The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-08-11
GEN, HaECGCK'S LETTER OF AC-
CEPTANCE.

NnA
No presidential candidate has ever
signified his acceptance of a nom'na-
ton in moro digniied, patriotic or
expressive manner than does Gene
raj Hancock in his letter to the com
mittee appointed to notify him of The
action of the Cincinnati Convention.
This letter is brief and brilliant, and
is eminently characteristic of the
man. 1t is responsive to The princl-
Piles and policy ofthe grand old par
ty to which he belongs, and replele
with sentiments of sound, practical
and comprehensive craftsmanship.
He states in the outset that the
principles announced in our National
platform are those he has "long cher
ished and will endeavor TO maintain
in the future" This pledge, when
viewed from the lofty standpoint of
craftsmanship which he now occu
pies before the country, inspires
hope that has long been stranger
to the hearts of our people. AS if TO
emphasize the fealty of his party to
the Union and the Constitution, be
declares that "the 18th, 14,h and 18th
amendments to the Constitution EN-
bodying the results of the war, are
inviolable;;" that "lf called to the
Presidency he would deem it his du
ty to resist with all his power any
attempt 10 impair Or evade the full
force and effect of the Constitution,
which, in every article, section and
amendment, is the supreme law OF
the land" Such expressions of pa
triotism and integrity of purpose, no
doubt carry strange meaning TO the
minds of those Republican arch trail.
tors to the Constitution, who planned
the reconstruction measures and
have been plotting and scheming for
years, with ficndish energy, to tram
pie upon and destroy the constitu
tional form of the government. This
"grand army of traitors having sue
ceeded in 1876, by fraud and violence,
in accomplishing a crime against
liberty that standsswithou, a parallel
in tie history of civil. government,
have been hoping and still hope, by
their vapory clap-t,ap concerning
human equality, human freedom, etc.,
to beguile the fears and apprehen-
sions of the honest patriots Of the
country, and to consummate their
cherished aim of Establishing a great
consolidated central government
strong, indeed, for evil--and the
overthrow of republican institu
tions." That every conscientious
citizen of the government now COM
prehends this revolutionary purpose
TO be the sole aim and the only CO.
hesive principle of the party headed
by Mr.. Garfield, there should be but
little doubt. General Hancock has
long since observed this tendency o.
the Republican party. Its develop
ment has been manifested under the
operation of the reconstruction acts
and within his personal experience,
when he came forth like an inspired
Lero In defence of civil liberty and
hurled defiance upon the heads Of
those who sought to crush out the
rights of free government. Though
a conspicuous representative of the
military arm of the government, he
demanded that the military power
should be subservient to the civil
law. He now stands sentry upon the
watch tower, and proclaims the car
dinal doctrine that "the General and
State governments, each acting in its
own sphere without trenching upon
the lawful jurisdiction of the other,
constitute the Union;" that sit is a
vital principle of our system that
neither fraud nor force must be al
lowed to subvert the rights of The
people," In this he sounds the toe
sin of alarm to his countrymen, and
forewarns them of the probable dan
gers that await item. He strikes
the key notes of an aggressive and
vigorous campaign in behalf of con-
stitutional rights, and points to the
fact that the issue of this campaign
involves the preservation or the over
throw of our Republican institutions.
His letter is logical supplement to
his incompatible order No. 40, and
is full to overlooking with tersc and
sparkling epigrams. AS q sound ep-
itome of Democratic doctrine and a