The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-09-21
TuRNEW PRESIDENT.
His Views on Public Questions a. Fur
'niShetI In HIS Letter Accepting the Chi


'niShcd In His Letter Accepting the Chi
eagO Nomination for Vico-Preaid0nl.
Now that General Arthur has succeeded
to the Presidency OF the United States,
there will be a great deal Of curiosity to
know what to expect from him as general
policy for the guidance Of his administra'
ton. As indicating to some extent what
his views are upon leading public ques'
tons, we subjoin the letter Of acceptance
written by him in July, 1880, in response
u the official notification OF his nOmina'
ton for Vice.President at Chicago. This
document is us follows:
NEW YoRE, July5.
DEAR Sm-I accept the position assign
ed me BY the great party whose action you
announce. This acceptance implies ap-
proyal Of the principles declared BY the
Convention, hut recent usage permits me
to add some expression OF my own views
HONEST ELECTIONS,
The right and duty to curehonestyand
order in popular elections is matter so
vital that II must stand in the front The
authority Of the National Government to
preserve from fraud and force elections at
which It's own officers are 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 else.
where, done mnch to curb the violence and
wrong to which the ballot and the count
have been again and again subieCtedi some
times despoiling great cities; sometimes
Sitting the voice OF whole state often
seating, not only in Congress but on the
bench and in the Legislatures, num-
bers Of men never chosen by the people.
The Democratic party, since gaining
possession OF the two houses Of Congress,
has madc these lust laws the object Of bit
Ter and ceaseless assault, and despite all
resistance, has hedged them with rcstric-
tons Cunningly COntrived to battle and par
alive them. This aggressive majority
boldly attempted to extOrt from the Exec
utive his approval OF various enactments
destructive OF these election laws, by rev
0lutionary threats that constitutional ex'
ercise OF veto power would BIO punished by
Withholding the appropriations necessary
TO carry on inc government hHu tlese
threats were actually carried out by retus
ing needed appropriations, and by forcing
an extra session OF Congress, LASTING fol
months and resulting in concessions to Thu
usurping demand, which are likely In
many Suites to subject the majority to thu
lawlcss will OF u minority, 0minous sign
Of public disapproval alone subdued thi
arrogant power into sullen surrender fol
the time being Of a part Of its demands.
The Republican party has strongly up
proved Of the stern refusal Of It's represen
tatives 10 suffer the overthrow Of statute
believed 10 be salutary and Just. 1t ha
always insisted and now insists, that tn
government Of tho United States Of Amer
leu Is empowered and in duty bound Il
efFectually protect the elections designated
by the Constitution as national. Nor
than this, tho Republican party holds Us {
cardinal point in its creed that the govern
ment should, by every means known L
the Constitution, protect all American Cit
zens everywhere In the full enjoyment o
their civil ind political rights.