The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-24
Renewed Conflict Between 10y.
atty and Treason.



atty and Treason.
From the Chicago Inter-ocean.l
John Hancock, Representative in Con
gress from the Fifth Texas District, Is 4
candidate for the United States Senate
10 succeed Hamilton, whose term will
expire on the Sd OF March, 1877. But
Mr.. Hancock was a Union man in 1891 2
and was expelled from the Legislature ol
Texas because he refused 10 take the
oath OF allegiance to the Confederate
States. For this reason the Democratic
party Of Texas opposes Mr.. Hancock
election to the Senate. 1t declares that
no man shall go into the United States
Senate whose war record gas not good;
that is to say, that every man who sympa.
thized with the Union and opposed
treason shall be politically ostfacised
in the Democratic party. This, then,
is the true test OF Democracy at
the South; that the man who did not
fight TO destroy the Union, or swear
10 support those who did so fight, shall
not, under any circumatanees, receive
Democratic suifrages. There could be
no better evidence than this OF the total
depravity Of the Democratic party. The
party that would subiecteandidates for
office to such a test would not hesitate
once more to try to rend the Union.
This test OF fitness for Office is test OF
the loyalty OF the Democratic party, and
il demonstrates the unfitness Of that party
to govern the country anywhere. a dis.
patch from Washington states that almost
the only reason urged against Hancock's
election TO the U. s. Senate is the fact
that he was loyal to the Union and gov
ernment in 1862; that he refused 10 be-
come a traitor! This is curious test Of
fitness for office, 4 test which goes 10 the
very foundation OF the existence Of the
Republic; for il the support Of the Demo-
cratic party is refused to Hancock because
he declined to traitorize, it is fair to as
sumo that it will be given TO some other
candidate because he did traitorize; and
il the Democratic party supports men be-
cause they were traitors, it Is fair pre-
sumption, that it supports them because
it looks 10 the final triumph Of treason
through them. The case Of Hancock il
the frat, within.our knowledge, where n
record Of treason has been demanded by
the Democratic party as the test Of fitness
for political support. Congress swarms
with Confederate Generals, COlonels and
Captains, but it was left for the Centen.
NAL year to exhibit the Democratic party
in its supremest act OF disloyal mendacity,
demanding that the candidate for its
honors shall show that he fought TO tles-
troy the government before he can as.
pire 10 serve il! In this connection. it
Is well 10 recall the fact that during the
present session OF Congress JEFF. Davis, the
living traitor, and General Lee, the dead
traitor, have been eulogized in the high
est terms, and that the doctrine OF State
rights, drowned in the blood Of patriots
during the late rebellion, has been oiIen--
siveIy reasserted on the floor Of the
House OF Representatives. There has
been much said during the last few years
abont the mission Of the Republican party
being ended. But its mission cannot end in
the face Of the reassertion of the doctrine
that well-nigh destroyed the nation, and
cost its people hundreds OF thousands Of
lives and billions Of treasure! Its mis-
sion cannot end in the face OF the pro-
position Of the Democratic party TO make
disloyalty and treason the test Of
fitness for office It, mission
cannot end in the face OF Democratic
assaults upon the Union, the COnsti-
tuition and the hag-and all these are in:
cluded in The proposition OF A% Demo
cratic party to Ostracite Hancock Of Tex
as, because in 1851 he refused to raise
his right hand TO heaven and swear alle-
glance to the Confederacy! The mission
Of the Republican party is not ended nor
are the reasons for It's continuance in
power less imperative upon the people
than they were in 1864, 1868, and 1872.
The existence OF the Republic depends
upon the Republican party, or upon some
other party imbued with the Instincts and
principles Of the Republican party; and
that "other party" is plainly not the
Democratic party. But as the country
needs the Republican party, 80 the Re
publican party needt. in the present
emergency, the wisest counsels Of
its best men. Above all, the Presi-
Dental stanlard.bearer OF The Repub.
lican party must BE-. the veryinearnadon
Of it5Ioyalty to the country, to tho indi-
visibility OF the Union, the sacredness OF
the Constitution, and all Tie ameaGmeuts
thereto. ~ H q =,