The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-08-14
The Independents.
Boston Herald.l

OOiAAS "SOAAS ~ wv N%AANN SNSsSA
ton TO the fact that Gen. Hancock's
chances of gaining the votes of the
electors of this country
depended wholly upon his readiness
to make frank and clear statement
of the civil policy he would pursue
if elected President. Since that time
he has written and made public his
letter of acceptance, and now we are
told that this is all that is to be ex
pected from him in the way of af-
and explanation. IF this
turns out to be true, we can only say
that General Hancock and his polit-
cal advisers are making an egregious
political ulunder-ene which no
amount of partisan zeal can fully off.
set. The independent voters of this
country may or may rot be a fsrm-
'dabls number but it is certain that
Where the parties are so nearly bal
aneed in strength, they form a CON
tingsnt with whose aid more than
one Doubtful State could be carried.
Four years ago, ia very large aum-
Der of instances, they supported Mr..
Tilden, and helped to give him the
majority vote that he obtained.
In the present canvass their allegi-
ance has mot been settled. They
have no great confidence in the lead
ers of the Republican party. They
voted for Mr.. Tlden in 1876 with a
clear conscience, for they knew that
if he was elected his policy would be
of his own dictstion. While Coy
ernor of the State of New York he
showed by his actions that his psrso-
nal force was sufficient to overcome
opposition from party leaders. Now,
if the Democrats had put i'm nomina.
ton at Cincinnati a man like Sena-
tor Bayard, there would have been
revival of this Same feeling, for the
Senator from Delaware has repeated
ly exhibited his Indifference to the
claims of party when these led him
across the boundary of principle.
But by nominating General Han
cock the Democratic leaders placed
the voters in a different position. AS
far as the question CT loyalty to the
Union was concerned, that was an.
swered by putting him at the head
OF the ticket. But, as it happens,
this is a subject upon which the in-
voters entertain relatively
no fears. Under no conceivable con-
dition do they believe that the South
would again attempt to secede. What
these non~partisan citizens desire to
know is what policy the candidate
for the presidency intends to follow
on the subject of the currency, the
tariff, the civil service, the enforce
ment of the national laws in States
where they may be set at defiance,
and other questions of kindred
character. In a general way they
know what Mr.. Garfield would do,
and to what extent the force of polit.
ical expediency would move hirn;
and, besides, the policy of the Re.
publican party is pretty clearly de-
fined, and though it might be a great
deal better, it could also be consider
ably worse than it is. We wish to
have some light thrown upon the
method Gen. Hancock would adopt
in handling the questions that are
now uppermost in mems minds not
what he would do if he had been
President five terms or three terms
ago. Would he or would he not veto
a bill that had tendency to unduly
Initiate the currency Would he ia
vor or oppose reform in the present
tariff? How would he settle the am
tagonism that is growing up between
the federal and State courts? In what
way would he maintain tho right of
every citizen to vote and to have his
vote honestly counted ? What would
he do as president to reform the civil
service? TO these and similar de
mands for intelligence. General ] Ian.
cock makes not the slightest response.
This is fatal error all the more so,
that the party of which he is the can.
didate has no sustained record on
which the public can depend. 1t has
been on one side of the fence at one
and vaulted completely
over 1t before the next. 1t has ia.
yored free trade and protection; hard
money and soft money "a continu-
ance in office during good behavior,
and division of the spoils among
the victors free and honest ballot,
and a shotgun campaign. Which of
these alternatives will they take up
if they get into power? No one can
tell, for there is no administrative
record to appeal to. If Gen. Ham
cock is too timid to lay out a civil
policy for his party, those who vote