The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-07-29
Letter Of Acceptance Of Gen. Arthur.
NEW YORK, July 10
Following IL the letter of acceptance
AZ General Arthur:

Following IL the letter of acceptance
of General Arthur:
DEAR SIR: accept the position assigned mo
| by the great party whose action you announce.
principles declared BY the Convention, but re-
! cent usage permits rue to add some expre1.
| sion Of my own views.
| The right and duty to secure honesty ana
order in popular elections is matter sd vital
that It must stand in the front. The author
from fratid and force elections at which its
own officers are chosen is q chief point on
which the two parties are plainly and intensely
opposed. Acts of Congress for ten years have
| in New York and elsewhere done much to
curb the violence and wrong to which the bal
lot and count have been again and again
| subjected, sometimes despoiling great citiess
sometimes sitting the voice OF a whole State,
often placing not only in Congress-, but OH
the ard in ~ ns OF
ocratiE party, since gaining possession OF the
and despite ali resistance has hedged them
se s and sS parsiyae tSem. This aggressive ma
Executive his approval of various enactments
destructive of these election laws by revolu-
tionary threats that constitutional exercise of
the veto power would be punished by with
holding appropriations necessary to carry on
the Government, and these threats were actu-
ally carried out by refusing needed appropria-
~ress Iastino for maonths and rasnltin~ ~
concessiona to this ,isurDing demand which
are likely. in many States; to subject the
OminOus signs of public disapprOval alone
subdued this arrogant power into . sullen sur
render for the time being of part of its de-
mands. The Republican party has strongly
approved tho stern refusal of its representa-
tives to suffer the overthrow of stututes be-
insisted, and now insists, that the Government
of the United States Of America ia emnowerad
and in duty bound to effeetually protect the
tional. More than this. the Kepublican party
holds as the cardinal pCint in its creed that the
Government should by every means known to
everywhere in the full endowment of their
civil and political rights As a great part of
its work of reconstruction, the Republican
party rave the ballot to the emancpated
slave as his right and defense. large in.
crease in the number of members of Congress
and of the Electoral College from former
elave-holding states was the immediate result.
The history OF recent years abounds In evil
oence that IN many ways ana IN many places,
especially where their number has been great
very men by whose elevation to citizenship
TINS increase OF REPRESENTATION was ct,
tected have been debarred and robbed
true that no State statute or Com
st1tutlon IN so many words denies or aDridges
the exercise Of their political rights, but
effectua It is " suggestive and startling i
tnodgnt that the increased power derlSe ed
from the entrancnisement OF race now
oenleo IT'S snare IN governing tne cotin-
Try, welded py those VINO ately sought
tne oHertnrow OF INC u9verniheMt, Is now
tne Sole rellance 70 oeIeaI tne party
wnicn representeu the sovereignty ana
tne greatest crlsts OF our history. Re-
Puoncans cnerlsn none OF the resentments
actual conflict of arms. They long for a full
ana real Recommendation Detween the sect1ons
which were needlessly and iamentaeiy at
win, but they ask in return pledge Of good
1aith, Incy deeply reel tnat the party whose
career Is so illustrious in great and patriotic
peace and prosperity are established in all the
and, nor until liberty of thought. conscience
and action, and equality Of opportunity, shall
not be merely cold formalities of the statute,
but living birthrights which the humble may
confidently claim, aud the powerful dare not
deny.
The resolution referring to the public serv.
ice seems to me deserving of approval. Sure
~ no man should be the incumbent of an of
tice the duties of which he is for cause unit
to perform, who is lacking in ability, fidelity
or integrity which a proper administration Of
such office demands. This sentiment would
but opinion has been widely divided upon
the wisdom and practicability of various re-
formatory schemes which have been sug-
governing appointments to public office
The efficiency of such regulations has been
distrusted mainly because they have seemed
above general business capacity and even
special fitness for the particular work in
hand. 1t seems to me that the rules which
should be applied to the management Of tie
public service mag be properly conformed in
the main to such as regulate the conduct of
succe ssful private business. Original appoint
ness. The tenure of office should be stable.
Positions of responsibility should, so far as
practicable, be filled by the promotion of
worthy and efficient officers. The investiga-
ton OF ali complaints and the punishment Of
all official misconduct should be prompt and
thorough. These views, which have long
piled when called upon to act, find embodied
III the resoiutlon, wnicn OF course approve.
Will add that by the acceptance OF public
once, whetner nign or low, one does not, IN my
Judgment, escape any OF MS responsibility as
cltlzen or lose or impair any or MS rights as
citizen, and that he should enjoy absolute
matters according to his own will and con-
science, PROVIDED only that ne hOnOrably, faith
fully and fully discharges all his Official Duties
SPECIE E PAY I!
Inc resumption OF specle-paymentS-One OF
the fruits OF the Republican policy-has
brought return OF abundant prosperity and
the settlement OF many diStracting questions.
The restoration OF sound money, the large re-
interest, the nigh advancement of the public
the Republican party to dee I v with such Cd
financial problems as may hereafter demand
solution. Our paper currency Is now as good
as gold, and silver is performing its legitimate
function for the purpose of change. The
principles which should govern the relations
OF these clements of the currency are simple
and clear. There must be no deteriOrated
coin, no deprecated paper, and every dollar,
whetherof metal or paper, should stand the
test OF the world nxed standard.
EDUCATION.
The value OF popular education can hardly
be overstatcd. Although its interests must of
necessity be chiefly confided to the voluntary
effort and individual action OF the several
States, they should be encouraged so far as
the Constitution permits by the generous Co
operation Of the National Government. The
interests of whole country demand that the
advantages of our common-schOol system
should be brought within the reach Of every
citizen, and that no revenues of the Nation or
the States should be devoted to the support of
sectarian schools.
TARIFF AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Such changes should be made in the present
tariff and system OF taxation as will relieve
any overburdened industry or class, and en-
able our manufacturers and artisans to COM
pete successfully with those of other lands.
The Government should aid works of in
ternal improvement, national in their char
acter, and should promote the development of