Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-10-07
The Two Candidates.

Two simple questions and their an
swers will show. better than anything
else, the comparative standing of the
two Presidential candidates in popular
estimation. If the Chicago Conven-
ton could be reassembled, would it re-
nominate Garfield? No. We doubt
whether that gentleman could command
fifty votes. II the Cincinnati Conven-
ton could be reassembled, would it re-
nominate Hancock Yes-and with
even more unanimity and enthusiasm,
if possible, than before. Republicans
are heartily sick of the bargain forced
upon them by circumstances, while
Democrats are thinking better every
day of candidate they began with
thinking well of. The alleged availa-
bility of Garfeld-which sugar-coated
the pill the third-termersh had teswallow
has disappeared in the fierce light of
investigation poured upon his record.
That record is found to be not merely
soiled, but blotted; not merely blotted.
but blackened. Not by rumors set in
motion by secret enemies; not by
campaign lies" coined and circulated
by political opponents; but by public
documents prepared by Republican
Congressman and Endorsed by the Re-
publican press. Democrats have only
to examine the National archives and
turn to the files of Republican journals
to find all the ammunition they want.
The heaviest and wickedest blows in
flicted upon the Republican nominee
have come from Republican hands-at
a time when nobody suspected that
Presidential lightning would ever strike
the corpse laid out by Cakes Ames and
De Golyer. No amount of Republican
salve can cover, much less heal, these
bleeding wounds. The friendly dagger
cut too deeply, and the victim will
carry them to his grave.
Hancock has emerged from a similar
ordeal not only unscathed, but with
reputation heightened and frightened
by the trial. Republican mud has been
thrown upon him by the cart load, but
not a grain of it sticks. Republican
falsehoods have been hurled at him,
but these miserable inventions have
only returned to plague the invent
ors." Republican traps have been set
for him, but they have only caught the
fingers of the settlers. 1t is a fact, as
complimentary to General Hancock as
it is encouraging to the Democracy,
that if he were to die to-day-after
partisan malice has done its worst-his
fame as patriot, statesman and soldier
would rest ON broader and tirmer foun-
dations than it did six months ago.
Base metal may well fear the fire, but
gold never. A public and private ca
reer which can be scrutinized and sift-
ed IS this has been, without discovering
single flaw or blemish in great or
little things, may defy all attacks from
any quarter hereafter. The incorrupt-
ible honesty, the unsullied honor, the
dauntless moral courage, the self-sac-
rificing devotion to duty, the uncom-
promising adherence to principle, and
the hard common sense which Repub-
lican probing has revealed, have given
Hancock warmer place in the hearts
of his countrymen than he ever had be-
fore.
Such candidate is worthy of such
cause, and when such a candidate and
cause are united victory is well-nigh
assured in advance. Democrats, view
ing the load Republicans have to carry
in Garfield, have abundant reason to
" thank God and take courage" They
have only to stand together and work
only to match their efforts
with the excellence and popularity of
their nominee, to secure n triumph as
beneficial to the country as glorious to
themselves.-St. Louis Republican,.