Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-28
The Military Candidate.

The Military Candidate.
Gen. Hancock is . soldier if anything.
He was bred to the military profession
and has followed it all his life Whatever
honor or prominence he has received has
come because he held rank and was SOL
der in the war against the southern re-
bellion. Those who nominated him claim
nothing for him except his career as SOL
der. They say he fought well against
the rebels Of the South. The claim is not
disputed by republicans. They believe
that was meritorous. II any party has
ever found fault with Hancock or any
other man for fighting on the Union side
it has not been the republican party. Had
itnot been for the support which the re-
publican party gave to the soldiers when
they were fighting for the salvation of the
Union, there would have been no Han
cock to nominate for President in this year
1880, because of laurels won in the war.
Had the democratic party had its way the
Union troops would have been withdrawn
from the field and the Southern Confed-
eracy would have been established on the
ruins of tie old Union.
Following the history of the democratic
party down from the earliest days Of the
rebellion we find it one Of opposition to
military rule. The party supported Cen
eral Mcclellan for President, but that Was
because he was failure as a military
leader. No successful military leader in
the war against secession has received
anything bat abuse from the democratic
party, until we come down to this nomi-
nation of Hancock. When Grant was
nominated he was opposed by the democ-
racy because he was military chieitain
of the Union side.
They denounced him as Caesar. a
butcher. man untitled by his military
career-although he went from the walks
Of civil life: into the Union army-to be
placed at che head Of the civil govern
ment Of this country. After he was elect
cd, and ali through his administration of
eight years, they never failed to assail
him at every opportunity as military
chieitain and therefore unfit to be Presi-
dent. The subject upon which they have
harpcd upoa most for the last fifteen years
has been ths danger Of military rule. the
incapacity Ct purely military men to rule
in civil affairs. What fierce phillipics
have they not pronounced against mill
tary rule In the South! How many times
have they presented Liberty strangled to
death in the south by military satraps
What fiery appeals have been made to the
northern heart against our Union gener-
ais who had the unpleasant duty of trying
to keep peace in some Of the bcnighted
regions where the Ku-Klux and White
Leagues held sway! BY their own
showing no purely military man can sue
cesstully lead in civil affairs. Such .
leader is not only incompetent through
lack Of experience in civil administration.
but his rule ii continued menace to the
liberty of the people and the safety OF the
government.
After all this opposition to military rule
and rulers by the democracy. that party
has placed in nomination for the Presi-
dency, . man who is nothing but q soldier.
and soldier also who won his laurels in
fighting the democratic party. Whatever
name he has was gained in the struggle
against the same. power which has nomi-
mated him. The Southern ex-Confed-
crates and their Northern tools in nomi-
mating Hancock have swallowed all they
ever SAID about the untitness Of military
mon to conduct civil affairs, and
they virtually say to the country
when they refer 70 his military record
a an argument in favor of his election
that he deserves TO be elected for his SER
vices IN aiding to whip them into submits
sion 10 the government. The democrats
thought when they nominated Horace
Greeley that they had done very shrewd
thing; they think now in nominating Han
cook they have been exceedingly wise and
smart; but II they succeed any better with
Haneock han they did with Greeley the
Amssican people are not % intelligent As
- think thsy azc.
Qeneral Hancock hes no capacity for
80 efv1 a1aGioa. He q ignorant Of the