The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-19
Iudre RnYis for Hancock.

BLOOMINGTON, ILL, August 4.--MY
DEAR SIR: The training and habits
of my lie naturally lead me to prefer
civilians 10 soldiers for the great civil
trust; but as parties are organized,
voters must choose between the candi-
dates they present, or must sta nd aloof,
Indifferent OF Neutral, which no good
citizen ought 10 do at a Presidential
election. | have no hesitation ip sup
porting Hancock for the best of all
reasons. to my mind, becau sc his cleo
tion will put an end to sectional strife
and sectional parties, aud will revive
d patriotic sentiment all over the land,
which political leaders and factions for
sinister ends have sought to prevent.
There can be no permanent prosperity
without paciticatlOn. Great as were
the achievements of General Hancock
in war, his conduct in peace, when in
command in Louisiana and Texas, in
1867, wa. still greater, and justly COM
mends him to the confidence of the
country. That was a time when p; s.
sion ruled in the public councils. and
military power was eXerted to silence
civil authority. The temptation was
strong to sail with the rushing current.
for an intlamed pai Lisan opinion was
too ready to cOndOne eXcesses and to
applaud oppression. General Han
cock 8 order No. 40, in assuming charge
of the Fifth Milit.ry District, an
nounced that the right of trial by jury,
the habeas corpus, the liberty of the
press, the fir "om of speech, the nat
ural rights uf property, must be re-
spected. These principles are the
basis of Zee government, and the
Hancock stands out in striking con-
trast with the action of his superior,
who soon .er rebuked and drove him
from the command for uttering senti-
ments worthy of q soldier. The SOL
dier, clothed in extraordinary power,
voluntarily uncovered before the civit
authority, sheathed his sword, testified
his fidelity to the Constitution, and
sets an example of obedience to law
which will pass into hist ~ as his
soundest claim to distinction. The
man who in the midst of the excite
ment of that stol my period, WE cool
courag, Gus enough to execute it firmly
may be trusted in any crisis.
His letter to General Sherman, re.
Gently brought t. light, lifts General
Hancock far above the p; t apprecia-
ton of his civil ability. 1t marks him
as one of the wisest of his time, with a
SIdSR VI AAAA 0h0 OhO III
tegrity of patriot whom no sense of
expectancy could swerve from his
honest convictions.
A long and unchecked position of
power by any party leads to extrava-
gance, corruption, and loose parctices.
After twenty years of domination by
the Republicans, chronic abuses have
become fastened on the public service
like barnacles on a stranded ship.
There IS no hope of reform by leaders
who have created system of malad-
ministration, and who are interested
in perpetuating is evils. Nothing
short of the sternest remedy gives any
promise of effective reform, and the
first step toward it is q change of rulers.
The Government must be got out of
the ruts in which it has too long been
run. New blood must be infused in
the management of public affairs be-
fore relief can be expected. The peo-
pie demand a change, and being in
earnest, are kelly to De gratifisd.
Very sincerely, DAVID DAVIS.
To Hon. Jas. E. Ha. vey, w ing
ton City.