Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-15
FoRNEY,s CONSISTENCY

The Democratic party trampled upon con sistency and devotion to principle when it nominated Hancock, as it has often done be- fore. In fact, such action is characteristic of the party, and there is 8 certain fitness in the alliance which some who have passed for Republicans are now making with it. But lack of consistency and devotion to principle is not creditable to the party at large, nor is it creditable to the new recruits who former ly professed to be persuaded of the truth of Republican principles, and who, if they ever really believed in those principles, have now forsaken them without good and sufficient reason. The change which some of these turncoats who are received with so much joy by the Democrats have undergone is strik- ing one, and if it is real hardly seems pos sible. John W. Forney is the most promi- nent deserter from the Republican ranks, and look at the record will convince most readers that if he believes in Hancock and his party now he must have seen surprising change in the man and the party which no one else has seen, or met with an equally surprising change in himself. In 1867 For ney held the following opinion of Hancock, which was given in an editorial in the Phila- delphia Press of December 6 of that year:
 We fear very much that Philadelphia is to have the honor or whatever it may be, of fur nishing Andrew Johnson at last with mill tary governor after his own heart. General Hancock, it is very evident, is a better soldier than lawyer. His argument published in a telegraphic correspondence from New Or leans to-day, if carried to 8 legitimate conclu- sion would hustle the general himself and all his staff out of Louisiana in double-quick time If civil government pronounced by Congress (and that is by the people) to be il- legal, is not to be embarrassed, no matter how greatly it may embarrass freedom or re- construction, or how contumacious may be its attitude in regard to the general govern ment, then General Hancock has no right to be in New Orleans, where his presence, or that of any man who wears the blue, is an embarrassment and by the same reasoning still less right had he to cross the Maryland line at the head of the columns of national bayonets, attempting to embarrass the Con- federate militia sent into the field by the ac- ton of State governments, which were legiti- mate when compared with those lnaugurated by Andrew Johnson when acting in his favor ite character of dictator.
 The above editorial relates to Hancock's special order No. 203, which revoked General Sheridan's order No. 125, which provided for the revision of jury lists so as to exclude all persons declared by the reconstruction act to be incompetent on account of rebel disabili- ties The following editorials relate to other matters and abate nothing of the contempt that Colonel Forney then felt for the man who is now, on the strength of general order No. 40, said to be statesman
 Press Editorial, January 10, 1868: Han cock Johnson general, assumes command IL. TI.r forthwith down go the colors of the nation. loyal meeting in Texas is assaulted by mob of defiant traitors and dispersed by vio- lence The leaders of this mob, when ar rested by some honest officer, who forgot the new policy which now reigns at New Or leans, are released by Hancock, for that is virtually what the order amounted to, set at large by brigadier general of the United States army, man uniformed in blue. Alas, for the loyal men of Texas, with Sheridan a thousand miles away!
 And now that Hancock comes in to turn the military against the reconstruction acts we must look for dark days in Texas and Louisiana
 Press Editorial, January 15, 1868: The Democratic journals laud Hancock because in New Orleans where he Is at present sta tioned as the commanding officer of the Fifth military district he does not offend the tastes
 
 wearing the national uniform. Would it not tend to soothe the sensitive feelings of the patriotic Louisianians if he should don the gray?
 ''Occasionals" Forney's) Letter, January IT, 1S6S Louisiana and Texas seem to be reserved as the especial trophies of General Bancock's statesmanship. Since his advent there has been nothing but confusion worse confounded. Every mail brings tidings of some new rebel outrage Even old conserva- tive newspapers like Flakes Galveston Bulle- tin do not withhold the facts, proving the calamities of Hancocks administration in Texas.
 The question is what has Colonel Forney seen since he thus wrote to change his opin- ion of Hancock and the Democratic party? Hancock has not done anything to show his statesmanship since he made such bad work in Louisiana and Texas, and the Democratic party has certainly not done anything to en- title it to the confidence and support of one who was ever thorough Republican. Han cock has not changed or the party which he has persuaded to nominate him. Can For ney's change, therefore, or Pearson's or Mul- lett's, be placed to their credit, even by their new allies i?