The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-04-23

The New York Tribune ventures the re-
mark that if the Pennsylvania Democrats
are able to send Hancock delegation to the
Cincinnati Convention, the General will at
once become for uidable candidate. If his
own State, remarks the Tribune, is solid be-
hind him be will be likely to gather recruits
from all other quarters. And then the Trib-
une goes on to say that his sudden develop
nent as a probable candidate is one more
evidence of the revivifying effect which the
prospect of a third term has upon the Dem
pcratc party. The Tribune is an uncom-
promising opponent of Gen. Grants pre-
tensions to the Republican domination, and
it is disposed to attribute all symptoms of
gathering strength in the Democratic party
to the influence of third term movement
But this is by no means what gives Gen
Hancock his great strength. 1t is very true
that his candidacy would give peculiar point
the opposition to Gen. Grant 1t would be
the candidacy of the exponent of the idea
of the supremacy of the civil law, and of the
maintenance of a constitutional Union with
a Government of specified and lin tied pow
ers, in opposition to the candidacy of
the exponent of the idea of military SUI.
premacy, personal government, and con
| solidated nationality with government re-
leased from the ietters of constitutional lim-
ita'ion'. But Gen. Hancock, on these points
to would equally autagOniza any Republican
candidate, because any Republican candi-
date must represent the purposes which the
Republican party have in view, aud the
ideas by which that organization is row
governed. The issue has been broadly pre-
sented to the country by the out-p1ken de-
| clarstions of the Republican leaders by
the Republican journals, and by the par
tiaan decisions of the Supreme Court.
1t cannot be averted. The Republicans
are determined to press it; the Democrats
are ready to accept IT, 1t will constitute the
main issue OF the contest of 1880, whether
Gen. Grant or any other man shall be the
Republican candidate. As we have already
shown, Gen. Hancock is man who can
combine in one harmonious body of sup
port all the elements of political opinion
which differing as they may, on other points
are agreed on this one, 1t is impossible to
assume that is true of any other prominent
Democrat, Recent developments show that
Democrats throughout the country are
rapidly coming to an appreciation of thi,
truth.
The crushing defeat Of Mr.. Tiden's
scheme to control the Pennsylvania con-
yentou is peculiarly significant, because it
was not only "a defeat of the supp orters of
Tilden, but it was triumph of the sup
porters Of Hancock. Tue result is, by some
Of the newspapers, regarded as victory of
Senator Wallace over Speaker Randall; but
it has much wider meaning than this. Its
meaning is that Randall is weak, because
his candidate Is weak, and Wallace is strong
because his candidate is strong. There eau
be little doubt how that Pennsylvania will
elect full Hancock dolegttion--a result
which cannot fail to have an immense ln-
huence on the country. The vote of New
York tor Tlden would be recognz d as only
the voice Of political machine, the fact re-
manning that Mr., Tillen cannot carry the
State, although it is thoroughly Democratic
The vote of Pennsylvania for Hancock
would be recognized as the voice Of the par
ty, giving expression to its preference for a
candidate who, in all probability, could
carry the state, although il is regarded as es-
sentially Republican Louisiana also will in
all probability choose Hancock delegation,
So, probably, will Mississippi, and Texas,
and Arkansas, North Carolina, Sodth Caro-
lima aud Alabama. Indeed it is hard to
conceive why the Democracy Of any South
ern State should hold aloof from Gen Han
cock Hence the Tribune is right when it
says that Gen. Hancock is fast becoming
formidable candidate, He is formidable not
Dnly to bis Democratic competitors, but the
Republican party, who see in him man
against whom their fayOrite weapons would |
De powerless and their chosen ammunition |
De wasted.--Ne,g Orleans HodNa'Re