The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-13
SOLDIER AND STATESMAN.


SENATOR RAYARDsB OPINION
OF GEN. HANCOCK. f
Worthy % @emmA Reside WawhHmm.
Ten ~ . Great Soldier, who ne.
fused - TraRPle On the Labertfes
Of the People, and Held the RaIIR.
tary 9nborA1mate TO the CfvU rev.
er.
Senator Bsyard's Speech delivered at Wilmington, Del
July 2, 1891
FEILow-CTTTzENs: do not know that
my voice can reach the ears of all in this
vast crowd, and therefore / ask you to
preserve order. There is q time for all
things time for laughter and time for
idle amusement; but when the time comes
for American citizens to take counsel to
gether in respect of choosing their rul-
ers, then, it seems to me, there should be
gravity, manly earnestness taking the
place of idle amusements.
My fellow-citizens, it is at all times to
me q great pleasure to stand in an assem-
blage of Delaware men, for here / was
born, among them i have lived and
worked, and / have represented them In
the public councils and received from
them from the hour of my entry into
public life until now-nearly the close of
my second Senatorial term-an unswerv-
ing support that would have sustained
me even had heen disposed to doubt.
This is an occasion of great interest
and Importance. The national Democ-
racy-the party that never had a second
object or second intent the party that
always stood by the banners of the dele
gates, the representatives and interests
Of every State in the Union-this great
party, animated by the greatest patriot
ism, sent fortnight ago delegates from
every State and from every Territory to
Cincinnati to take counsel together to
choose standard-bearer of the faith and
principles of that party in the coming
campaign for the choice of President
and Vice-P President Men of high char
acter and intelligence, sincerely desirous
of doing what was best for the whole
country, made that choice, and am here
as your friend, as your political brother,
bound with every interest of your own,
to say that warmly indorse the action
of that convention. They have not Sc
lected unknown men not men of obscu-
rity; not men who would be called in the
slang of the times, " dark horses" No,
they have chosen men on whom the
bright light of public investigation has
been shining for years. For the lifetime
of a generation have they been known.
There is no man in America and few in
any party of the world where the English
language is spoken who did not know
and honor Winfield Scott Hancock long
before the Cincinnati Convention was
thought Of Applause and cries of
"Right and "Bravo'1
And 80 of his worthy associate. Years
ago Indiana sent William H. English to
represent her in the councils of the ma
ton, and there he gave proof of that
sterling worth, high infalli0ence and nm
impeachable character that makes him
to-day fl man to take the chair of Vice
President of 1.-THE United States.
The Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent is no nntried man. On the contrary,
/ shall show that he has been tried, thor
oughly tried, and that he can lay claim
to a record that has not fallen to the lot
of any other public man of his time. Ap-
plause. In 1868 he was named by many
as the favorite candidate for President,
and the delegates from Delaware at that
convention, held in New York, balloted
for him, if recollect right. He was also
voted for in 1875, and now for the third
time he stands conspicuously before the
nation, with his every act subjected to
the rigor of partisan examination. And
how does he stand? Spotless and with
out reproach, favored by the unanimous
voice Of the representatives Of the party.
THE FIERY TEST
Now, gentlemen, let me ask you one
thing. Having passed through this fire
of examination, let me ask this crowd
whether there has been the first breath
of suspicion As to the honor, intelligence,
fidelity or patriotism of that renowned
and great soldier?
Why was he nominated 2, He never
held civil Office. True BE has a mill
tary record as brilliant, as unsulIied, as
glorious as that of any man in America.
Why did the Democratic party nominate
. military man? / will tell you why.
Because this man has proved that God
gave him the same characteristics of con-
science and self-controi which He gave
to the great George Washington. My
friends, this Is is not the extreme utter
ance of stump speech. 1t is the delib-
crate utterance of man struggling to
see the right and follow it.
Since this world was there has been no
influence so dangerous and corrupting to
mems hearts as love of power. What
was free government designed for but for
the protection of the minority against
the majority ? The great difficulties and
dangers to liberty have arisen wherever
men intrusted with power have used it
to perpetuate their own sway and bring
about tyrxnny instead Of limited govern
ment. We know what made Washing
ton 50 conspicuous when he laid down
his power and retired 70 the privacy Of
his home. There are many men as great
as he in military knowledge and in the
abilities of statesmanship, but how many
other men would have voluntarily laid
down their power when they could have
used il for their own selfish, tyrannical
purposes /? Il Mishr So6 20 comprehend
thin, because il 10 the keynote of the
nomination Of Winfield Scott Hancock.
He held great power. He was military
rovernor 0f = laTge extent o. country.
His viii could have besn - law. At his
pisasurs stood the liherty Of every man.
Whist was his course his course alone
OF al the military governors il this coun-
try for the l8s< Aleeen years? f
when asted III A,ouisiAha and Texas 70