The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-08-12
David Davis Out for Hancock.
WASHINGTON, August S.

WASHINGTON, August o.
The following is made public to-day
by Mr.. Harvey:
BLOOMINGTON, ILL, August 4.
My Dear Sir; The training and habits
of my life naturally lead me to prefer
civilians to soldiers for great civil trusts,
but as parties are organized voters must
choose between the candidates they pre-
sent or stand aloof, indifferent or neutral,
which no good citizen ought to do at
Presidential election. l have no hesita-
tion in supporting Gen. Hancock, for
the best of all reasons to my mind,
because his election will put an end to
sectional strife and to sectional parties,
and will revive the patriotic sentiment
all over the land, which political leaders
and factions for sinister ends have sought
to prevent. There can be no permanent
prosperity without pacification.
Great as were the achievements OF
Gen. Hancock in war his conduct in
peace when in command of Louisiana
and Texas in 1867 was still greater, and
Justly commends him to the confidence
of the country. That was time when
passion ruled in public councils, and
military power was exerted to silence
civil authority. The temptation was
strong to sail with the rushing current,
for an infamed partisan opinion was too
ready to condone excesses and to applaud
oppression.
General Hancock's Order No. 40, in
assuming charge of the Fifth Military
District, announced that the right of
trial by jury, the habeas corpus, the
liberty of the press, freedom of speech,
the natural rights of persons and the
rights of property, must be respected.
These principles are the basis of free
government and the proclamation
of them by General Hancock stands
out in striking contrast with the
action of his superior who soon after
rebuked and drove him from that com.
mand for uttering sentiments worthy
of all honor. The soldier clothed with
extraordinary power voluntarily uncover
ed before the civil authority, sheathed his
sword, testified bis fidelity to the Consti-
tuition and set an example of obedience
to law which will pass into history as his
proudest claim to distinction. The man
who in the midst of the excitements of that
stormy period was cool enough to see
his duty clearly, and courageous enough
to execute it 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 appreciation of his civil
ability II marks him as one of the
wisest of his time, with statesman's
grasp of mind, and with the integrity of
patriot whom no sense of expediency
could swerve from his honest convictions.
Long and unchecked possession of
power by any party leads to extravaganza,
corruption and loose practices.
After twenty years of domination by
the Republicans, chronic abuses have
become fastened upon the public service
like barnacles on the bottom of stranded
ship. There is no hope of reform by
leaders who have created system of
maladministration, and who are inter.
ested in perpetuating its evils. Nothing
short of the sternest remedy gives any
promise of effective reform, and the first
step toward it is in a change of rulers.
Ihe government must be got out of the
ruts in which it has too long been run.
New blood must be infused into the
management of public affairs before
relief can be expected. The people
demand change, and being in earnest
they are likely to be gratified.
Very sincerely,
DAVID DAVIS.
n, H. r,m,. n U,nrou