Smyrna Times

After some delay Gen. Garfield has sent in his letter of acceptance, which cordially approves of the Chicago platform. He deprecates any violent changes in the national finances, and advocates a policy of industrial independence, writes approvingly of measures for the improvement of the Mississippi, and comments on the need of civil service reform. He favors restraints on Chinese immigration. The most noticeable point, however, is that of the right of the vote of the black man in the South to be cast and counted. He says that the wounds of the war 'cannot be completely healed, and the spirit of brotherhood cannot fully pervade the whole country until every citizen, rich or poor, white or black, is secure in the free and equal enjoyment of every civil and political right guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws.'

Though looking at it from different directions, both parties are verging to a point on the subject of a free ballot. The Democrats in their convention at Cincinnati declared that the plank of planks in their platform was the privilege of every American voter to a free and untrammelled ballot. Col. R. W. Thompson, Secretary of the Navy, delivered a campaign speech at Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday night, in which he said the right of every citizen to vote would be maintained at the coming election if necessary by all the power of the government, supported, if need be, by the army and navy. He said the President would be equal to the emergency for the protection of citizens, high or low, rich or poor.

When both parties are thus so strongly in favor of the right and privilege of a free ballot, it oughtn't to be a very difficult thing to obtain.