The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-09-02
POLITICAL.
ARTHUR's ACCEPTAYCR.

~~N" ~ 1T SAAN AaD A " 10
APPREHRsDRD RoM THE ELECTION a.
DEMOCRAT TO II PRESIDENCY BY TN
SOLID SOUTH.
The following is the text OF the lettel
OF acceptance OF General Chester A. Ar
thur Of the Republican nomination o
the Vice. Presidency
DEAR SIR acS opt the position as
signed me by the great party whose &C
ton you announce. This acceptance
implies approval OF the principles de
clared by the convention, but recen.
usage permits me 10 add some expression
OF my own views. The right and duty
to ecu honesty and order in popular
elections is u matter so vital that il mus
stand in the front. The authority o.
the National Government TO preserve
from fraud and force elections at which
its wi officers are chosen is a chic.
point on which thetw parties are plain
ly and intensely opposed.
The acts of Congress for ten year.
have, in New York and elsewhere, done
much to curb the violence and wrong Il
which the ballot and the count have beer
subjected-sometimes despoiling great
cities-sometimes sitting the voice OF 9
whole State-often seating, not only in
Congress, but on the bench and in leg.
islatures, numbers OF men never chosen
by the people.
THE ELECTION LAWS.
The Democratic party, since gaining
possession OF the two Houses OF Con.
gress, have made these Just laws the OBJ
iect OF bitter and ceaseless assault, and
despite all resistance has he1ged them
with restrictions cunningly contrived to
bGfas and paralyze them. This aggres
sive majority boldly attempted to extort
from the Executive his approval Of vari'
GUS enactments destructive Of these cleo
ton laws by strong revolutionary threats
that q constitutional exercise Of the veto
power would be punished by withhold.
ing the appropriations necessary to carry
on the government, and these threats
are actively carried out by refusing the
needed appropriations, and by forcing
an extra session OF Congress lasting for
months, and resulting in concessions to
this usurping demand which are likely
in many States to subject the majority
to the lawless will of the minority. The
ominous signs of public disspproval
alone subdued the arrogant power into
a sullen surrender for the time being Of
o part of its demands.
The Republican party has sternly ap'
proved the stern refusal of its represen-
tatives to suffer the overthrow of stat
utes believed to be salutary and just.
IL 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 donated by the Constitution as
national. More than this, the Republi-
can party holds as q cardinal point in
its creed that the Government should by
every means know, to the constitution
protect all American citizens everywhere
in the full enjoyment OF their civil and
political rights. AS a great part OF its
work of reconstruction, the Republican
party gave the ballet to the em~ancipated
slave as his right and defense.
RIGHTS OF FREEDMEN.
A large increase in the number OF
members OF Congress, and Of the cleo
t)ral college, from the former slavehold-
ing States, was the immediate result.
The history of recent 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 citizenship this ill.,
crease of representation was effected,
have been debarred and robbed of their
voice and their vote.
1t is true that no State statute or con-
stitution, in so many words, denies or
abridges the exercise of their political
rights, but the modes employed to bar
their way are no less effectual. 1t is u
suggestive and startling thought that
the increased power derived from the
Acknowledgement of q race now denied its
share of governing the country, welded
by those who lately sought the over
throw of the Government, is now the
sole reliance to defeat the party which
represented the sovereignty and nation.
atty of the American people in the
greatest crisis Of our history.
The Republicans cherish none OF the
resentments which may have animated
them during the actual conflict of arms.
They long for a full and real reconcllia.
ton between the sections which were
needlessly and lamentably at strife.
They sincerely offer the hand of good
faith. They deeply feel that the party
whose career is so illustrious in great
and patriotic achievements will not full
fill its destiny until peace and prosperi-
tv are established in all the land, nor
until liberty Of thought, conscience N
action and equality Of opportunity shall
be not merely cold formalities Of statute,
but living birthrights which the humble
may confidently claim and the powerful
dare not deny.
THE PUBLIC SERVICES.
The resolution referring to the public
service seems to me deserving Of appro.
val. Surely no man should be the in.
oumbent of an Office the duties OF which
be is for any cause unfit to perform
who is lacking in ability, fidelity or in
which a proper administration
Of such Office demands.
This sentiment would doubtless meet
With general acquiescence; but opinion
has been widely divided upon the wis
lom and p~racticability Of the various
.eformatory schemes which have been
suggested, and Of certain proposed regu-
atoms governing appointments to pub
10 Office. The efficiency of such regu.
atoms has been distrusted, mainly be-
,ause they have seemed to exalt mere
educational and abstract tests above
business capacity and even
fitness for the particular work
n hand. 1t seems to me- that the rules
which should be applied to the manage
nent of the public service may proper
y conform in the main, to such as regu'
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