National Republican., 1884-07-23

Gen. Logan was obliged to deal with
subjects which Mr. Blaine was supposed to
have exhausted. Nevertheless he was able
to find points which were not included in
Mr.. Blaino's comprehensive review of the
republican platform, and ho discussed
them in calm, straightforward, and
statcsmanlike manner. There aro some
very smart young men in the country
who arc in tho habit of indulging in
callow witticisms over Con Logan's use
of tho English language. They have
persuaded themselves that Con. Logan's
knowledge of grammar is limited, and
that his style Is inelegant; and by per-
sistent reiteration of their feeble fabrica-
tions have induced somo we'll meaning
people to believe that Con. Logan is a
sort of rough diamond-lovel-hea
and strong-hearted, but deficient in cul-
ture and literary taste.
There could be no greater mistake.
Gen. Logan is good speaker, a good
writer, and a good scholar. There are not
many men in the Senate who have bettor
knowledge of books or q larger stock Of
miscellaneous information. He is good
| lawyer, and discusses legal propositions
with the best lawyers in the senate. His
letter of acceptance is sufficient proof that
| he is thoughtful, patriotic, conservative
statesman. In his comments upon the
tariff question he uses arguments aud
illustrations which the plain people of
the country-the farmers, mechanics, and
laborers-can understand. He shows
that reduction of the tariff means a re-
duction of wages, and there is no getting
away from his logic.
Equally luminous is his review of our
monetary system. No man who has a
dollar invested in the securities or even
in the bills Of the national banks can lose
citizen who has such an investment looks
upon it as absolutely safe. 1t is beyond
the remote contingencies which some
times bring ruin upon the strongest cor
porations. As Gen. Logan sententiously
remarks, "The advantage Of having q
bank note in the house which will be as
good in the morning as 1t was the night
before should be appreciated by all"
The part of Gen. Logau's letter which
will attract most attention, however, is
his review of what may be called the
southern question:" He utterly scouts
the theory that the minority should rule
if they happen to possess superior intelli-
gence and physical force. He holds that
all legally qualified citizens have an equal
right to participate in elections and that
the ma ajority should control the govern.
ment without regard to the color or the
social status of the individuals who com.
pose the majority. He boldly charges
that the democratic party relies upon the
systematic suppression Of the republican
vote in the south for success in national
elections. With a fair ballot and free
count it could have no hope OF electing a
president or Of securing q majority in thu
house of representatives.
Gen. Logan has no hesitancy in stain
what he conceives to be the duty OF the
government in this regard. Education
must be the main lever in lifting the
illiterate voters up to the plane Of self
asserting and self-defending citizenship
but its operation is necessarily slow. In
the meantime the national authority
must be used ito secure the absolute FREQ
dom of elections everywhere, to the enc
that our congress may cease to contain
members representing fictitious maj critic!
Of their people, thus misdirecting tn
popular will concerning national legisla
tion, and especially to the end that il
presidential contests the great busines.
and other interests of the country may
not be placed in fear and trembling les
an INSCRIPTIONS minority should succee,
in sitting the will of the majority"