San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-09-04

Judge Davis .. Hancock.

Suo8o davis % ahanc~cAs
BLooMINoroN. ILL.,, Aug. 4, 1880
MY DEAR SIR: The training and
aud the habits Of my life naturally lead
me to prefer civilians to soldiers: foI
the great civil trusts, But as parties
arc organised. voters must choose be.
tween the candidates they present, o.
stand aloof, Indifferent or neutral
which no good oitisen ought to do q
q presidential election. est
Ihsve no hesitation, 10. supporting
Gen. Hancock. for the best Of all rsa
sons. to my mind. because his election
will put an end to sectional strife
and to sectional parties, and
will revive q patriotic sen.
timent oil over the land. which polit.
ieal leaders and factions, for sinister
ends, have sought to prevent. There
can be no permanent prosperity with
out paoiAoation,
Great as were the. achievements oi
Gen. Hancock in the war. his conduct
ia peace when in command Of Louis.
lana and Texas in 1867, was still great
er. and justly commends him to the
confidence of the country.
That was a time when passion ruled
in the public councils, and military
power was exerted to silence civil au-
thority. The temptation was strong
to sail with the rushing current, fol
an inAamed partisan opinion was toe
ready to condone excesses and applaud
oppression. b8s al
Gen Hancock's order No. 40. in as
suming charge Of the Fifth Military
District. announced 1.-THE right Of
trial by jury, the habeas corpus. the
liberty of the press, the freedom ol
speech. the natural rights of persons
aud the rights of property must be re-
spected."
These principles are the basis oI
free government, and the proclamation
of them by Gen. Hancock stands oul
in striking contrast to the action Of
his superior, who soon after rebuked
and drove him from that command Eas
uttering sentiments xossAy st all hon
or.
The soldier clothed with extraordin'
ary power voluntarily uncovered before
the civil authority, sheathed his sword
testified his fidelity to the constitution
and set an example of obedience to Law
which will pass into history as bis
proudest claim to distinction.
The man who in tho midst Of the ex.
citements of that stormy period was
cool enough to see his duty clearly,
and courageous enough to,execute il
firmly, may be we'll trusted in any
crisis. His letter to Gen. Sherman
recently brought to light, lifts Gen
Hancock far above the past apprecia
ten Of his oiyil ability. It marks him
as one of the wisest of his time. with a
statesman's grasp Of mind, and with
the integrity Of a patriot, whom nc
sense of expediency could swerve
from bis honest convictions.
Long and unchecked possession oi
power by any party leads to extrava.
gance, corruption and loose practices
After twenty years of domination BY
the Republicans, chronic abuses have
become fastened on the public service
like barnacles on tho bottom Of 4
stranded ship.
>There is>6 hope of reform by lead
ers Who have created a system of NAL
administration, and who are interested
in perpetua:ing its evils. Nothing
short OF the sternest remedy gives any
promise of effective reform. and thu
first step toward it is in change Of
rulers. The Government must be go
out of the ruts 10 which il has so lonl
been run. New blood must be infused
into the management of public affair
before relief can be expected.
The people demand change. and be
ing in earnest. they arc likely to b
gratifed.
Very sincerely, DAVID DAVIS.
JAMES 4. HARVEY. ESD, Washing
ton City.
Tie Two Republics authoritativel!
SAYS that Messrs. j B. Frisbie and 4