Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-07-27
NEw YORK, July Is, 1880.

New YORK, July Is, 1880.
Dear sir-I accept the position as
signed me by the great party whose ac-
ton you announce. This acceptance i'm
plies approval Of the principles declared
by the convention. but recent usage per-
mits me to add some expression Of my
own views. The right and duty to Sc
cure honesty and order in popular cleo
tons is a matter so vital that it must
stand in front. The authority Of the ma
tional government to preserve from fraud
and force elections at which its own Of
fcers are chosen is the chief point on
which the two parties are plainly and In
tensely opposed. Acts Of Congress for
ten years have in New York and else
where done much to curb the violence
and wrong to which the ballot and the
count have been again and again sub
jected. sometimes despoiling great cities,
sometimes sitting the voice Of a whole
State, often seating not only in Congress
but on the bench and in the legislature
numbers of men never chosen by the peo-
pie. The Democratic party since gain
ing possession of the two houses of Con-
gress has made these just laws the object
of bitter, ceaseless assault and despite all
resistance has hedged them with restric-
tons cunningly contrived to battle and
paralyze them. This aggressive MAORI
ty boldly attempted to extort from the
executive his approval of various enact
ments destructive Of the election laws by
the revolutionary threat that the consti-
tutional exercises Of the veto power would
be punished by Withholding appropria-
tions necessary to carry on the Govern
ment, and these threats were actually
carried out by refusing needed appropri-
atoms and by forcing an extra session OF
Congress, lasting for months and result
ing in concessions to this usurping de-
mand, which are likely in many States to
subject the majority to the lawless will
of minority. Ominous signs Of public
disapproval alone subdued the arrogant
power into a sullen surrender for the time
being of part of its demands.
The Republican party has strongly ap-
proved the stern refusal Of its representa-
tives to suffer the overthrow Of statutes
believed to le salutary and just. 1t has
always insisted and now insists that the
government of the United States of
America is empowered and in duty bound
to effectually protect the elections denoted
by the constitution as national. More
than this. The Republican party holds
as a cardinal point in its creed that the
government by every means known to the
constitution protect all American citizens
everywhere in the full enjoyment Of their
civil and political rights. Asa great part
of the work of reconstruction the Repub-
lican party gave the ballot to the emanci-
pated slave as his right and defence. A
large increase in the number OF members
of Congress and of the Electoral College
from the former slave holding States was
the immediate result. The history Of ire
| cent years abounds in evidence that in
many ways and many places, especially
where their number has been great
enough to endanger Democratic control,
the very men by whose elevation to citi-
zenship this increase of representation
was effected have been debarred and
robbed of their voice and their vote. II
is true that no State statute or constitu-
ton in so many words denies or abridges
the exercise of their political rights, but
the modes employed to bar their way are
no less efectual. pr
1t is a suggestive and startling thought
that the increased power derived from the
reimbursement of race now denied its
share in governing the country-wielded
by those who lately sought the overthrow
of the government, is now the sole reli.
ance to defeat the party which represent
ed the sovereignty and nationality Of the
American people in the greatest crisis Of
our history. Republicans cherish none
of the resentments which may have ami.
mated them during the actual conflict Of
ARMS. They long for full and rea
reconciliation b.tween the sections which
were nsedlessly and lamentably at strife
They sincerely offer the hand Of good will,