Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-07-22
Gen. Arthur's Letter Of Acceptance.
The Issues sr the Campatgn Dis
eWsse0.

acceptance
NEw YoRK, July Is, 1880.
Dear Sir accept the position assigned
me by the grsa, party whose action you an
| nouuce. The acceptance implie. approval
of the principles declared by the convention.
but recent usage permits me to give an cx-
precision of my views, thoughts and duty.
! To secure honesty and order in popular
| elections Is matter 40 vital that il must
| stand in the front The authorit, of the
national government to preserve from fraud
and force elections al which its officers are
| chosen Is the chief point on which the two
parties are plainly and intensely opposed
The acts Of Congress for ten wears in New
York and elsewhere have done much to curb
the violence and wrong 10 which the ballot
and the count have been again and again
subjected. sometimes despoiling great cities.
sometimes stilling the voice of whole state.
Often seating no, only in Congress but on
bench and in the legislature numbers Of men
never chosen by the people. The democrat
&c party since gaming possession of the two
houses of Congress has made these jus, laws
the object Of bitter, ceaselsss assault and de-
spite all resistance has hedged them with
restrictions cunningly contrived to battle
and paralyze them. This aggressive MAORI
{, boldly attempted to cxtort from the exec
utise his approval of various enactments
destructive of the election laws by the revo-
lu,onary threat that the constitutional exer-
ciscs OF the veto power would be punished
by withholding appropriations necessary TO
carry on the government. and these threats
we're actually carried out by -ss,sins needed
appropriations and by forcing an extra ses-
SION Of Congress. lasting for months and
resulting IN concessions to this usurping de-
mand. which arc likely in many states to
subject the majority to the lawless will Of
minority. Ominous signs of public disap-
proval alone subducd the arrogant power
into a sullen surrender for tho time being
Of par; Of its demands
The republican party has strongly ap-
proved the stern refusal Of it. representa-.
uycs TO suffer the overthrow of statutes he
lieved to be .alutary and Just I, has al
WAYS insisted and mott iasssts that the gov
eminent Of the United States o. America is
empowered and in duty bound TO eifec;ual,
protect the elections denoted by the oon.t!-
tuition a. national. More than this. The
republican party holds a cardinal point in
its creed, that the government by every
means known TO the constitution, would
proteo; all American citizens everywhere in
the full enjoyment Of their civll and political
rights ~ great part Of the ~ork 81 re-
construction, the republican party gave the
ballot to thu emanclpaied slave a. his right
and defense. 4 large increase in the num-
Der Of members OF Congress and Of the Flee
toral College from the former slave holding
States. was the immediate result, The his
tory Of recent years Abounds 10 evidence
that in many says and many places, espcc-
Ially whcrc their number has been great
enough 20 endangcr democratic control the
very men by whose elevation to citizenship
this increase Of representation vAs effected.
have been declared and robbed Of their
voice and their vote. Il il true that no
State statute or constitution in so many
words denies or ahridges the exercise Of their
political rights, but the modes employed TO
bar their way arr no lees efectual
Il = suggestive and startling thought
that the increased power derived from the
Acknowledgement Of a racr nov denied It's
share IN governing the counir, hy those tho
lately sought the overthrow Of the govern
mcnt, - no~ the sole reliance 20 defeat the
party which represented the sovereignty aud
nationality Of the American people in the
greatest crisis Of our history Republicans
cherish none Of the rcscn,mcu;s which NAV
have animated them during the actual CON
hlet Of arms. They long for full and real
reconciliation between the sections which
~erc needlessiy and lameu,ably At strife
They sincerely offer the hand Of good Will
bu, they ask in return the hand Of good
faith They deeply feel that the party whose
career j. 40 illustrlously great in patriotic
achicS cments will not fulfill 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 not be merrli cold furmaliiics Of
statutes. but living birth-rights. which the
humble mat confidently claim and the pow
erful dare no, deny.
The resolution referring TO public service
seems TO be deserving of approval Surcl,
no man should be the incumbent Of an Office
the duties Of which he i for any cause unfit
10 perform. sho j. lacking in ability. in f.
deity OF integrity. which proper admins
trailon Of such office demands This scnti.
meni would NEE; With general Aoquiesccnoc,
but opinion has been widely div upon
the wisdom and prac;icahility Of variou. re-
formAtory schemes which have been sug-
ge-ted and Of certain proposed regulations
governing appointments 20 public Office
The efficiency Of such regulations have been
disirusted mainly because the, seemed 10
enact mere educational and abstract tests
above general business capacity and even
special fitness for the particular work in
hand. IL seems 10 me tina, the rules which
should hr applied 10 the management o, the
public service MAY properly conform in the
main To such - regulate the conduct Of sue
cessful private business. Original appoint
me M .hnratA J.. h,s.sA
the tenure Of office should be stable post
ions Of responsibility should 70 far as practi-
cable be filed by promotion Of worthy and
efhcient officers; investigation of all CON-
plants and punishment Of all official mis-
conduct should be prompt and thorough.
These views which have long held, repeat
eddy declared and uniformly applied when
called upon 10 act | find embodied in the
resolutions, which, of course, | approve.
! will add that BY the acceptance OF public
Office. whether high or low, one does not in
my Judgment escape any Of his RESPONSE
bilities as citizen nor lose or impair any Of
a citizens nights tina, be should enjoy alb
solute liberty 10 think and speak and act in
political matters according TO his own will
and conscience. provided only that be hon
orably. faithfully and fully discharges all his
official duties.
Resumption of specie payment, one Of the
fruits Of the Republican party, has brought
a return of abundant prosperity and the set
tlement Of many di<sIacting questions. The
restoration of sound money, large reduction
of the public debt and Of the burden Of inter
est, and high advancement of public credit
all attest the ability and courage of the
Republican party to deal with such financial
problems as may hereafter demand solution.
Our paper currency. now as good as gold
and silver. is now performing its legitimate
functions for the purpose Of change. The
principles which should govern the relations
of these elements of the currency are simple
| and clear. There must be no deteriora,ed
coin. no deprecated paper. and every dol
| lar. whether metal or paper, should stand
the test of the worlds fixed standard.
Secretary Sherman is said to regard
General Garfelds letter las a very strong
document" Secretary Sehurz saws. Il, lays
L J,,.-u ,l., nf vr;,h IL.