The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-08-21
Col. FOrney's Appeal for Hancock.

The First ward, Philadelphia, was out en-
masse the evening Of August u, 10 listen to
Col. Forney's appeal for the 'superb" sol
der. The occasion was the dedication by
the Hancock Legion Of their hew hall at Sew
enth and Dickinson streets. Fully two hun
bred OF those present were Republicans who
had assembled to listen to Col. Forney' 5
speech.
Colonel Forney, beginning with some ap'
propriate historic illusions, considered briefly
The services Of General Hancock TO the Union
cause, and in particular to that city and
State.
ANer speaking in this strain for some time
Col Forney said:
eff the election for the Presidency ia No
vember could be conducted without the ON.
nipresence OF office, ii the men paid out OF the
public treasury TO do the work Of the goyern'
ment were not a regular pretorian guard,
there would be no more chance OF a decent
vote for General Garfield in November next
than there would for Mr. Weaver, the gentle.
man who has been named us the GreenbAek
candidate for that high office. But as 1t is,
this official army, blind aud deaf to reason,
driven by men who receive almost royal re-
Enumeration for doing nothing, is an influence
that would be entirely resistless IT, IN this
world of republic there were not other
agencies before which the hired dependencies
OF government must quail and fall.
at is the happy fact ofthe present time that
while an immense amount OF money is sqaan'
dered in what is called the civil service, there
are millions OF men who earn their livelihood
not only by mere physical labor, but by their
skill OF hand, by applying art to mechanics,
By making industry science, and by eleYa'
ting what are called the trades of the day to
a higher place, until the word artisan dignl-
fees and signifies human product without
parallel.
ut is among these millions that find the
antidote to the disease ofoHicial interference
in our elections and in the management Of
our parties. Do YOU think the skilled work
ingmeu of the United States, free to think
and fearless to act, ia the present struggle
sympal hize with the office holders? DO you
think they read the blighied record OF James
A. Garfield aud accept the party cry that it is
not a faithful picture Of his public life? Do
YOU think these men have read the thrilling
history Of Winfield $. Hancock without en-
thusiasm2 Above all, eau you conceive that
they are cold and unresponsive to the present
condition OF the Southern people ~
81 know what power they have been aud
still are. But know that no class of Amer
can citizens have improved more than the
high class Of workmen Before the civil war
these men were largely Democrats; yet when
the war broke out the mass rushed to the de
Tense Of the government. 1t is fact quite
reeoncilable with this theory that the most OF
the leading manufacturers OF the north we're
old line Wings. But when the war broke out
masters and men, with very few exceptions,
became Republicans. Now things have been
reversed, and the Democratic party is re-
ceiviag back the contribution 1t made to the
country twenty years ago, aud the name OF
General Hancock, like that of General Jack
sou, comes to the mind and To the hear: of
every intelligent workingman in this country
with a double charm. Because Hancock
means a higher and nobler and purer evan
gelism than party, and because Hancock
means comradeship aud unity OF hearts and
hands, the visible and the invisible relation
ship between States and sections, the friend
ship that binds the mechanic of Philadelphia
to his friend in New Orleans, 10 his friend in
San Fancisco aud TO his friend in Boston.
Such are the magicians silently and reslsllessly
working to the same common end.