Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-07-23
Hancock Dare Not AntagOnize His
Party.

General Ewing, who is one of the
most prominent supporters of General
Hancock, is on record rs saying that
''no President, whatever his personal
views, dare antagonize on a mere ques-
ton of expediency, the representatives.
of the party that elects him. Our Gov
ernment is ruled by parties, not by
men,"
If General Ewing is right then it be-
hooves the American people to see to it
that Hancock is not elected President.
And he certainly is right. The propo-
siUion he lays down is sound. Parties
do govern in this country. The Presi-
dent derives his chief significance not
from his own character so much as the
character of the party that stands be-
hind him. On n mere question of ex-
pediency no President, whatever his
personal views" Will be found antag-
onizing the representatives of his party.
But Ewing might have gone farther.
He might have argued with equal truth
that no man who reaches the White
House destitute of the great underlying
principles of civil government, whose
whole life has been spent in the military
service, whose talents and training
have been alike alien to the duties
which go with the Presidency, who has
no personal viewsn on the great ques-
tions that would come before him for
decision-that no President of this sort
would be capable of antagonizing his
party on any question, whether of ex-
pediency or of vital moment and per-
manent consequence.
Hence Ewings admission, if general
ly accepted and acted upon, will be
fatal to Hancock's Presidential pros
poets. His nomination created con-
siderable enthusiasm in his party. He
went into the canvass on huIrah. But
this campaign is to be decided by the
cool second thought of the voters.
Hancock will never be as strong again
during the canvass as he was the day
he was named at Cincinnati. Then the
fact that he was a soldier of brilliant
achievements came to the front. But
that fact will steadily recede and will
be supplanted by the consciousness,
growing more acute every day, that
Hancock, the soldier that was, is very
different person from Hancock that is
the leader of the Democratic party. If
elected, he would not be President ex-
cept in name. His party-the party
which the American people have re-
fused to trust the Government with
ever since 1860, and which is Just as
much entitled to distrust to-day as it
ever was-would rule him with rod
of iron. He would fall prey to his
conspicuous untitness for the place, and
would be "runh by certain ambitious
Democratic leaders, The electors can
be counted upon not to turn the Re-
publican party out of power for the
purpose of making any such foolhardy
experiment. Albany EUeRt9lg Journal.
s S----
B6s- Democrats are as happy as a
baby with new doll over their new
ticket. 1t is not surprising. Two or
three times before we have heard the
same joyous congratulations after the
nomination of ticket, the same fierce
yells of triumph and the same gushing
pledges of unlimited majorities in all
the doubtful States. But the season of
rejoicing has always been followed by
a dismal period of doubt. aud afterward
by the sackcloth and ashes of great
defeat. 1t pleases the Democrats to
win all their National victories before
the votes are counted, and no one will
grudge them their pleasure. In about
three weeks some sober Democrats will
begin To ask whether Hancock and
English are not going TO lac defeated
after ALL u Trf6uHe,