Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-07-13
why GEN. Hancock was Nomi.
mated.


why Gen. Hancock was Nomt.
mated.
No ordinary observer Of recent polit-
ical events in this country can have
failed to notice the marked anxiety Of
theIleaders Of the Democratic party tc
explain why Gen. Hancock was nomi,
mated for the Presidency. Their IN
easiness upon this subject is such as to
plainly indicate recognition by them
Of the Importance, if not the absolute
necessity, of accounting to the satisfac
ton Of independent voters, for the
action of the Cincinnati Convention.
In this the Democratic leaders are mo-.
wrong; for General Hancock's nomi-
nation assuredly requires an explana'
ton.
That a great political party, vas'
majority of the members Of which only
fifteen years ago either actively en-
gagged in, or sympathized with, treason
and armed rebellion against this ma
ton, should accept the leadership in
the approaching Presidential contest,
Of an eminent officer of the Union
armies, who won his distinction in
crushing their treason, does indeed
seem remarkable and particularly So
in view of the fact that the Democratic
party has during the last twelve years
continued to exclaim with increasing
bitterness against the policy Of select
ing military men for the Presidency.
Under the circumstances, Democratic
talent will have a difficult task in
pointing out satisfactorily to honest
minds the connection between Demo
cratic consistency and Gen. Hancock a
nomination, and it may reasonably be
expected that even Democratic oracles
and great men will, in their pSrplexity
over the proper solution Of the puzzle,
contradict each other and stultify
themselves.
Perhaps no better illustration Of the
difficulty Of iustifying, from a party
standpoint, the nomination in question
could be afforded than was shown in
the utterances of some Of the speakers
ut the recent Democratic ratification
meeting in this city.
Mr.. Bayard, who, by the consent OF
many Democrats..an most of the rene
gade Republicans of this State, is q
most reliable political oracle, PROFOUND
ed before his audience the great conuu'
drum as follows: "Now, my fellow
citizens, why have the Democratic
party nominated General Hancock F'
The meeting, largely composed Of Re-
publicans, whose curiosity to hear
what "Delaware's Statesman" could
say upon the subject had drawn them
thithar, either considered that the pro
FOUNDER Of the question intended tt
answer it himself, or were unwilling u
hazard reply which might embarrasi
or wound the feelings Of Zone whom
not only Delaware, but the whole ma
ton, delights to honor" and 80 re
manned silent while the oracle said
81 will tell you why: 1t is becaus
this man has proved that God gave hin
the same characteristics of conscience
of self-control, which he gave to til
good and great Washington"
1t does seem hard that such charg
should be brought against the Fathe
of his country, when he is no longer i
q condition 10 meet and refute it. F
this as it may, the announcement had
startling effect upon the crowd. Thel
was 10 applause, simply because Il
audience, to man, had lost its breatl
There was not even Democratic ca
call, which the sheet commonly know
as the "Bayard Organ" could digni
with the name of applause. Amaz
meut at the authoritative declaration
such virtue in the Democratic nomine
or at the ability Of the Democratic ps
ty to appreciate such virtue AMI
willingness 10 reward it, bereft u
followerers Of "DeIaware's Favori
Son" of the powers Of utterance. The
minds turned to Massachusetts, whe
nearly nine-tenths of the Democra
are devoted adherents OF "Beast Br
ler." They thought of the man
many political contests, in which I
want Of "conscience" and "self-co
trol" on the part Of the Dem ,cra