National Republican., 1876-06-19
THE FoRLoRN HOPE.

The result of the Cincinnati Convention
has carried widespread dismay throughout
the Democratic party. The Republicans,
with platform of principles adapted to
the wants and interests OF the nation, and a
candidate who is the incarnation of integ-i
rity, patriotism and wise policy, started
from the door of their convention on the
highway to victory. The impreguabilitY
OF the Republican position and the invinci
bility of its ticket fills the Democratic
camp with fear and trembling. '-. I'd"
In this extremity theleaders Of the Dem
ocratic party, from Louisiana to Maine and
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, are shout
ing the name of Hancock in full chorus as
the only man who can inspire their party
with the slightest hope of success in the
opening campaign. This trepidation is but
the precursor of defeat. The name of Han
cock has no charm which will give victory
to the tattered and disIoyal remnants of the
Democratic party. While the loyal peo-
pie honor him for what he has done to
save the Union from overthrow when as
sailed by rebellion, they will never trust
him when backed and urged by those very
men who confronted him on the field of
battle, and surrendered only in the direst
extremity. There is not dazzle enough to
Hancock's military prestige to cover the
history of the rebellion with forgetfulness
to an extent that will allow the ex- -Confed-
crates to march on to victory even under
his leadership.
If Gen. Hancock is a man of as much
sense as we give him credit for, he will
not allow himself to be captured now by
this rebel yell. He will never consent to
become the candidate ofa party which has
no power or vitality beyond that derived
from the late Confederate States. He must
understand that while the people might be
willing to trust him per SO, they never can
yield him their confidence while he is in
the hands and under the control of the
bitter enemies of the Government. No
matter what pretences of loyalty and good
intentions toward the unity and peace of
the nation the followers of Hancock might
set up now to delude and deceive, the loyal
people of the nation cannot overlook the
spirit that has entered the present House
of Representatives and again put the Gov
eminent in peril. In the hands OF these
men he would be a mere child and play
thing. They would lead and control him
as they have Cox, Randall, Morrison,
Wood, Holman, Kerr and other Northern
Democrats during the present session of
Congress, until they have brought them
and the country to a crisis nearly akin to
rebellion ITSELF History on this points too
fresh in the public mind to be forgotten,
even if Hancock should consent to put on
the gray and take position at the head Of
the Confederate column.
What the country has to fear is that un-
subdued spirit of rebellion which has been
brought into Congress by such men as Hill,
Lamar, Blackburn, Singleton and q host Of
others, and who have conspired against the
National welfare, and fought, as far as they
have dared, to effect within the Govern
ment what they failed to accomplish on the
battlefield of treason. The issue of this
contest is much like that of 1861. While
the North has exercised great patience to-
wards the enemies of the Union and for
given much that never should have been
forgiven, and while Republicans would
have let by-gones be by cones, these ex-
Confederates in this Congress would not
permit it. They have kept old issues alive
by bringing an inharmonious spirit to the
seat of Government to foment dissersion,
insult the loyal sentiment of the country in
the most offensive manner, and unsettle
whatever feeling of respect and forbesr-
ance time had spread over the nation.
They may thank themselves for it if the
"bloody shirt" is shaken in their faces, and
the bloody chssm remains unbrdged in this
Congress. They have provoked their fate,
and thousand Hancocks cannot save them
from defeat.