The daily gazette., 1880-08-10
SENATOR DAVID DAVIS.

HE GIVES HIS REASONS FOR SUP
PORTING HANCOCK FOR PREsI-
DENT.
WAsHINGToN, D. c., August g.
The following letter has been fur
nished for publication:
BLOOMINGTON, ILL.,, Aug. 4, 1880.
MY DEAR SIR: The training and
habits of my life naturally lead me
to prefer civilians to soldiers for the
great civil trusts. But as parties are
organized, voters must choose
between the candidates they repre-
sent or stand aloof Indifferent or
neutral, which no good citizen ought
to do at Presidential election.
L have no hesitation in support
ing General Hancock, for the best
of all reasons to my mind, because
his election will put an end to Sec
tional parties and will revive pa
triotic sentiment all over the land,
which political leaders and factions,
for sinister ends, have sought to pre-
vent. There can be no permanent
prosperity without pacification.
Great as were the achievements
Of General Hancock in war his con-
duct in peace. when in command of
Louisiana and Texas in 1867, was
still greater, and justly commends
him to the confidence of the country.
That was time when passion ruled
in the public counsels and military
power was exerted to silence civil
authority. The temptation was
strong to sail with the rushing cur
rent, for an infamed partisan opin-
ion was too ready to condone ex-
cesses and to applaud oppression.
General Hancock's Order No. 40,
in assuming charge of the Fifth
Military District, announced "the
right Of trial by jury, the habeas
corpus, the liberty of the press, the
freedom Of speech, the natural
rights of persons and the rights of
property must be respected"
These principles are the basis of
free government, and the proclama-
ton of them by General Hancock
stands out in striking contrast with
the action of his superior, who soon
after rebuked and drove him from
that command for uttering senti-
ments worthy of all honor.
The soldier clothed with extraordinary
power, voluntarily uncovered before the
civil authority; sheatbed his sword, testi-
fed his fidelity to the Constitution and
set an example of obedience to law
which will pass into history as his
proudest claim to distinction. The man
who in the midst OF the excitements of
that stormy period was cool enough to
see his duty clearly, and courageous
enough to execute it firmly, may be we'll
trusted in any crisis. His letter to
General Sherman, recently brought to
light, lifts General Hancock far above
the past appreciation OF his civil ability.
1t mai ks him as one of the wisest of his
time, with stateman's grasp of mind
and with the integrity Of patriot whom
no sense Of expediency could swerve
from his honest convictions. Long and
unchecked possession of power by any
party leads to eXtravagant corruption
and loose practices. After twenty.'years of
domination by the Republicans chronic
abuses have become fastened upon the
public service like barnacles on the
bottom of stranded ship.
There is no hope of a reform by
leaders who have created system of
mal-administration and who are inter-
ested in perpetuating its evils. Nothing
short of the sternest remedy gives any
promise of effective reform, and the first
step toward il is in a change of rulers.
The Government must be got out of the
ruts in which it has too long been run.
New blood must be infused into the
management of public affairs before
relief can be expected. The people
demand change, and, being in earnest,
they are likely to be gratified. Very
sincerely,
DAVID DAVIS.
Hon. James E. Harvey, Washington
City.