The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-06-02
GEN. HANCOCK.


Popular sentiment "a being concentrated
in favor of this distinguished gentleman as
,ho po,ooor,,;, ,o,,i,oo c,r pros;do,, lilo
-, g.. A.. -.
" no' seeklhs VI intriguing 'o' 'ne "on,'n"-
ton, and perhaps Is not the choice oi the
politicians. His magnificent record, and the
tact that bis nomination conld oxc;ie mn an.
"hso"'sui 'to"' "uy eoliipo'''o'' l''idv "'i' o"'
as the proper man. Inc WOrtd well says
There are other very strong reasons to be
urged in favor of General Hancock's nomi-
nation at st. Louis, hut without doubt, the
consideration that it would throw decisive
douche of cold water on any attempt to re.
light the fires of sectional passion in the
canvass, il one of the strongest. 1t is true
that General Hancock is n man of stainless
honor; that his abilities are equal to the
place that his genius as a soldier saved the
country in the crisis of two great battles
that his reverence for law, shown when civ.
ilians In power had grown apt at playing
the tvrant. proves him To be a model citizen.
But his peculiar relations to the south as a
leading Union general would make him an
especially available candidate Tor the demo-
cracy. 1t is clear that the main hope of one
nowerful faction of republican politicians in
the coming campaign is set on arousing old
war anim9sities aud exciting fears for the
safety of the results OF our victory The
fires of old passions have almost burned out
anl lie now smouldering under the ashes OF
busy aud crowded wears but doubt rs to
| the complete acouicscence of the south in
the work of reconstruction aud as to the
| safety of what was won in the war. are bv
no means everywhere extinct In the north
| west especially. where men threw themselves
| into the struggle with the fierce instinct OF
self preservation. and with grim determin-
alton. far surprising anything felt at the
east. 10 win and to hold the fruits of their
victory. this spirit of mistrust fingers. Many
| people who ought to know better, honestly
| entertain it and it is no wonder that repub.
| lican demapopues are planning to play up
| ON IT. Should they succeed in inhaming
this distrust into an outburst of sectional
passion, they might escape the inquest OF
! the country for another season. With Han
cock as the democratic nominee, all doubts
suspicions and fear as to the utter extinc.
ton Of the spirit of rebellion and the re-es.
| tablishment of LOYALTY throughout the land
| would be scattered like wreaths of vapor on
| the wind. The election of this great Union
soldier would have only one possible mean.
| ing. 1t would be the triumph of national
| ity His very name would signify the SUI
premacy of the flag, and any attempt to ques.
| ton the motives of his candidacy would re-
| coil fatally on its authors. The opposition
to him would have to seek some other stan
| dard than the "bloody shirt"
= President Grants failure by no means
proves that no soldier is fit to rule the coun,
| try any more than the success of Washing
ton and Jackson shows that only soldiers
should be chosen for chief magistrates, A
really great soldier must be essentially a
great man quick in decision, fertile IN re-
| sources, strong in executive ability. He
must possess courage, endurance. seli-sacrl-
| flee. The public liking for soldiers repre-
| sents the consciousness of a great nation
reused to the fullest exercise of all its ener-
| ges in q tremendous struggle. Military