The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-28
A Democratic Reason for Voting
for Garfield.

The Democratic caucus of Rutland YER
mont, elected Geo. G. Underhill as one of the
town delegates to the Democratic county con-
vention. Mr.. Underhill was an active Demo-
crat in 1876. When he was chosen delegate
to a Democratic convention, he wrote the
chairman of the town committee the following
letter:
"Dear Sir: My attention has been called to
the fact that was elected one of the dele
gates to the county convention, to be held at
Rutland July %, by q caucus holden in the ill.,
terest OF the Democratic party at Rutland ON
Saturday evening last, and / take this early
opportunity to inform you that 1 cannot serve
as such delegate, for the reason that shall, in
the coming election, support the Republican
National and State ticket, and, if good men are
put In nomination, the county and town as
well. In 1875 and 1876 came to believe that,
with slavery abolished, the South would abide
by and sustain the logical results of the war,
and that the Southern people were being op-
pressed by the administration then in power;
and further that the Republican party had be-
come corrupt and arrogant in its rule, and was
so controlled and directed that it was impossi-
BILE for the rank and file of that party to break
away from their rulers and make the party, as
1t was at the beginning, a party of principle,
reform and progress; and, having a very great
admiration for Samuel j. Tilden for the noble
work which he had inaugurated and carried
deemed it nv duty to cast my vote for Tilden.
and, as then hoped, reform.
"Since then many changes have taken place
We have had the extra session of Congress
ing to many millions TO be paid from the
United Treasury to disloyal claimants In the
South; with the persistent attempts on the
part OF the representatives of the Democratic
party to repeal all laws that protected the
legitimate fruits Of the war; with its shameful
exhibition of greed for office and contempt of
the North, as shown in the wholesale dismissal
OF all Northern Office holders, clerks, etc., and
filling their places with Confederate officers
and soldiers. We have also had the present
session controlled by the Democracy, with de
nothing policy inaugurated at the beginning
and continued to the end, plainly showing that
its representatives could do nothing right, and
in the fear of the coming election did not dare
to do anything. Also, since that time the Re-
publican party has inaugurated Mr.. Hayes as
President, and the administration has been
one of the best, if not the best, the country
ever had. 1t has extended to the South the
fullest opportunity of reconciliation and peace
upon national basis, and the offer has been
spurned. 1t has administered the affairs Of
the government so justly as to become above
suspicion of wrong Its financial policy and
business management have been such as to
give us at present and promise us for the fu-
ture degree Of prosperity unequaled in the
history OF the country. And in the present
canvass and nomination the Republican party
in its rank and file has risen above the coun-
sells and control of its late leaders, and has
nominated a candidate for the Presidency un-
der auspices and upon platform that give
the best possible assurance that the wise policy
of the present administration will be contin-
ued, If the Republican party continued in
power.
In brief, the past four years have proven
that the Republican party can administer the
affairs of the nation honestly and well, and
that all Industries and all our people pros
per under it; and during the same time it has
been just as clearly proven that the Democracy
as now controlled are ia ainted with disloyalty
for the sole purpose of building up the South
at the expense OF the North. Believing it to
be the duty of every freeman to cast his vote
for the right, irrespective of party, shall cast
my vote in support of the Republican party at
the coming election Very truly yours,
GEO. G. UNDERHILL.