Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-23

der to say he is totally untitled fol-
the position his ambition madly seeks.
He was educated, trained by the gov
eminent to perform the conventional
duties of soldier-to be and to act
separate and apart from the civil for
ces; and when the nations life or
peace was in danger, to fall into line
for its defense, according to the meth
DDS of war. The routine, habits,
thoughts and experiences of exclusive
military life are not only radically un-
like those Of civil pursuits, but in
many respects repugnant. The rigid
Difference to rank, the formal exac-
tons, the parade of dress and man
nerS, are in striking contrast with the
simplicity and equality which charac-
terize civil life in this Republic BY
no one is the distinction more fully
appreciated than By the regular SOL
diers, many of whom even decline the
exercise of the elective franchise.
have recently met many officers of the
regular army, most Of whom volunta-
rily stated to me that they had never
voted, and deemed it proper to abstain
from politics. Of course this is only
true Of the life soldier-not of the
volunteer, who goes at his country S
call, and again returns to civil pur-
suits. W hether General Hancock has
ever voted or not | do not know. But
this dilemma is presented in his letter
of acceptance: either be has no con-
yictions upon the vital questions affec-
ting the government and the citizen,
or. as the exponent of a make. shift
party, he dare not express an opinion
For, aside from few glittering gener-
alities such as may be found in our
elementary school books, he attempts
only one opinion, in the expression Of
which he insults the intelligence and
common sense Of every American.
"The bayonet is not fit instrument
with which to collect ballots" Lives
there a man on the continent who
thinks differently? Why did he not
go further and say, "The sword is not
the proper insignia of the chief ad-
ministrative officer of civil govern
ment, for the military officer is
never in full dress without a sword.
What are his opinions Of the recent
Alabama elections, where bayonets
were used to defend fraud and prevent
the legal collection of the votes of
treemen and citizens Of that state? Of
General Hancock as a soldier, [ have
no adverse criticism, but as a make
shift candidate Of a desperate party,
he has made a deplorable mistake,
even as did the lamented Horace
Greedy. whose sad taking off should
be an ever present warning to good
men, sick with ambition. The candi-
date of the Democratic party is pecu-
liarly untitled for the position Of Pres
ident of these United States, and the
average voter cannot fail to note the
fact, and act accordingly.
But if there be such a wide contrast
between the candidates, how much
greater is that of the parties of which
they are the present opponents? One
with record which it would have en-
blazoned upon the very armament in
letters Of living fire; the other, a bury
ing ground Of dead and decayed opin-
ions and efforts. One, born Of honest
convictions, borne forward by patri-
otto purpose to make this indeed a ma
ton of freemen; taking the helm of
the great ship of State twenty years
ago, just in time, by superhuman will
and wit to save her from impending
breakers, but not in time to save the
lives and limbs and the billions of
treasure sacrificed in the struggle.
The other, as an organization, during
those years which tried mems souls,
increasing the sacrifice and multiply
ing the graves Of brave men By all the
obstacles which partisan cunning and
artifce could inspire. When the
President, the immortal Lincoln, call
ed for men to put down rebellion, the
Democratic party averred there was no
constitutional authority to coerce
State. When a republican Congress,
as war necessity, provided for an is
sue of greenbacks, the democratic
party insisted that the act was uncon-
stitutional. When the exigencies of
war demanded a draft, the people
were advised to resist the unauthorized
edict. When it was found expedient
to arm the black man, it was decried
an '<outrage to compel white men to
fight side by side with niggers, y mig
gers were towards and would not
fight" and yet everybody comedies
that 'the colored troops fought no
bly," When the proclamation of
emancipation was issued, the Demo
cratic party pronounced it unconstitu-
tional and void. Just as the back
bone Of the rebellion was about to be
broken by master military stroke,
the democratic party, in solemn con-
vention assembled, declared the war
for the preservation of the Union
failure, and besought a dishonorable
peace. When, in spite Of the firing
in the rear, the rebellion was conquer
ed, every effort in the direction of re-
construction was opposed. The con-
stitutional amendments, affirming free
dom to the colored man, universal suf-
frage, and prohibiting the payment of
the confederate debt, were declared