The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-19
ARTHUR,s ACCEPTANCE
OF HIS SoMINATIOS FOR THE VICE
PREsIDENCY.:

His .vIews on Civil Service Expresse
ut Length-In Full Accord
with the Letter of Gen.
, erAI Garfield.
NEw YoRx, July lS.-The followin
, letter OF acceptance Of Chester A. Arthur
has been received for publication:
| NEw York, July5.
DEAR sIR:-I accept the position as
signed me by the great party whose actor
you announce. This acceptance impliel
approval OF the principles declared by The
Convention, but recent usage permits mt
to add some expression Of my own views
HONEST ELECTIONS.
The right and duty to secure honesty
and order in popular elections is matter
so vital that it must stand in the front
The authority OF the National Govern
ment to preserve from fraud and force
elections at which its own officers are
chosen, is a chief point on which the two
parties ATE 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 ballot and count
have been again and again subjected,
sometimes despoiling great cities; some.
times sitting the voice OF whole State;
often seating, not only in Congress, but
on the bench and in the Legislatures, mum.
bers OF men never chosen by the people.
The Democratic party, since gaining
possession OF both houses OF Congress, has
made these Just laws the object oi bitter
and Ceaseless assault, and, despite all re-
sisrance, has hedged them with restric-
tons cunningly contrived to battle and
paralyze them. This aggressive majority
boldly attempted TO extort from the Exc.
cutive his approval OF various enactmeuts
destructive OF these election laws by
revolutionary threats that constitutions
al exercise OF veto power would be pun
ished by Withholding the appropriations
necessary to carry on the government,
and these threats were actually carried
out by refusing needed appropriations
and by forcing an extra session OF Con-
gress, lasting for months, and
resulting in concessions 10 this usurp.
ing demand which are likely in many
States to subject the majority to the law:
less will OF a minority. 0minous sighs OF
public disapproyal has subdued this ar.
rogant power into a sullen surrender for
the time being OF a part Of its demands.
The Republican party has strongly ap.
proved OF the stern refusal Of Its represen-
tatives to suffer the overthrow Of statutes
believed to be salutary and just. 1t has
always insisted and now insists, that the
government OF the United States of Amer
lea is empowered and In duty bound to
efectually protect the elections designated
by the Constitution as national. More
than this, the Republican party holds as
the Cardinal point in its creed that the
government should by every means known
10 the Constitution protect all American
citizens everywhere in the full enjoyment
Of their civil aud political rights.
DIspRANcHsENENr IS TIE SOUTH.
Asa great part of its work ofreconstruc.
tion the Republican party gave the ballot
to the emancipsted slave as his right and
defense. A large increase in the number
OF members OF Congress and OF the elec.
tOraI college from the former slaveholding
States was the immediate result.
The history of recent years abound
In evidence that in many ways and in
places, especially where their num-
Der has been great enough 10 endsngtr
Democratic con rol, aud the very men =
whose elevation to citizenship this increa .
OF representation was effected, have been
debarred and robbed Of their voice and
their vote. II is true that no State
statute or constitution in SO many words
denies or abridges the exercise OF
their political rights, but the modes
employed to bar their way are no less
etfectual. 1t Is a suggestive and startling
thought that the increase OF power derived
from the enfranchisement OF race now
denied its share in governing the country
welded by those who lately sought the
overthrow OF the Government is now the
sole reliance to defeat the party which
represented the sovereignty and the ma.
tionality OF the American people in the
greatest crisis Of our history.
ALL SECTIONAL REsENTARNT BURIED.
The Republicans cherish none Of those
resentments which may have animated
them during the actual conflict OF arms.
They long for full and real reconciliation
between the sections which were needless.
ly and lamentably at strife. They sin.
cerely offer the hand Of good will but
they ask in return q pledge OF good
faith. They deeply feel that the party
whose career Is SO illustrious in great and
patriotic achievements will not fulfill Its
destiny until peace aRd prosperity are
established in the land, nor until liberty
OF thought, conscience and action, and
equality OF opportunity shall be not
merely cold iormalities Of statute, but
having both rights which the humble
may confidently claim, and the powerful
dare not deny.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The resolution referring to public SER
vice seems to be deserving OF approval.
Surely no man should be an incumbent Of
an office, the duties OF which he is iorany
cause unlt to perform, or who is
lacking in ability, fidelity or integrity
which proper administration Of such
office demands, and his statement would
doubtless meet with general approval.
But opinion has been widely divided on
the wisdom and prapticability Of various
reiormatory schemes which have been
suggested, and Of certain proposed regula-
tions governing appointments to public
The efficiency OF such regulations has
been distrusted mainly because they have
seemed TO exSlt more educational and ab.
stract tests above the general capacity
and even the special ftness for the par
ticular work in hand. It seem to me that
rules which should be applied to the