New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-06
utNcOCK IND 1NDRgW JOHNSON.

HANCOCK And ANDREW JOHNSON.
General Hancock was the only prominent Of
dcer of the Army who sided with Andrew
johnson in his efforts TO throw away the re-
srlts of the war and restore the rebels to
political power without conditions rs to their
future loyalty and without guarantees that
| they would respect the freedom Oh
their former slaves. When johnson be-
came President by the assassination OF
Lincoln he assumed ut first an at
titude of extreme severity toward the
beaten rebels, but in very short time he
changed bis tone. aud insisted that they
should be permitted to reOrganIze their STATE
governments in Cheir own way, and that the
seeded States should be at once admitted 10
all The privileges of the loyal members OF the
Union. The problem Of reconstruction was
troublesome one, but the just ami patriotic
sentiment of the country soon came to the
conclusion that il was the duty OF the
Nation 10 give the ballot to the n, edmcn rs
their right and rs u weapon for their de-
fence against oppression by State and local
governments and further, that PROVISIONS
against the payment of the rebel war debt
and the payment for emancipated slaves
these purposes Congress adopt d the C0psfltu-
tional amendments, and in pursuance OF these
amendments IT passed the Reconstruction laws
Andrew Johnson denounced the amendments
as revolutionary, null and void, and took an
attitude of such hostility toward the Recon
struction laws that Congress placed the exc
cution OF them, IA far as possible, ~ the
hands of the General Of the Army, u. 5.
Grant.
General Hancock early announced bis SYM
pathy With Johnson's policy. lie attracted a
GOOD deal OF attention To himself from the
fact that n stood alone among the prominent
army men in his support of the reactionary
scheme of the Administration. Grant
sherman, Sheridan, Thomas-in short
all the great leaders OF the Union
armies, save Hancock-belieycd dat The
fruits OF the victory over rebellion
must be secured by legislation and Congress
sional enactment. Hancock wanted to con-
cede everything the recent rebels asked. The
Democrats. who were then, as always, on the
side OF the South. were greatly delighted
with H9ucock'. positions; and when IN 1867 he
issued lis famous NcW-Orlcan, order, virtually
suburdnaung The military power in Louisiana
and Texas TO the evil authorities set
I'D By the rebels without the assent
of Congress, he became at once
possible Democratic candidate for
the Presidency. Fi1ttcred by the Democratic
politician, he soon got the Presidential bee III his
bonnet, and ii has been buzzing ihere ever
since. He was a candidate before the Demo-
cratic National Convention OF 1868, and bad
fair chlnce for the nomination until the
Chase Juror arose, followed by the Seymour
stampede. Aglin, in 1876, BE- vas "a candl-
date, and was only beaten by ,he barrel and
the Reform cry. Looking back over his career
as q soldier-p politician since he joined hands
with johnson 10 break down the Reconsruc-
ton acts, it is evident that lie has al tie
while had the Presidency in view.
We my fairly judge him not by what he
has done. but by what he would have done if
he could. If he and Andrew Johnson had sue
cccdod in caIrringout their scheme here would
be- to-day no XVIII or XVIII Amendment to tne
Constitution system OF scridom differing
very li,lc from slavery, would prevail in the
South; there would D. 40 such things rs
equal su.Ira4e and equal ciyl rights for the
coorcd people, and We should pfoblbIy be
paying interest on the rebel dot and pen
sions torpbel soldiers. Whatcycrof condomna-
tion was justly vented upon Andrew Johnson
Tor lis surrender to the South attaches also to
Hancock, who approved Jo.nson's policy and
did what lie could 10 put it in practice.