The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-07-22

DuL WQ0L COIuGS tuS ldClleF uOlucMdlO,
Though the hour be late,
Still he finds his own bright sunbeam
: [Caurchma,..
SOLDIER, AND STATESMAN.
Senator Bayard's Opinion Of Gen. Hancock.
The Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent is no untried man. On the contra
ry, shall show that he has been tried,
thoroughly tried, and that he can lay
claim to record that has not fallen to
the lot of any other public man of his
time. Applause. In 1858 he was
named by many as the favorite candidate
for President, and the delegates from
Delaware at that convention, held in
New York, balloted for him, if I recol-
lect right. He was also voted for in
1876; and now for the third time he
stands conspicuously before the nation,
with his every act subjected to the vigor
of partisan examination. And how does
he stand7 Spotless and without re-
proach, favored by the unanimous voice
of the representatives of the party.
THE FIERY TEST.
Now, gentlemen, let me ask you one
thing. Having passed through this fire
of examination, let me ask this crowd
whether there;has been the first breath
of suspicion as to the honor, intelligence,
fidelity or patriotism of that renowned
and great soldier?
Why was he nominated? He never
held civil Office. True. He has q
military record as brilliant, as un-
sullied, as glorious as that of any man
in America. Why did the Democratic
party nominate military man? I will
tell you why. Because this man has
proved that God gave him the same char
acteristics of conscience and of self-con.
troll which He gave to the great George
Washington. Ny friends. this is not the
extreme ntterance of stump speech. 1t
is the deliberate utterance of man
struggling to see the right and to follow
Since this world was there has been no
influence so dangerous and corrupting to
mems hearts as love of power. What
was free government designed for but the
protection of the minority against the
zmajorityf The great difficulties and
dangers to liberty have arisen wherever
men intrusted with power have used it
to perpetuate their own sway and bring
about tyranny instead of limited govern.
ment. We know what made Washing
ton so conspicuous when he laid down
his power and retired to the privacy of
his home. There are many men as great
as he in military knowledge and in the
abilities of craftsmanship, but how many
other men would have voluntarily laid
down their power when they could have
used it for their own selfish, tyrannical
purposes? wish you. to comprehend
this, because it is the Keynote Of the nom
ination of Winfield Scott Hancock. He
held great power. He was military gov
ernor ofa large extent of country. Hiswill
could have been as law. At his pleasure
stood the liberty Of every man. What
was his course his course alone of all
the military governors in this country for
the last fifteen years?
When asked in Louisiana and Texas
to arrest persons he inquired where was
the Judicial process. When asked:to try
persons by military commissions he
pointed to the courthouse and to the jury
of twelve. When asked to fine men and
to take from them their property he de-
manded to know by what right under
civil laws he could do these things.
NO PARALLEL FOR HANCOCK.
There have been soldiers perhaps as
able, perhaps as courageous, and that is
saying great deal; but name me one
who has refused over and over again to
exercise arbitrary power when he could
have done so. A voice, "None."]
No, you can't name one. I have seen
distinguished men, educated wholly in
the Republican party, giving advice of
the most arbitrary character that eau be
conceived; but where can you find man
who has had the chalice brought to his
lips that he might drink full ofcontrol over
his4ellow creatures, and who you have
seen put it aside and say: Il am mil
itary man; I am an American soldier,
but am citizen with respect to the
law, which is the Constitution swore to
supportW
We saw the Legislature Of South Car
olina organized at the will of corporal
without any guard. You all know what
was seen in Louisiana. I do not propose
to 60 over these recollections in detail,
nor to cite the unlawful exercises of mil
itary power, but I desire to show what
was the character of the distinguished
man whom the Democrats have nomina.
ted during the time of the current of ty-
ranny. The great lesson to be derived
from the resistance made to the tyranny
of King George is the lesson would hold
up to you now. One of the charges
against that potentate was that be at
tempted to subordinate the civil to the
military power. ANY man who attempts
that is not fit to be ruler OF men. The
man of our choice echoes the same spirit
that made our people free in '76, and
which will only restore and consolidate
that freedom in 1880. Do you not re-
member that his power was as ample,
that he had the same organization, admin
istration, or whatever you choose to call
it, that other generals had? Compare
him with the New Orleans general who
besought the President to issue that proc
lamation of outlawry-the proclamation
declaring that the white men of Louisi-
ana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and
Georgia shall be outlaws-"and leave the
rest to me-" Such was the dispatch, l
shame to say, of major.general-
aye, lieutenant.general-of the army
of the United States. And from the
Cabinet at Washington was sent the
response: "We all approve of your ac-
tion." These names have passed into
history covered with lasting reproach,
for Belknap, who wrote that dispatch,
proved base rogue, as treacherous to the
money of America as to the principles Of
liberty. This was the principle-this is
to-day the great underlying principle of
Lhe two great parties. During the strug-