, 1880-09-26


duty and feelings to the absence Of display.
and funerals will cease to be a spectacle for
the crowd and TN extravaganza that ought to
be reformed.
GEN. HANCOCK ON SOUTHERN CLAIMS.
Gen. Hancock has been constrained by the
| criticism OF the Republican press and speak
ers, as Tilden was four years ago, to make
| public and special declaration OF his posi-
tion in regard to Southern claims for losses
and injuries incident to the War Of the Re
| bellion. All reference to this subject was
carefully omitted from the Cincinnati plat
! form, as was the case also in the st. Louis
] platform. Gen. Hancock took care not to
mention the matter in his letter of acceptance,
though he we'll knew the Northern mind
[ was filled with apprehension concerning it.
| The sa.ue was true Of Tilden's letter Of &C.
ceptance. These facts reveal dfsfngenuous
| effort on the part of Northern Democrats to
| eyade the grave question of Southern claims
| altogether, If possible, Gen. Hancock's
tardy letter has been forced from him by Re-
| publican criticism at the North. which has
demanded ut least such protection as per-
sonal pledge affords against the impending
danger of a raid upon the Treasury and the;
| pockets of Northern taxpayers through the
agency Of the Democratic party, and for the
benefit of former Rebels.
| Gen. Hancock's statement that :" If he were
! President, he would veto all legislation that
| might come before him providing for the
consideration or payment Of claims Of any
! kind for losses or damages by persons who
[ were in rebellion, whether pardoned or
| not,'' though by no means dfsposing Of the
| issue, has certain value. This pledge will
| certainly render Gen. Hancock's submission
! to Confederate dlctatfon, In case he be elected
President, more embarrassing than It would
| be otherwise. It will be brought back to him
upon every occasion when the Southern
Democrats in Congress shall press upon him
LEGISLATION in conflict with the position be has
assumed. But his declaration does not
furnish the country with anything
like q guarantee against the allowance
OF Southern Rebel claims. Almost every
man who has occupied the Presidential chair
has entered upon Ills duties with resolutions
which subsequent pressure caused him to
abandon. The Democratic caucus will hold
sway over the President which Gen. Ham
cock, owing to his entire inexperience In
public affairs, cannot now comprehend. 1t
will be able to refuse confirmation to hts ap~
pointments, and embarrass him by withhold
ing appropriations, and in manifold other
ways, to ali extent Of which he has now no
conception. Whether or not, even In case
Gen. Hancock be perfectly sincere ia his
present statement, he shall be able to resist
the wiles, intimidation. and pressure OF the
Democratic caucus cannot be foretold with
assurance by anybody, because the force Of
his will and character has never yet been
tested in any trying public complication.
Gen Uancock's view Of the case does not
change the fact that the caucus Of a Demo-
cratic Congress will be dominated by the
Confederate element. nor the evidence that
the ruling PURPOSE Of. this element is "to get
even" with the North wthe. injunes thh
South sustained and the advantages the
South lost during the War Of the Rebellion.
It is not expected that the Southern leaders
will come forward, Immediately after Gen.
Hancock's inauguration, with an omnibus
bill providing for payment Of Southern
claims BY the wholesale. The advance upon
the United States Treasury will be made
gradually and insidiously,-in military
Erase, 'by regular approaches" ,"-and Gen.
Hancock may be made party to establish
ing precedents which, In time, will make an
open way for the billions of the indenlnifca-
ton which the Southern oligarchy hope to
obtain for their War losses in trying to de-
stroy the Union. He may find himself In
the meshes Of Southern ingenuity before he
knows the import Of his aconfesence, aud
may yield, partly in ignorance and partly
to secure peace and comfort for his
Administration, to propositions that shall
thoroughly commit him beyond retreat to the
Southern project. It is not likely, for In
stance, that Gen. Hancock would refuse his
assent to the Democratic scheme for increas-
Ing the Judges Of the Supreme Court. And
yet the aim OF that project is to declare that
the constitutional amendments were not le-
gal1y ratified, and are consequently null and
void This much accomplished, the Con-
federates would be in a position to proposeas
compromise that they would voluntarily
forego claims for the payment Of the Rebel
debt and recompense for the loss Of slaves,
upon the condition that the tux on cotton
should be paid back and certain classes Of !!
claims for losses and injuries should be
T recognized. Gen. Hancock might then con- I
sent to such compromise, and even seek to
make merit Of approving legislation which !
he now declares be would veto. There would !
be other ways to circumvent the President.
He might be betrayed into signing bills for |
the relief Of widows: and orphans, or of pub
lie and educational institutions, which should |
act as an entering wedge for the Treasury |
raid which he now condemns |
REPUBLICAN NOMINATIONS.
The Republican local conventions for, the |
nomination of county officers and members !
OF the Legislature will be held in about |
week from now. ln'' the meantime the can-
vassing for the various positions, which has
hrpn going nm more or 1ase tor cnvornl