Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-08
Gen. Hancock's Strength,

The Chicago Times tells Its friends of
the Democratic party some wholesome
truths concerning both the weakness of
their Presidential candidate and the in
herent feebleness of their political char.
acter. II sc uts the idea that Gen. HAN
COCK is strong man, but admitting for
the sake OF argument, that he is, it shows
what ridiculous attitude the Democracy
is placed in if this idea be followed to its
logical sequence:
All tho organs of the Cincinnati party
are declaring with great posltlveness that
Gen. Hancock is "the strongest man the
party could have nominated" This
declaration, considered ia the light OF
well known facts, implies very singular
state of things Every one knows that
Gen. Hancock has been, from his youth,
IN the profession of soldier; that he
has not been educated for any pursuit of
clvil life end has never entered upon any
civil pursuit; that he has no political
knowledge other than may have been
gained as casual student OF political
literature; that he has no experience IN
civil affairs, either administrative or
legislative; that he is In no sense states
man or publlclst, and has never shown,
never having had an opportunity to show,
any particular capabllity or fitness Tor
political leadership. In word, he is a
man without any political record or
standing whatsoever. 1t is in the pres
ence of these facts that he is said to be
1.-The strongest man the party could
| have nominated" for its political
I leader. The statement may be peg
| fectly true; but, if true, what is the
inference 1t obviously warrants ana ln-
vites? 1t implies that any OF the states
men who have been long conspicuous as
| leading men of the party, who have gwen
shape aud direction to its political ac-
tious and are widely known as lis repre-
sentative men,-men who represent lis
policies and political aims would not
| be strong candidates; and 1t implies that
! their weakness as candidates would dwell
! in the fact that they would be recognized
as among its foremost representative men.
! Gen. Hancock, on the other hand, not be-
ing recognized as among It's representa-
tive men, is exempt from this cause OF
weakness. lie is the strongest man the
party could have named, because he is
less identified with the party, less repre-
sentative of lis politics and political repu
tatiOn. than any other the party would
have named. In other words, his strength
as the party's chosen leader consists 10
the fact that he is not and has never been
among IFS leaders not known as possess
ing any Of the requisite qualifications for
its leadership.
What other meaning is conveyed by the
statement that General Hancock Is the
strongest man the party could have chosen
What other inference does that statement
warrant or permit, than that the party
weakness is 10 its own political character
and It's strength in the c0ucealment OF lis
character behind the name Of man whl
is not known as q representative OF ii, nol
Of any political character whatever, bu
only as respectable soldier2
Generally il ia q rational opinion tAa
the strongest man political party ccule
take for Its political leader would be lis
best known, most popular, most repTesen
tauye statesman. II there be any eNcep
tion to this general rule, must Il not b
when the party stands in mortal terror Q
itseltg
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