National Republican., 1875-09-03
GENERAL WINFIELD s. HANCOCK.


The intelligence from Saratoga is to the
effect that the leaders and wire pullers of
the Democratic party, assembled there, have
been and are engaged in silently making
arrangements 70 bring forward the name Of
Major General Winfield s. Hancock as their
candidate for the presidency in 1876. 1t
must be acknowledged at once that his name
is 10th influential and popular in the Demo-
cratic party, and that the Generals fidelity
to 1t has been unwsvering. In the Demo-
cratic Convention Of 1854 at Chicago, he
was mentioned as an available candidate,
but McClellan's friends were there quite
too numerous and powerful for the sug-
gestion to make much headway, but
it was not lost sight Of at all during
the administration of Mr.. johnson, and
General Hancock, on assuming COM
msnd at New Orleans, made speech
in this city previous to his departure, which
strongly commended him to the Democratic
heart and while in New Orleans his course
was such as to still more closely cement
the political tie. On the formation Of the
"Soldiers' and Sailors Union" an organi-
zation in opposition to the Grand Army Of
the Republic, it elected as its candidates, at
a meeting held in New York the first of
July, 1868, General Hancock for President,
and Thomas A. Hendricks for Vice-Presi-
dent; and by its committee, the National
Democratic Convention, held in New York
July 4 of the same year, were invited to
rstify it, on the second day of its meet
ing, July 6. July z, on the call Of States
for nominations, the name Of General Han
cock was formally presented by majority
of the Maine delegation, and in the first
ballot he received 33t votes on the second,
As and on the third, 454 and on the
nineteenth he received 1854. This was his
highest number. A recess was taken for
fifteen minutes, and during that time Gen
eral Hancock's fate was sealed. On the
twentieth he fell to 142t. On the twenty
first to 1851. On the twenty-second, Hora-
ito Seymour was nominated. The whole
truth, and nothing but the truth has never
yet been written of the turning point in the
convention, and at this writing we have
nothing to do with it.
To-day, and when the next Ma
tional Democratic Convention meets
General Hancock will be as strong
as he was then, for during all this time he
has been discreet, carefully coached, and
has made no new enemies. He is a sound
Democrat, an honorable soldier, and an
honest man, and by nature he is largely in
possession of that grace and magnetic
quality always effective with the masses
Where could the Democracy find better
manf Why should he not be its standard
bearer in the Presidential campaign of 1876?
He will not be, though. On the 7th day
of July, 1865, although in obedience to
military and presidential authority, he gave
the orders which launched Mary E. Surratt
from the scaffold into eternity, and the
Catholic Church of America will never
forgive him. 1t is this fact which pre-
vented his nomination at New York in
1868 and the same fact will prevent his
success in any future convention of his
party. Whether this is just or not is not
for MS to discuss. We simply state fact
which stands out in the boldest relief, and
challenges denial. Had he resigned his
commission that morning before executing
the warrant, as he was urged to do by
some of his friends, who foresaw the con-
sequences, his standing with q powerful
element of his party might have been far
different to-day.