Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-02
The Letters of Acceptance Of the
Democratic Candidates.


The letter of General Hancock accept
ing the nomination rendered him is very
carefully prepared paper, avoiding as
much as possible the diff ,ult places which
lie in bis way. He declares that If elected
he is going to stand by the constitution as
the supreme law of the land We recol-
lect that President Buchanan was quite as
emphatic upon that subject as Hancock,
but when secession came he could find
nothing in the constitution which author
lied him to coerce sovereign State.
Gen. Hancock would doubtless with like
facility and obsequiousness find way to
pass over the amendments TO the constitution
which are Objectionable TO the South If he
were elected President. Buchanan hadt
do as his masters at the South dictated; so
will General Hancock if he becomes
President The South is more potent now
in the democratic party than it was in
1860
Following his declaration in regard to
obeying the constitution comes the Gen
erals statement of answering fidelity to
the doctrine of State Rights. that doctrine
upon which secession was founded. and
from which have come all the greatest
woes which this country has endured.
With candidate committed to this PERM
eious principle the South is as safe with
Hancock for President as it would be
with jefferson Davis in that position.
Ills enunciations are complete surrender
of the position of the North, for which
Lincoln died and Northern valor poured
out its blood on many CORY battlefield.
The South fought for this doctrine at Get
tysburg. To-day it fights for the same
principle with Union General leading
the confederate forces.
There is one statement in General Han
cocks letter Of which the honest people
in Maine feel the full truth and force, and
of which we trust those who are invited
to vote for Plasted, Fogg, Murch, Phil
brick. Laid and Anderson will take due
notice. 1t hits the counting out in Maine
As perfectly as though it had been special
ly intended for application TO that case.
He says;
IT Is ONLY BY FULL VOTE. FREE BALLOT
AND FAIR COUNT THAT THE rEorLE CAN
RCLE IN FACT AS REQUIRED BY THE THEORY
OF orR GOVERNMENT. TAKE THAT FouNDA.
TON AWAY AND THE WHOLE srRU'TURE
FALLS.
OF course General Hancock did not
mean to give his friends in Maine the
above heavy blow-he intended it for the
republicans who support the election laws
of Congress-but it falls so squarely up.
on the party which was guilty of the
counting-o ut outrage in Maine that i,
needs no argument to enforce the applica-
ton. We thank General Hancock for this
much in his letter, though we give HIM nc
credit for good intentions in uttering it
But whatever his intention, that does moi
affect the truth of the declaration
which is eternal, and not to be
changed by any purpose the
writer may have had in view. This
and General Viewers remarks in Ala
bama we recommend to that fusion party
with Plaisted at its head who are solicit.
ing the votes of the people of the State o.
Maine as vindication of the nefariou.
count made by Garcelon and his Council
last Fall.
The remainder of General Hancock 5
letter is without special meaning or I'M
portance. 1t chiefly indicates how meagre
is the knowledge of the writer with the
practical questions with which the Presi-
dent of this country has to deal, and how
poorly qualified he is for such 4 station
1t is very well to talk about living in har-
mony with the South, and against section
alism. but Gen. Hancock himself stands as
the candidate of the Solid South, ard tina,
section as determined now to fight North
ern interests and sentiments as when its
armies stood in battle array at Gettys-
burg.
Mr.. English's letter is cheap produc-
ton. 1t is the work of small politician
1t has neither dignity nor wit. 1t is the
argument of an ingrained office-seeker.
1t asks change of administration IN or
der that men with no qualifications shall
take offices now filled by competent and
experienced men. In nothing does it rise
above the level of a fourth-rate politician.
Campaign Notes.
Alabama will hold an election for the
choice of State officers to-day.
The Lvnchburg Virginian alludes to Gen.