National Republican., 1880-07-13
GARFIELD'S ACCEPTANCE.
Formal Letter to the Chairman of
the Committee.
The Platform Cordially Indorscd-Speoia'
Reference to Some of tho Principai
Topics - Purity OF Elections ana
General Education n Necos-
sity-The Finances aud
Chinese Question.
nonornl Gntfield,s Letter Of Acceptance.


has forwarded to Senator Hoar of Massachu'
sctts the following letter of acceptance Of the
nomination rendered him by the republican
national convention:
MENToD ONO, July 10, 1880.
DEAR SIN: On the evening Of the Sth of
June last had the honor 10 receive from you
In the presence of the committee of which you
were chairman the official announcement that
the republican national convention at Chicago
had that day nominated me for their candi-
date for president of the United States.
accept tho nomination with gratitude for the
confidence 1t implies and with deep sense of
the rcspon sibilities it imposes. I cordially
indorse the principles set forth In the
platform adopted By the convention. On
nearly all the subjects Of which IL treats my
opinions are on record among the published
proceedings of congress. ! venture, however,
to make special mcuton of some OF tho princi-
pal topics which are likely to become subjects of
discussion, without reviewingthe controversies
which have been settled during the last twenty
years and with no purpose or wish TO royive
the passions of the late war; II should be said
that while republicans fully recognize and
will stienuousy defend all the rights retained
by the people aud all the rights reserved to
the states they reject the pernicious doctrine of
state supremacy which so long crippled the
functions of the national government and at
one timo brought the union very near TO de-
struction. They insist that the United States
Is y nation with ample power of sef-preserva-
tion; that its constitution and laws, made In
pursuance thereof, arc tho supreme law of the
land; that the right of the nation to deter
mine the method by which its own legislature
shall be created cannot be surrendered with
out abroeatiug ono of the fundamental powers
ofthe government; that the national laws re-
lating TO the election Of representatives In
congress shall neither be violated nor
evaded;. that every elector shall be per.
mittod freely and without intimidation
TO cast his lawful ballot at such election and
have it honestly counted, and that tho potency
of his vote shall not be destroyed by the fraud
ulent vote of any other person. The best
thoughts and energies Of our people should
be directed to those great questions Of ma.
tional well.beiug in which all have q common
interest. Such efforts will soonest restore per-
feet peace 10 those who wore lately In arms
against each other, orjustce and good will will
outlast passion; but it is certain the wounds of
tho war cannot be completely healed, and the
spirit of brotherhood cannot fully pervade the
whole country until overy citizen, rich or poor,
white or black, is secure in the free and
cuual enjoyment of every civil and political
right guaranteed by the constitution and laws
Wherever the enjoyment of this is not se-
cured discomfort will prevail. Immigration
Will cease ana tDe Social anu lnuuSJridl forces
will continue to be disturbed by the migration
of lnborcrs and the consequent diminution
OF prosperity. The national government
should exercise all its constitutional authority
10 put an end to these evils, for all the people
and all the states members of ono body,
and no member can suffer without injury to all
Tho most serious evils which now aillict the
south arise from the fact that there is not such
freedom and tolcration OF political opinion
that the minority party can exercise an effect
i've and wholesome restraint upon the party IN
power. Without such restraint party rulo be-
comes tyIannical and corrupt. The prosperity
which is made possible in tho south by its
great advantages of soil and climate will
novor bo realized until every voter can freely
and safely support any party he ploases. Next
in Importance to freedom and justice is popu-
lar education, without which neither justice
nor freedom can be permanently main
tained Its interests arc intrusteQ 10
tho states and the voluntary action
Of the people. Whatever help the
nation can justly afford should be generously
given TO aid the states in supporting common
schools but IL would be unjust TO our people
aud dangerous to our institutions to apply any
portion of the revenues of the nation or of the
states TO the support Of sectarian schools. The
separation of the church and tho state IN
everything relating to taxation should be
absolute. On the subject of national finances
my views have been 80 frequently aud fully
expressed that little is needed in the way Of
additional statement The public debt isnow
SO well secured and tho rate of annual interest
has been so reduced by relundng, that rigid
economy in expenditures and tho faithful ap
plication of our surplus revenues To the pay
ment of the principal of the debt will gradu
ally but certainly free tho people from its bur
dens and close with honor tho financial chap
ter of the war. At tho sRmo time the
government can provide for all its orli
nary expenditures aud discharge It's sacred
obligations to the soldier of tho union and
to tho widows and orphans of those
who fell in its defense, Tho resumption o.
specie payments, which tho republican party
so COumgeously aud successful y accomplished
has removed from tho field of controversy
many questions that long aud seriously dis
turbed tho credit of tho government and thI
business OF the country. Our paper currency
is now as national as the flag, and resumption
has not only made it everywhere equal (,
coin, but has brought into use our store of golt
and silver. The circulating medium Is NOR,
abundant than ever before, and We need onl,
TO maintain tho equality of all our dollars {,
insure 10 labor and capital measure of yalu,
from the usc Of which 10 one can suffer loss
The great prosperity which the country Is nov
enjoying should not be endangered by an,
violent changes or doubtful financial expert
ments. In reference to our customs laws
policy should be pursued which will brip.
revenues 10 the treasury aud will cpab
the labor aud capital employed IN our gres
industries to compete fairly in cur own mar
kets with tho Labor and capital Of foreign pro
ducers, We legislate for the people Of ia
United States not Ior tho whole world and !
is our glory that the Amoi lean laboror Is MOI
intelligent and better paid than bis foreig
CompetitOr. Our country cannot be iuGepend
Ont unless it's people, with their abunGau
natural resources, possess the requisite skill {,
any time to cloLle, arm aud equip thomsclve
for war and in time Of peace to produce al
the necessary implements Of labor IL wa
the manifest Intention Of the founders Of tn
government to provide for the common d.
tonso, not by standing urmies alone, but b.
raising among the people greater army q
artisans whose intelligence aud skill shou
powerfully oUntribute TO the safety and glor
OF the nation. Fortunately for ths interest
of commerce, there is no longer any formd
able opposition Va appropriations for the i'm
movement of cur harbors aud grol
nayigable rivers, provided that the eX
' penditurcs for that purpose are shici
limited to works Of national impornnc,
The Mississippi riyorwilh its'great Tributaries
is of such vital Importance 70 so many million
of people that the safety o'its navigation "a
auires exceptional consideration, In order /
secure to tho natiou the control Of all II
waters President Jefferson negotiated The pui
chase OF a vast territory extending from ui