The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-09-11
Hancock ~ IN Office Seeker.

nj AANM0VN bEAVLE1s
With malice toward mono and
chaIlly for I'll, = the motives of public
men should b reviewed. The conn
try loses nota little Of ability and tai
ent 10 the administration Of its affairs,
because Of the indiscriminate abuse
Of candidates. Candidates are de-
feated at the polls, and others are de-
tered from allowing the use Of their
names rs candidates, because of blind
and unreasonable assaults upon per-
sonal character which are too often
made. It is, however, highly proper
when the friends Of candidate claim
for him the possession Of certain vir-
tues as pre-eminent qualifications for
Office, that those alleged virtues be
submitted to careful examination.
Gen. Garfield has an established
reputation among his Congressional
associates and the prominent public
men he has met during long period
Of active political life, for urbanity
and moderation. Among his defend
ers from disreputable assaults have
been such sturdy Democrats as Judge
Us. Black of pennsylvania, Senator
Thurman Of Ohio and others. Twelve
years ago he criticized the man who
is now his opponent for the Presi-
dency; and while the friends of Han
cock are seeking to demonstrate a
claim for craftsmanship based on his
Louisiana career, it is interesting to
note how it was viewed at the time
by one we'll versed in the political
movements of the period. Said Cen.
Garfield, On Hancock land order No.
40 in Louisiana
It is for him to obey the laws he was
sent there to execute. 1t is for him to
aid in building up a civil government
rather than to be preparing himself for
tho presidential candidate of the party
which gave him no sympathy when he
was gallantly fighting the battles of his
country.
! President johnson a0d his imme-
diate advisers dictated the policy Of
Gen. Hancock in Louisiana. It was
part of the ambitious plan Of Presi.
1
dent johnson "a secure for himself
the Democratic nomihation. Despite
his contest with Congress and official
aid to the restoration of Democratic
supremacy, the leaders Of that party,
with . wholesome dread Of the man
who betrayed tie party which placed
him in Office, divided it's sympathies
between Horatio Seymour and Gen.
Hancock. In the national Democratic
convention of 1868, Immediately fol-
lowing Gen. Hancock's career in Lou
isiana, bis name was submitted, after
a canvass by his friends, with his
knowledge and consent, and was sup.
ported by respectable minority.
Likewise, after several months can
vass, it was presented to the conven-
tion of 1876. Again there was dill
igent canvass, and in 1880 the nomi-
nation was secured. Garfeld's criti-
cism appears to have been correct,
Judged in the light Of these subse-
quent events.
Hancock for twelve years has been
preparing himself for the Presiden-
cy." His letter Of acceptance denotes
a man poising to catch voters. It
does not commit him to a single liv-
ing issue before the country, except
the one involved in Democratic su.
p1emacy. He says nothing on the
subjects of finance, internal improve
ment or protective tariff to guarantee
his future course if called to the Presi-
dency. Garfield, on the other hand,
has an open public record, pro-
nounced views, and his position is not
in doubt on single issue vital to the
general welfare. His utterances are
made with the confidence aud fear.
lessness of scholar and a statesman.
When his voice and vote was sought
in favor of a sugar tariff, it was given
heartily and powerfully, without
thought of future presidential re-
wards. The honor of being the Re-
publican standard bearer fell to him
at Chicago we'll earned and unsought
Democracy, in selecting Hancock, has
ignored TildeD, Bayard, Field, Sey-
mour, Thurman, Hendricks, Palmer,
Gov. English and others, qualified by
experience in civil administration,
and taken up q candidate on the sole
recommendation, that as the coached
tool of Andrew johnson he for a few
weeks was an obstacle to the recon.
struction ordered by Congress. Il
seeks to exalt a military officer on the
ground that he embarrassed the ad.
ministration of law to further bis uwr
and bis party's ambition. It is folly
to presume that upon such a candi.
date can depend the better Interest,"
of the South or any section of thu