Alexandria Gazette

Reflections on Garfield.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., June 26, 1880

Eds., EXAMINER: My abstention from active participation in party politics, notwithstanding abundant and flattering temptations on all hands, is well known by my friends and former comrades in arms, and, in some measure, to the whole country. By consenting to preside at the democratic ratification meeting last evening, at Platt's Hall, I have made an extraordinary departure from former habits. It will interest those who care for the country to know what could have induced the change.

The substance of my reply to the Democratic State Central Committee explains my political leanings and those of many others whom I know. I have to add, that when the nominations came, and a platform was announced with more meaning in fewer words than is usual with these documents, I made up my mind that an opportunity had come to do a great—very great—good for our country. For the first time since the war, I see hope. The genius, wisdom, eloquence and power of the great Republican party all these years, exerted in the South, having substantially failed properly to re-integrate that non loyal, intelligent, thoroughly American and conservative people with the rest of the country, and greatly failed to enlist the powerful, experienced and co-operation of the Southern whites in aiding and elevating the freedmen, whose interests are bound up with theirs.

Now the time seems to have come when the thorough reunion of the great democrats of the country will forever end the demagogue yell about "Solid South" and "Solid North."

When the carpet baggers have given up the job of managing the colored men of the South, they may have the counsel and help of the white people, among whom they have been born and reared, and who are naturally, through habit, interest and feeling, better friends than outsiders could be. Would not the attainment of such great objects be immeasurably beneficial to our country?

But if they are obtained, as please God they will be, by the election of General Hancock, much more of good will follow. The young democracy of the country will be filled with higher aspirations, and their next National platform, instead of being long, lengthy and common place, will, in few words, announce some thing worthy, to be done for the future of the country. Such, for example, would be one term of seven years for the Presidency, and no re-election.

I have abandoned abstention in hopes that these ends can be reached by the election of the democratic candidate, and that thus we shall put a stop to that hopeless demoralization which suggested to so many republicans, and even to some democrats, the speedy necessity of the "strong hand," and made them willing to secure it even by a third term and of such a chief!

W. S. ROSECRANS.