Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-19
ARrnURY ACCEPrANCE.


ARTAURS ACCEPTANCE.
Discussing Fraud at E,sctiess-How the
Parties are Divided.
General C. A. Arthur, the Republican
candidate for the vice presidency, has
written q letter to Hon. George F. HOar,
accepting the nomination. In it he says
The authority of the national govern
ment to preserve from fraud and force
elections at which its own officers arc
chosen is 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 ballot and the count
have been again and again subjected
sometimes despOiling. great cities, some
times sitting the voice Of q whole state, Of
ten seating, not only in Congress, but on
the bench and in legislatures, numbers Of
men never chosen by the people. Tho
Democratic party, since gaining possession
of the two houses of Congress, has made
these Just laws the subject Of bitter, cease
less assaults, and despite all resistance has
hedsed them with restrictions cunningly
cOntrived to battle and paralyze them. The
Republican party has strongly approved
the stern refusal of its representatives to
suffer the overthrow Of statutes believed
to be salutary and just. 1t has always in
sisted, and now insists, that the govern
ment of the United States Of America is
empowered and in duty bound to effectual-
ly protect the elections denoted by the
constitution as national.
1t is a suggestive and startling fact that
the increased power derived from the en-
franchisement of the race now denied its
share in governing the cOuntry-wielded
by those who lately sought the overthrow
of the governments now the sole reli-
ance to defeat the party which represented
the sovereignty and nationality Of the
American people in the greatest crisis Of
our history. Republicans cherish none OF
the rcsentments which may have animated
them during the actual conflict Of arms.
They long for u full and real recOncili;s-
ton between the sections which were
needlessly and lamentably ut strife; they
sincerely offer the hand OF good will, but
they ask in return pledge Of good faith.
They deeply feel that the party whose ca
reer is so illustriOus in great and patriotic
achievement will not fulfil its destiny until
peace and prosperity are established in all
the land, nor until liberty of thought, cOn-
science and action and equality Of OppOrtu-
nifty shall lie not merely cold furmalities Of
statute, but living birthrishts which the
humble may confidently claim and the
powerful dare not deny.
The resolution referring to the public
service seems to NE deserving of approval.
Surely no man should be the incumbent
of an office the duties Of which he is for
any cause unfit to perform. who is lacking
in the ability, fidelity or integrity which
a proper administration OF such Office
demands. This sentiment would doubt
less meet with general acquiesctnce, but
opinion has been widely divided upon
the wisdom and practicability of the vari-
GUS IefOrmatOry schemes which have
been suggested and of certain proposed
regulations governing appointments to
public office. The efficiency of such re"u-
latiOns has been distrusted mainly because
they have seemed to exalt mere educational
and abstract tests 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 the public service may
properly conform in the main to such rs
regulate the conduct of successful private
business.
Original appointments should be based
upon ascertained fitness. The tenure of
Office should be stable. Positions Of re-
spOnsibility should SO far as practicable
be filled by the promotion of worthy and
efficient officers. The investigation of all
complaints and the punishment of all Offi-
cial misconduct should be prompt and
thorough. These views, which l have
long held, repeatedly declared, and uni.
formly applied when called upon to act,
find embodied in the resolution which
| approve. I will add that by the
acceptance of public office, whether high
or low, one does not, in my judgment, cs.
| cape any of his responsibilities as u citizen
and that he should enjoy absolute liberty
to think and speak and act in political mat.
ters according to his own will and con.
science, provided only that he hOnOrably,
faithfully and fully discharges all his OIL
cial duties.
Gen. Arthur endorses the resumption
policy and says every dollar of our money,
whether of metal or of paper, should stand
the test of the worlds fixed standard. liz
says the national government should en-
courage popular education 50 far as the
constitution permits that such changes
should be made in the present tariff ant
system of taxation as will relieve any over
burdened industry or class and enable Oul
manufacturers and artisans to compete sue
cessfully with those OfOtler lands, and tina
the government should aid works Of intel
nal improvement national in their character
and promote the development of our water
courses and harbors wherever the genera
interests OF commerce require. In con
Guiding General Arthur says: ''There is
danger in entrusting the control of tho
whole law-making power of the govern
ment to party which has, in almost ever!