The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-28
No Military Candidate.

No Military Candidate.
During the last seven years the Demo-
cratic party, In and out OF Congress, has
constantly and vehemently protested
against committing the administration of
civil affairs to professional soldiers. Our
experience under GRANT, his excuses, his
Disregard of law. his contempt for public
opinion, his dislike OF civil restraint, and
his conversion Of the White House into
sort Of political barracks, have all contrib
uted to settle the public judgment against
the possible repetition Of such an expert
ment. no matter how free from his vices
and incapacity any other military asprant
might be.
In our whole history, but two regular
soldiers have attained the Presidency
TAYLOR and GRANT. Gen. TAYLOR lived
little more than year after he became
President and in that time disclosed
qualities the very revere of GRANTS,
for he was an example OF obedience
20 law and respect FOR she accepted
traditions WASHINGTON and JACKSON
were bred civilians, and they both illus
trated their early training " hen intrusted
with the responsibility Of the Government.
The condition Of the country az this
time demands civil qualities OF the highest
order. CUR industries are all prost rate,
and trade, enterprise, manufactures, agri-
culture, aud commerce are smitteu with
partial paralysis. Great I'd these Interests
are, they are small compsred with the
strain that has distorted the Constitution
and deranged the system Of republican
government as it was trsnsn lttei by the
fathers. To restore prosperity and to
bring back the honest and hopored IL eth
DDS requires the stateslnanship, modera-
ton, prudence, aud practical wisdom
which come from civil training only.
Ii is wild delusion TO suppose that tie
coming Presidential campaign s 70 he any
thing else than n calm and considerate re-
view of the whole political situation, anc
of the best meaus for extricating the coun-
try from Its embaTrassments There Will
be little warm excitement on either side.
The people are in no mood for mere
demonstration. They are serious, ini-
poverished, struggling 10 improve their
impaired resources and seeking for relief.
They want the way pointed out by which
these objects can be most surely accom-
phshed, and the Government restored TO
its ancient simplicity virtue, and econo-
my. Whoever eau dc tins best VIII get
their votes, without much regard TO party.
At no former period were political tiet
looser than they now Gre. Mems minds
are not to be turned aside 10y the usual
arts and devices. The noise OF brass bands,
the booming OF cannon. ana the artificial
campaign jugglery, will count for very
little. while hundreds OF thousands of me-
chanics, miners. laboring men. and toling
women, are seeking for bread,
Up toa recent time, the contest for the
Democratic nomination ut ct. Louis was
confined to a class OF candidates who Were
generally admitted 10 possess civil qualih
cations OF a superior order for the Pres-
dency. Suddenly, portion OF the South
and of the trading Pennsylvania delega-
tion, with sprinkling of Others, have pro-
nounced for Gen. HANCOCK, now n Major
General in the regular army. They have
put aside the principles SO often pro-
claimed, ia the desperate hope of attain
ing success through supposed exped,
eney. The south thinks his nomination
would he a certificate of loyalty. The
venal Pennsylvanans regard IT n job,
and others, carried away by momentary
IMPULSE uIo ucluuOu INTO Tue DtllSI tuAl II
opens the way to certain success.
Gen. HANCOCK is IN excellent soldier.
who has always borne himself bravely on
the field, and admirably in all his COM
mands His laurels have been we'll
won. and are gracefully worn. Among
the Generals he is OF the best. His
ability outside OF his profession Is mOder-
Rtc, aud his distrlst Of himself in any inn
poltaut matter relating to civil life Is such
that all his papers on those subjects which
have attracted attention. were written by
other hands, and principally by Judge
BLACK, This fact is no s,redii 80
the General, whose education, ha us
Of thought, experience and leanlngs
nro to the profession Of which he la
an ornament. But 1t proves Tat
he j. dependent on others, and would
necessarily DO III then hands, should tho
rem q contingency arise when he might
be called TO any great OWL trust. Among
those who know him, Gen. HANCOCK Is
popular and esteemed for chva.rio quail
tics. But this is no element of strength IN
Presidential campo sn, like that which
Is now upon us.
But there is still another objection to
his candidacy. The Republicans would
not only assail the Democrats with II re-
cantauon Of their doctrine of civilians for
civil administration, but would taunt
them with doing what France has done in
the person of MACMAHoN, and the mon
grel republics of South America have also
done IN elovating revolutionary generals
70 the Chief Magstracy They would
hold up the fact that HANCOCK 10 Il
hajor-Gencral in the regular army, and
nrawlug his pay while put iogwaid
rs u candidate for the once OF Pres.-
Gent On tAe other hand. 1t would be eon-