Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-01
For President: HANCOCK .

For President; Hancock!
Pittsburg Post, June 81
That tells the story of the Cincin-
natl convention, and will carry rejoic-
ing to all democrats throughout this
broad land. 1t is the harbinger of
victory. 1t unites and solidiies the
American democracy, and nerves
them for the autumnal struggle with a
full assurance of success at the polls,
and the profound conviction that
neither force or fraud will be able to
wrest from the people the fruits Of
victory. The nomination is a wise
one gagged by all the standards.
Hancock inherits his democracy from
his revolutionary ancestry, and he
has been faithful to principle against
all temptations. Alone of the high
officers of the regular army he has
been steadfast to the polical faith
of the fathers of the American
democracy. He has never wavered.
His nomination heals all Discussions
within the organization. 1t is not the
triumph Of a faction or of ambitious
s~elf-seeking. 1t is the outcome of
patriotism, common sense and wise
elaboration. 1t commands the re-
spect of our political opponents, defes
SANDER and falsehood, and brings to
a close the disgusting supremacy Of
the bloody shirt in our political con-
~troversies. 1t will raise our politics
to a higher plane, for it is the end of
the lingering embers of a sectional
discord without excuse for existence.
1t was not only the right thing to do,
but the expedient and polite thing.
1t is not the splendor and brilliancy
of General Hancock's military career
that has made him the chosen leader
of the American democracy. That
alone would not have commanded his
nomination, although it has made him
the idol Of the people and one of the
great representative soldiers of the
rebellion. He had higher claims on
intelligent patriotism. After the war
closed. he was placed at the head of
one Of the military despotisms into
which the radical congress, on the
~supposition that the southern people
had forfeited all their civil rights and
constitutional liberties, had divided
the south, and although vested
with powers bounded only by
his own discretion and sense of
Justice he administered this great
trust with a reverence and devO.
ton to the principles of constitutional
liberty and American civilization,
that marks the great statesman rather
than the professional soldier. His ca
reer in Louisiana and Texas, as a
civil ruler, eelipsss the brilliancy Of
his services in the field. Hancock
the statesman, is even greater than
Hancock the soldier. His predecessor
and the petty satrap, the radicals
placed over southern states and com
munities, had trampled under foot
every guarantee of individual liberty
and political right, but when General
Hancock assumed command in the
southwestern states, he sent the sol
der to the rear and put the civil law,
courts of justice and the legislator
at the front. He indicated a mind
and habits of thought profoundly
imbued with the American sys-
tenn of government. This was a
| revelation to the peOple. and the
broad principles laid down by General
Hancock have borne fruit in that real
reconstruction which is based on a
community OF interest, love of eoun.
try and indugtrial progress 1t is
something altogether different from
states pinned to the central power by
bayonets. it is American and not
Russian policy. In the southwest.
Hancock. like the great cardinal,
learned that states may be saved with
out the sword. This il one of the
most interesting and instructive
chapters of the so-called ''reconstruc-
ton era, aud when it is read again.
no democrat can gainsay the fact that
Of all men, gagged by important serv.
ice and unfaltering devotion to free
institutions, at a critical period no one
is more entitled to the suffrages Of the
American democracy than Winfield
Scott Hancock.
We intend to send him up higher
Victory is in the air. The soldier.
statesman. brave and daring on the
battle field but true TO the principles
Of civil liberties in the council cham.
Der, is the ideal leader Of the Amer.
lean democracy. We will follow him tC
| certain and assured victory to a tri.
} umph which will restore to the re.
, public constitutional rule maintainins
: all the rights and powers Of the indi
Wdual, the state and the nation.
The democracy intend to cleo.
Hancock, and then they intend TO in
A., augurate him. And let no man for
get it.
Since General Grants Chieae,
3 siege, people are telling anecdotes q