New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-28
Why HANCOCK, IF NOT SEYMOUR

In no Presidential campaign was the issue
between those who fought to preserve the
Government and those who fought to destroy
IT, more sharply drawn than in the campaign
of 1868. 1t was the first Presidential canvass
following the war. The Reconstruction acts
were still the subjects of bitter controversy.
The Republicans had nominated for President
the great soldier who had led the Union
armies to victory; the Democrats had
nominated the distinguished Democratic
temporzer, who addressed the New
York rioters of 1868 as "My friends,r
and was never so much OF Union
man as he was of a Democrat The
decision of the people came with overwhelm-
ing force. The fraudulent addition of the
thirty five electoral votes of New-YOrk to the
Democratic column brought it up only to
eighty votes. This was the year also when
General Hancock, fresh from the work Of
earning the favor of the Louisiana White
Leagues, first became prominent as a Demo-
cratic aspirant for the Presidency. Consider
ing the influences which were at work on the
Democratic side of that campaign, this fact
alone is of great significance. 1t was also the
year in which General Hancock took especial
pains to go upon record as vehementy in
favor of the Democratic ticket-a fact of
equal significance to those who remember
that Wade Hampton, of South Carolina, and
Clement L. Vallandigham, of Ohio, were
among the most trusted leaders of the Con-
ventlon which framed it.
1t is characteristic that the Democratic press
should have volunteered the campaign ma
terial which will be found most damaging to
n hoeo fha 10 Iod
They have thrust upon the country the famous
Order No. 40, which he will soon wish he had
never issued. They have also been proudly
publishing the letter which proves his active
sympathy with the rebellious and repudiating
movement of 1868, which had complete pos
session of the Democratic party in that year.
This letter, which was addressed to S. Il.
Glover of ST. Louis, was written to resent
report that he did not approve the re-
suit of the New-YOrk Convention. OF
those who held this good opinion of
him. he said Indignantly: "Those who suppose
" that do not acQuiesce in the work of the
National Democratic Convention, or that do
"not sincerely desire the election of its nOmi-
"nees, know very little of my character"
Announcing his undiminished faith in the
Democratic party. he said: "Were | to hest
"tate in its candid support, / feel | should
"nOt only falsify my own record, but commit
"a crime against my country. Had
"been the Presidential nominee, / should
"have considered 1t a tribute, not to me, but
"to the principles which / had proclaimed
and practised. But shall cease to revere
those principles because by mutual political
friends another has been appointed to put
ox., 10 avaoutiopq koyer ,p,or : aeTar
The punctuation is General Hancocks own.
What are the principles which General
Hancock thus yociferousy declared to be his
own? In word, they demanded reversal of
all the results of the war; betrayal of every
promise that bad been sealed with Union
blood. The Democratic platform of the Con-
vention of 1868 denounced the Reconstruc
ton acts as usurpatiOns, and uncOnstitu-
tiOpal, revolutionary and void" 1t declared
that the Republican party, instead of restor-
ing the Union," had. so far as it was in its
power dissolved it." 1t demanded in ex-
press terms the taxation of Government bonds,
which would have been an infamous violation
of one of the most solemn pledges of the war;
II demanded the immediate restoration of the
late rebels to their old power, insisting that
all the States sbOud be at once restored. with
power to regulate the elective franchise, and
with amnesty for all political offences.
1t made demagogic reference to green
backs to please the reputation element,
who wanted the Government bonds to be paid
in greenbacks. 1t therefore demanded lone
currency for the producer aud the bond
holder" 1t ranted about the "usurpations
a." of Congress and the despotism of the sword y;
about "the unparalleled oppression and
q" tyranny of the Republican party-in put
ting down the Rebellion and securing to the
freedmen their rights and solemnly declared
that under its repeated assaults the pillars
" Of the Government are rocking on their base,
" and should 1t succeed In Novembex Next and