Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-29
Accepting the Nomination foT
ViCe-President.
A Very Plain and Sensible
Document.
Gen. Ar.hur's Acceptance
NRw YORK, j uIy To.


NV ,he great party whose action you announce.
This acceptance implies the approval OF the pm
ciples declared by inc convention, pay recent
own yiews The right and duty 10 secure hon
esty ard order in popular elections !s matter
SO vital that / must stand IN the front. The
authority OF the national government TO preserve
from fraud and farce the elections at which lis
own officers sre chosen Is chief point on which
the two parties are plainly aud intensely opposed
The acts OF Congress for ten years have In New
York and elsewhere doue much 10 curb The yio-
lelce and wrong to which the ballot and count
have been sgain and again subjected, sometimes
despoiling great cities, sometimes shifting the
voice Of the whole State. After stating not only
In Congress- but on the bench and In Legislatures
numbers OF members chosen by the people, the
Democratic party since gaining possession OF the
two houses Of Congress has made these laws
the object of bitter, eeaseless assault, aud de
spite all resistance has hedged Them win restrlc
tons euuningly contrived to bafhe and
paralyze them. This aggressive majority
body attempted TO extorl from the exeea,
destructive of these election isWs, by
REVOLUTIONARY THREATS
that con tltutiors al exercise OF the veto power
would be punished by Withholding the sproptia-
tions necessary TO carry on the government, and
these threat. were actually carried out by reius-
ing needed appropriations and by forcing an extra
session OF Congress lasting for months and re.
sulting In concessions to this usurplng demand
which are likely In many states, 20 subject Tue
majority TO the iawess will of minority. omin-
Gus signs OF public disapproval alone subdued
the time being of part OF Its demands. The Re-
publican party has strongly approved the stern
refusal OF its representatives 10 suffer the over
throw Of statutes believed to be sslutsry aud
inst, 1t has always insisted, and now insists,
that the Government OF the United States OF
America is empowered and In duty bound TO
etfectually protect the elections denoted by The
constitution as pation4l. More than this the Re
publican party holds as the cardinal point In it-
creed that the Government should by every means
known 10 the Constitution, protect all American
citizens everywhere in the fall enjoyment OF their
civil and political rights. As a great part OF its
work of reconstruction the Republican party gave
the ballo. to the emancipated slave a. his ght
and defense. a large increase in the number OF
members of Congress and of the electoral college
from
FORMER sLAvEHoLpING STATES
was the immediate result.
The history OF recent years abounds In evidence
that in many ways and In many places, especially
where their number has been great enough to en-
danger Democl attic control the very men by
whose elevation TO citizenship this Increase OF
representation was effected have been debirred
and robbed of their voice aud their votes 1t is
trpe that no State statute or constitution IN so
many words denies or abridges tho exercise of
their political rights, but bodies employed TO bar
Their way are no less etectual. 1t is suggestive
aud startling thought that the increased power
derived from the eniranchisement of the race
now denies Its share In governing the country
welded by those who lately sought The overthrow
OF the Government is now the sole reliance to de
feat the party which represented the sovereignty
ana nationality OF Amer can people in a great
uone OF the resentment which may have animated
them during the actual conflict of arms. They
long FOR full and real reconciliation between the
sections which were heediessly and lamentably
a, strife. They sincerely offer the hand of good
will, but they ask IN return pledge o. good faith.
They deeply tel tina, the party whose career Is
so illnsrious in great and patriotic achieve
Will not fulhll lis destiny until peace and
prosperity are
ESTABLISHED IN ALL THE LAND;
nor until liberty OF thought, conscience and &C
ton and equality OF opportunity shall not be
merely cold formaities OF statute but living birth
rights which the humble may confidently claim
and the powerful care not deny.
The resolution referring to the public service
seems 10 me deserving of approval. Surely no
man should be an incumbent of office the duties
of which he is tor cause unfit 10 perform, who
is lacking in ability, fidelity or integrity, which
proper administration OF such office demands.
This sentiment would doubtless meet with gen
ersl scquteecence. But opinion has been widely
divided upon the wisdom and practicabilrty OF
various reiormatory schemes which have been
sugges' ed and OF certain proposed regulations
governing appointment to public office The eff
cheney OF such regulation has been distrusted
mainly because they have seemed to exalt mere
educational and abstract tests above general bus
mess capacity and even special
FITNESS FOR THE PARTICULAR WORK
in hand. 1t seems to me that rules should be ap
piled 10 the management OF the public service
that may be properly conformed to IN the main
10 such a. regulate the conduct of successful pri-
waite business, Original appointments should be
oh!ee should be stable. Positions of responsible
~ should 80 far as practicable be filled by pro-
motion OF worthy and efficient officers. The
investigation OF all complaints and the punis al.
ment Of all Official misconduct should be prompt
and thorough
These views, which have long held, repeat.
eddy dec ared aud uniformly applied when called
upon TO act, dad embodied in the resolutions
which, OF course, Prove.
Will add that. by acceptance OF public o.
fee, whether bign or low, one does not, In nv
judgment, escape any of his responsibility a. a
citizen, or io-s or in pair any OF ME rights as
citizen and tnat he should enjoy absolute liberty
TO think and speak and sct In political matters
according 10 his own will snd conscience: pro.
yided only that he honoraby, faithfully aud fully
discharges all his Official duties.
THE RESUMPTION or SPECIE PAYMENT,
one of the fruits Of the Republican policy. has
brought return OF abundant pros erty and the
settlement oil many dtstracuDg questions. The
restoration of sound money, the large reduction
OF our public debt and the burden Of interest the
hl ii advancement of public credit Gil attest The
ability and courage OF the Republican party 10
deal with sgch financial problems Sc may hercaf-
a. good IS gold, and silver IL performing it, le-
gitimste function for the purpose Of change.
The pFincip es VIII cb -hou d govern the relations
Of these elements OF currency are simple and
clear. There must be no deteriorated coin, no
deprecated paper. ard every dollar, whether OF
metal " paper. should stand the test OF the
worlds lEed standard.
THE VALUE OF POPULAR EDUCATION
a" LSt-lF Ae diversified. Although its interests
mus u necessity he chiefly cOudded TO the vol
missy fort ana individual action Of the seYera,
states hey shoH,d be encouraged go far as TIE
IN, es.on permits by the generous co-opera
si,oI o. me National government. TIE interests
- .ue Whole country demand that advantages OF
~. Otn non choOl system should be broaght
r.ver-.,.'e reach OF very zen and that 20
re.tLLe7 OF states ,hDlld be devoted TO the sup.
Poll 81 seets5su schools
,, t-- thaL zee should be made on the present
- 80 " stem OF taxation 81 viii relieve an
oYstblfleue9 industry Or c1ass and ensbIe on-