T. exali mere
educational aud abstract test. above general bust.
hes capacity and even special Fitness for the par
ticu'Ir work ia hani. II seem. 10 the that the
rule which - u!i be applied 10 the iHana cement
~ tie public service may properly conform in the
main. & such regulate the conduct oC success .:u
private bgsincs.. Original appointments should
be basel up certain fitness. The tenure Of
Office should be stable. Position. ofresponsibi!i,y
should, Fl, far practicable. be ilei by the pro-
motion O.; worthy and efficient officers. The in.
'esiisaii"n OF al complaints. and the punishment
Of al ofciai misconduct should be prompt anil
thorough.
Thc.c view. which have lons he'll. rcpea,e lis
eel tsI .sFftfw 4
9 act. hal einbp lieI ia the resolution. which.
Of c9ur.e approve. will all that by ia. a.-
ceptancc 90! public otcc. whether hi sh 81 low one
does not IN nay Judgment escape any &c his re
.p"E-IbliIes q. citizen. 81 lose ur impair any uf
hi. RI .rlts citizen. and that he .hpulI enjoy
absolute liberty O. think and peak and act 10
political matter. according 20 his own will and
Coincidence provided unly that he honorably faith.
fully and fully discharges all hi official duiie.
One Of the fruits Of the Republican policy has
brought the return u abundant prosperity and
the settlement o! many di-tracting questions. The
restoration Of sound money the large reduction If
our public debt AMI II the burden Of intercsi the
high enhancement Of the public credit, all attest
the ability and courage ut the Republican party
10 deal with such financial problems a. may here.
after demand solution.
Our paper currency is now as good a. gold and
silver. and - performing its legitimate function
for the purppses 81 exchange. The principle.
which should govern the relation. af these eic
incn'' Of the currency are simple and clear. There
mn.; BE- no de,errloraieI coin. no deprecated
paper, AMI every dollar. whether of metal or
paper. shoali stand the test VI the worlds fixed
standard
The value "f popular education can hardly be
over c'timaied. although it, interests must. IL
necessity be chiefly conddei 10 voluntary effort
anl the individual action Of the several States.
They 'h"uld be encouraged - FAR the con stitu-
ton permit by the generous cooperation of the
National Government. The interests ofthe who'll.
country demand that the advantages of our CON-
mon school system should be brought within the
reach oi every citizen. and that the revenues the
nation. or Of the States should not be devoted 10
the support Of sectarian schools.
Such changes should be made in the present
tarih and system Of taxation a. will relieve any
overbur'lcncd industry or class and enable our
manufacturers aud artisans 10 compete success
fully with those Of other lands.
Tho Government should aid works Of internal
Improvement National .. their character and
should promote the development of our water
courses aud harbors wherever the general interests
of commerce may require.
-Four years ago. n now. the nation stood at the
threshold Of Presidential election. aud Oh. Re
publican party, in soliciting continuance Of Its
ascehacncy, founded its hope Of success, not upon
its promises but upon its history it, subsea uent
course has been such a. 10 strengthen the claims
which II then made 10 the confidence and support
Of the country. On the other hand, considerations
moro urgent than have ever before existed forbid
the accession Of its opponents u power. Their
success, II success attends them, must chiefly
come from the united support Of that sectio,
which sought the forciblc disruption of the Union
and which. according 90 all the teachings Of our
past history, will demand asecndcncy in the coun.
ellis of the party TO whose triumph Il will have
made by far the largest contribution.
There Is the grayest rcasor- for apprehension
that cxorbitant claims upon the public treasury
by no means limited 10 the hundreds and millions
already covered by the bills introduced in Con-
grcss within the mast f,lr vears ,ro,ll H. .,,....