Date: September 6, 1930
Location: Northampton, MA
(Original document available here)
Up to the present time there has been very little development of a national character in the political campaign. Apparently local issues are engaging most of the public attention. That is inevitable where the candidates are dependent upon state and district favor for their election.
There has been some complaint on one side that the President has been overpraised and on the other side that he has been overcriticized. Supposing both were true, it discloses nothing more than a normal condition of political activity which is not likely to arouse much public interest.
All elections are important, and good government can be secured only by the constantly active and energetic efforts of the voters. But the country ought not to be subjected at the present time to agitation over false issues. A candid, conscientious, good-tempered discussion of public policies is always welcome. But during the next two months the people may well be spared from the virulent type of partisanship and personal abuse.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge Says: Dispatches Written by Former-President Coolidge and Syndicated to Newspapers in 1930-1931 (Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation)
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Greg Harkenrider who prepared this document for digital publication.