New Ulm weekly review., 1880-10-06
For the Review by o. P. Champlin.
Hancock and his Party.

110mCOCA 0UO nav 30Itys
We have said that Gen. Hancock can
not be considered independent of his
party which no one will seriously dis
pute. We have called attention to
three facts in the history of the party;
the party governed the country once
for several years and made record; it
ruled the country in the interest of the
South, or rather the South ruled it
through the party; and the result was
terrible war which was begun under
the most disadvantageous circum-
stances for the nation. The Demo-
cratic party may be justly held respons-
ible for the war. 1t is true there were
many in THAT party, both North and
South, who were opposed to the war
aud to the disunion movement, because
there were really no reasons in the abo.
lition discussion for such calamities.
The South, simply that it might rule
the nation as it had done, irrespective
of the right or wrong, plunged the
country into the horrors of war.
There was a difference of opinion as
to the meaning of the Constitution.
That instrument was variously inter-
preted; and the opinions held resulted
in two we'll defined doctrines, one of
national sovereignty and one of State
rights. The latter doctrine became pre-
valent in the South and the former in
the North. The logical and necessary
result of the State rights doctrine was
the dissolution of the Union. The
North defended its principles and
sought in ways just as honorable, and
with sincerity just as profound as
the South, to secure their triumph in
the elections. The Republican party
held the doctrine of national suprem.
acy; and it had just as good right as
the South, or Democratic party to its
doctrine.
The Republican party had a right to
hold and disseminate it's views respect
ing the institution of slavery as we'll rs
the Democratic party, and would have
been just as inexcusable as the South,
if it had plunged the nation into war
because it failed to triumph in the pre-.
sidential contest of 1850.
All the preparation for disunion was
made, including an appeal to arms to
maintain it, before the party coming
anew into power had hold of the rsins
of government. But we do not care to
dwell on this old unpleasantness; anc
will not more than is necessary to
maintain the right. But it is necessary
that men understand to-day the parties
which seek their votes; and there can
be no understanding Of them with these
things left out. Parties must not make
records that they will be ashamed of in
a few years, for they are sure to be
ove:hauled.
We dwell upon the party aspect Of
this question because it is the party
that is striving for power and not a
man who desires simply an elevation
to an honola able position. It Is not at
all secret that Gen. Hancock is used
for the purpose Of giving the country
into the hands of the Democratic party.
It is not Gen. Hancock then but the
party we must keep steadily before us
in this canvass. The past record Of
the party-as the party of humanity,
of theoppressed, Of the laborers is not
such as to inspire any one with love
for it, It is not the party of the mob.
lest impulses, Of the sincerest phi1an.
thropy. It never has been. He takes
a very superficial view of things whose
judgment is to the contrary. But we
may return to this point hereafter.
The rebellion was a mighty expense
to the country. The expenditures oc.
casioned by and growing out of the
war rose above six billions of dollars;
and in this no account is made Of the
destruction Of property by military
campaigns, which was enormous, and
no account is made of the loss in life.
The Democratic party, as a party, did
all it could to hinder the Government
in putting down the Rebellion, and
this prolonged the bloody, expensive
strife. The Southern wing Of the par
ty calculated on the hearty co-opera-
tion Of the Northern wing. It was in
q measure disappointed; orthere were
thousands in the party who were bet
ter than the party itself, and had not
inbibed the doctrine Of State Rights
and they rose above party and gave
themselves heroically to the defense of