Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-20

/ He
HIS LETTER OF ACcEPTANcE-wHAT HE SAID
WHEN HE WAS NOMINATED FOR THE VICE
PRESIDENCY.
The following is the text of Gen. Arthur's let
| ter of acceptance:
NEW YORK, July 18th. 1ss0.-Dear Sir: ac-
cept the position assigned me by the great party
whose action y0u announce This accepfance
| implies approval Of the principles declaft.s bv
| the convention, but recent usage permits ME TO
| add some expression of my own views Fs1he
right and duty to secure honesty and order i'm
popular elections Is matter so vital that it must
| stand In front. The authority of the national
| government TO preserve from fraud and force
| elections at which its officers are chosen. is a
chief point on which the two parties are plainly
| ana 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 desneilipsr
great Cities sometimes sitting the voice Of a
! whole state, often seating, not only i'm Con
! gress. but on the bench and in legislatures
numbers of men never chosen by the people
Inc democratic party since gaining possession
| OF the two houses OF Congress has made these
Just laws the object of bitter. ceaseless assault.
and despite all resistance has hedged them with
| restrictions cunningly contriyed to battle and
| paralyZe them. This aggressive majority boldly
attempted to eXtOrt from the Executive his ap-
prevail of various enactments destructive of
these election laws by revolutionary threats
that constitutional exercise of the veto power
would be punished by withholding the appro-
priations necessary to carry on the government
Ana these threats were actually carried
out by refusing the needed appropri-
atlons, and by forcing an extra session of Con-
gress lasting for months, and resulting in con-
CessOns to this usurping demand which are
likely in many states to subject the majority to
the lawless will of a minority. OminOus signs of
pubic dlsapproval alone subdued this arrogant
power into suIlen surrender for the time being
OF part of its demands. The republican party
mas strongly approved the stern refusal of its
representatives to suffer the overthrow of stat
utes believed to be salutary and Just 1t has
always insisted, and now insists. that the gov
eminent of the United States of America is en-
powered and in duty bound to effectualy pro-
tect the elections denoted by the constitution as
national.
More than this. the republican party holds.
as cardinal point in its creed, that the govern
ment should. by every means known to the Con-
stitutiOn, protect all American citizens every
where in the full enjoyment of their civil and
polltlcal rights. As great part of its work of
reconstruction the republican party gave the
ballot to the emancipated slave as his right and
defence. A large increase in the number of
members OF Congress, and of the electoral
college, froa the former slave-hodng states.
was the Immediate result The .historv of
recent years abounds in evidences that in
many ways and IN manya places especially
"HSiC tllcH has bcen gfScsJ. enSkuTh
to endanger democratic Gontrof1Athe Very
men by whose elevation to citizenship
this Increase of representation was effected have
been debarred and robbed oftheir voice and their
vote. 1T is trae that no state statute or consti
tuition in SO many words denies or abrdges the
exercises of their political rights but the modes
| employed to bar their way are no less effectual
1t is suggestive and startling thought that the
increased power derived from the enfranchse-
ment of a race now denied its share in governing
nv -,Nf sna1,
the overthrow of the gOveraInent-is now the
sole reliance to defeat the party which repre-
sented the sovereignty and nationality of the
American people in the greatest crisis of our his
tory. Republicans cherish none of the resent
ments which may have animated them during the
actual conflict of arms. They long for full and
real reconciliation between the sections which
were needlessly and lamentably at strife they
sincerely offer the hand of good will, but they
ask in return a pledge of good faith They
deeply feel that the party, whose career is so IL
luStrlous In great and patriotic achievements
will not fulfill it's destiny until peace and pros
perlty are established in all the land nor until
liberty OF thought, conscience and action and
equality OF opportunity shall be not merely cold
formalities of statute, but living birthrghts,
which the humble may confidently claim and the
powerful dare not deny.
THE resolution referring to the public service
seems to me 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 proper administration of such
office demands. This sentiment would doubtless
meet with general acquiescence but opinion has
been widely divided upon the wisdom and prac-
tlcaDillty OF the various refOrmatory schemes
winch have been suggested and of certain pro-
posed regulations governing appointments to
public office: The efficiency of such regulations
have 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 as regulate the conduct o sue
cessful private business. Original appOirIl
should be based upon ascertained fitness. The
tenure of office should be stable. Posi-
lions of responsibility should, so far as
worthy and efficient officers. The inyesti-
cation of all complaints and the pun
ishment of all official misconduct, should be
prompt and thorough. These views, which
have long held, repeatedly declared and
uniformly applied when called to act find EN-
bodied in the resolution, which. of course APP
prove. will add that, by the acceptance of
public office, whether high or low one does not,
IN my Judgment, escape any of his response
bilites as a citizen, or lose or impair any of his
rights as citizen. and that he should enjoy alb
solute liberty to think and speak and act in
political matters according to his own will and
conscience, provided only that he honorably.
faithfully and fully discharges all his official
duties.
THE resumption Of specie payments-one of
the fruits OF the republican pOlicy--has brought
the return of abundant prosperity and the set
tlement of many distracting questions. The
restoration of sound money. the large reduction
OF our public debt and of the burden of interest.
the high advancement Of the 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 cur
rency is now as good as gold, and silver is per-
forming its legitimate function 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 dete-
rorated coin, no deprecated paper. And every
dollar, whether of metal or paper, should stand
the test Of the worlds fixed standard
sThe value of popular education can hardly
be Overstated. Although its interests must of
necessity be chiefly confided to voluntary effort
and the individual action of the several states.
they should be encouraged. SO far as the consti-
tuition permits. by the generous cooperation of |
the national government. The interests of the |
whole country demand that the advantages of |
our common school system should be brought |
within the reach of every citizen. and that no |
Of Of cfofn CHI