The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-12-27
Misreltantous.
GENERAL HANCOCK,

TIIH prudence and patriotism with
which General Hancock is administer
ing the affairs of his department attest
the wisdom of President johnson in
disPlacing his predecessor. General
Grants incorporate remonstrance was
morecreditablet the fidelity ofhis friend
ship than to the soundness of his judg-
ment. While Sheridan was in COM
mand the department was never quiet
Ihat meddlesomo officer Iesembled the
unfortunate people who never have good
neighbors. lie found himself under Il
constant necessity of doing strong acts ;
and the protests against his removal AS
sumed that the department was so full
of turbulent, mutinous spirits that only
his vigorous hand could hold them in
Subjection. But when he left, the re-
bellious spirits seemed to depart with
him, as the peace ola neig!bOr-hOod is
restored when the unfortunate family
that always had bad neighbors moves
away. General Sheridan'5 removal,
which it was asserted, before ii took
place, would make him the next Prcsi-
dent, is much more likely TO confer that
honor upon his successor, if General
Hancock continues to evincc the con-
summate civil prudence he has thus far
exhibited. 1t bids fair to place him
among the small number from whoma
Democratic candidate will be selected,
while Sherdan's supposed claims have
gone into n total eclipse.
for our part, we hope that Il states
man Of !hge civil experience may be
run by both parties. We are not likely
toneed military abilities;or five shoued
the Presidential mansion is not fit
place for the headquarters Ola fighting
army. Great measures of civil policy
and administrative reform should stand
in the FORE round under the next prcsi-
dent. There Is no fitness in choosing a
mere military man to discharge duties
requiring great civil experience. But if
the Republi cansattempt to sway the
canvass by the eclat of n military name
it may be eXpedient to neutralize the
effort by putting II popular military
name into the other scale. If this ne
cessity should be forced upon ps, an
accidental advantage may result from
the Republican reconstruction scheme
by aflording field to test the civil ca
pacity of one of our most admired and
meritorious soldiers.
The standing electloneering calumny
Of the Republicans, that every man
who iisapproves of their negro policy
is Il rebel at heart, rccoils against its sau-
thors when levelled at so bright repu-
tation as General lIancock's. For loyal
ty, gallantry, zeal, activity, and the
solid value of his services, there was no
officer in the Union army who, with
equal opportunities, left so shining a
record. If he had even had a separate
command, he might have acted more
prominent, but he could not easily have
acted a more brilliant part. Separate
commands were lavished on officers of
n different school of politics. The Re
publican Banks had q separate conf
mand both in the Valley and in Lou
isiana, and he acquired everything but
honor in both. The renegade Democrat,
Butler, had separate commands, and
made himselfa butt of derlsion, Pope
had a separate command, and his in
competency was demonstrated by the
second Bull Run. Burnside had II sepa-
rate command, and the result was his
useless slaughter of our troops at Fred
ericksburg. Hooker had separatecom-
mand, and the result was his disgrace
ful defeat at Chancellorsville. The Con-
servative Meade was promoted to II
separate command by accident and IA
sudden necessity. He won the great
victory of Gettysburg and was again
subordinated. Democratic officers who
were not servile enough to renounce or
dissemble their principles, had no fair
chance in the army. The crushing OF