The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-13
SENATOR DAVID DAVIS, VIEWS.
why He EspOuscs the Cause OF q encra,
Hancock
Washington, Aug. l2.--The following let.
ter was given TO the press vesterday

-
Washington, Aug. l2.--The following let.
Ter was given to the press yesterday
m Bloomington, ILL.,, Aug. Any Dear Sir
Inc training and habits Of my life naturallv
lead me TO prefer civilians to soldiers for ths
great civil trust; but as parties are oroanize5
voters must choose between the candidatss
they PRESENT or must stand aloot. Indifferent
OF neutra. which no good citizen ought 10 do
at presidential election. / have no bss,,a Wv
ton in supporting Hancock for tho hast Of
all reasons, to my mind, because bis elso,;o y,
VIII put an end to sectional strife and san
tlonai parties, and win revive natriot;c , S,s'
timent all over the land, which nnI,t;-
cal leaders and factions for ii istar anas ha.,
sought to prevent. There can he no nan mnso
nent prosperity. without paciacation. Great
US were lhe achievements of General Han.
coch IN war, ms COZ duct in peace, when in
command OF Louisiana and Texas, In 1867
was sun greater and justly commends him
10 the confidence of the country. That was
a hme when passion ruled in the public coup.
CHS ana military power was exerted to silence
ciVil authority. The temptation was strong
to sail with the rushing current, for an i IN.
famed partisan opinion was too ready To
condohe excuses and to applaud oppression.
uenera Hancocks order No. 40, in ASSUME
ing charge of the fifth military distri9t. an
nounclng that the right of trial by Jury the
haoess corpus, the liberty of the press the
freedom OF speech, the natural rights Of
persons and the rights of property, must be
respected. These principles are lLe hasa of
Tree government, and the proclamation Of
them by General Hancock stands ont in
striking contrast with the action Of his
superior, VINO soon after rebuked and drove
nm from the command for utterinp senti.
ments worthy of soldier. Tvbo .old;sr
clothed with extraordinary power yolunta,
rily uncovered before the civil authority
sheathed his sword, testified his fidelity to
inc constitution, and sets an example Of
oDeoiehce TO law which will pass into history
rs MS soundest claim to distinction. The
man VINO, IN the midst of the excitements of
tnat stormy period, was cool enough to see
MS duty clearly, and courageous enough To
crisis. NN :" any
His letter to General Sherman. recent,v
brought to light lifts General Hancock far
above tho past appreciation of his civil anil.
n.y. ~ MAKES MN as one Of the wisest of bis
N,t 'ANAi " SbasVslhuil grasp OF mind and
the integrity Of patriot whom no sense Of
eSpediency could swervo fom his honest
convictions.
A ns and unchecked position of power
by any party leads to extravaganza, corrup-
tion ana loose practices. After twenty wears
OF domination by the Republicans, Chronic
abuses nave become fastened on the puic
service like barnacIes on the bottom
of a, stranded ship. There is no
hope Of reform by leaders who have oroated
system Of maladministration and who are
interested in perpetuating its evils. Nothins
short OF f. the sternest remedy gives any prom.
Use of effective reform, and the first step to-
ward it is change of rulers. The govern
ment must be got out of the ruts in which il
his too long been run. New blood must be
infused IN the management of public affairs
before relief can be expected. The people
demand change. and being in earnest, ara
likely to be gratiied. Very sincerely,
DAVID DAVIS.
TO lhe Hon. James E. Harvey, Washington