The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-17

The letter of acceptance Of Gen. Gar
field after his nomination at Chicago,
was grievous disappointment to his
many friends, who well knew his ability.
The fault, perhaps, was more owing to
the pernicious customs of our politics
than to any defect in its author. Letters
of acceptance of Presidential nomina-
ton are now more noted for what they
avoid saying than for what they do say.
In his inaugural address, Friday, Gen,
Garfield exhibited his brilliant mind and
showed an aggressive spirit the country
did not give him credit for. He first de-
clared our country nation, and not a
confederation of states, and then plant
ed himself and his administration square
ly upon the nations constitution. He
sketched the conflict of secession and
states rights, and declared that the war
had forever settled these questions, and
also that Of slavery, The war of the re.
bellion was ended, however, and all at
tempts to reopen the conflict are una
vailing. The cynical will criticise this
position, because Garfield, in the late
campaign, permitted his party to make
the old war questions the campaign cry,
until the vote of Maine decl lred that the
people had left the past behind. The
President is open to criticism here, but
it is not serious matter. The new
President dwells at length on the negro
and his condition, and while he indi-
rectly condemns the sudden conversion
of the black man from slave to a full
citizen, he sees greater danger now in
denying him his rights than in the pros
titution of the ballot Ivy this great mass
of illiterate voters. He looks upon uni.
versal education as the panacea for the
danger of the republic from illiteracy.
A second time he counsels the people to
leave the dead past behind them, and
march on an unbroken line with the un-
equaled prosperity of the living present.
His position in favor of the bi-metalic
standard is a guarded one, dependent
largely upon the future action o! the ma.
ton, but his stand for a solid b isis for
our prper currency is clear and firm.
The most lamentable clause in his adj
dress is where he endorses the bunder
of his predecessor in his unwarranted
defense of the National banks, which so
recently made such an unpatriotlc and
cruel assault on the business and pros
perity of the country. The President
indicates leaning for protection in sta>
ting that the steady growth of our man
ufactures should be maintained, but he
does not desire to see the nation too has
ty in taking action regarding a CONNER
cial highway across the isthmus. In no
one thing is the President more firm and
aggressive than in his declaration that
polygamy must pass beyond the territor-
lal bounds of the United States. His
declaration in favor of civil service re-
form will be looked upon as an open
declaration of war on the machine, and
as such will it be accepted by the great
triumvirs, His closing declarations for
an enforcement of the laws in every part
of the land; for rigid economy; faithful
and honest service from public officials,
and government purely in the interests
of the people, will give renewed hope to
the honest, conscientious republicans,
and make business men north and south
rejoice. The address is an able and
manly declaration Of the new Presidents
policy. 1t is mainly right, and if follow
ed, will receive the support of the great
mass of the people during his admins
tration.-Cleve. Press.