Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-05-24
Our Washington Letter.


wrsi--s-g-- =. G.. Nay loA- ls-t.
General Winfield Scott Hancock.
a possible candidate Tor tie Presi-
6eEry, OF the Democratic ticket,
u&s a brave sai das5iny officer
luricg the va, whose razyDifcea,
presence, IS be rode along the line
ri battle, treasured tie r1ost tiuid.
and. o. many 81 Occ4s.ya. VS. IL
s:r1ueIt-- ia ylgcking victory from
the jaws Il defeat. As an army
-oTeSpoo1eut dGriog tie war. ]
hsi - opportunity. on more than
J-s battle fed. % observe lis gal
lsr; bearing. / shall neVe. forget.
when tie csDEons vOlleyed and
Numbered =: the Ia; DAYS battle
Oh Gettysburg heights. with what
calmness and intrepidity Hancock
held III. second corps, which stood
The b-un, Il Lees assaults for four
long. dreadful hours. up TO lis
work. True, tie Union ranks
wonld sway and waver, and some
times fall back before tie terrific
onsiaUgbts Ct Lee'E legions but.
encouraged by the presence Of
their commanding General, who
rode. sword in hand, up and down
the line, entreating them 20 hurl
back the enemy, the men invsria-
bly, rallied, and regsiried their form
or place and position. Finally, the
General received a terrible wound
in the thigh, and, pale and bleed
ing, was carried Under a tree on
the battlefield, where be establish
ed bis headquarters, refusing 10
be taken 20 the rear until after the
contest had been decided. / saw
Hancock again at Spotsylvania
Court House, one foggy morning.
twelve years ago, just after he had
made his famous charge in which be
captured 1000 prisoners, among
whom were the Confederate Gener-
ais Stewart and Edward johnson;
and again, afterwards, in the bloody
scenes around Petersburg which
formed the prelude 10 the surrender
at Appomattox; and ia every in
stance he displayed a skill and
gallantry as a commander, which
won for him the admiration Of the
eDtire Army Of the Potomac. And
yet. many Of those who admire Han
cock most question the propriety
Of bis nomination at ST. Louis, Oh
the ground that, while bis record
as a soldier is untarnished, and his
devotion 10 Democratic principles
unquestioned, he has had no ex-
perience in the administration Of
civil affairs 10 qualify him for the
proper discharge Of the high and
important duties Of Chief Execu-
tive. A prominent Democratic
representative in Congress said to
me, the other day, when Hancock
was mentioned as a candidate, 1--WE
can't afford it, Hancock is a good
man and strong man in many re-
spects; but we want no more 'men
on horseback The country has
had enough of Grantism to make
il Disguised at the bare suggestion
Of a nomination Of another military
man. We have enough good men
like Tilden, Thurman, Bayard, Hen
bricks, and others, in the ranks Of
civil life, without going to the army
for a candidate.
The organ Of the White House
Ring boldly announces that the
Republicans expect TO elect the next
President, because it will be inpos-
sible, on account Of sectional differ
ences, for the Democratic party 10 |
unite on any candidate who can be
elected. 1t asserts that the Dem /
ocracy can be relied on to make /
enough to ensure its de-
feat. IL is good policy to find out |
what your enemy wants you TO do,
and theD-not TO do IL. And this
Is just what the Democratic party
Is going TO do. II is not to be de-
MED that mistakes have been made
IN the past and it is very certain
hat our opponents would like to
rave us make more in the future.
IA this, however, it is safe 10 as
Iume, they are doomed to disap-
continent. II the spirit which an
mates the representatives OF the
Democracy one meets at Washing
on, and the tone Of the press
throughout the country, are to be
aiken as indications OF party senti-
neDt, there never was more earnest
less manifested, or greater deter
,tnafion to sacrifice all other con-