Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-07-09
FORNEY AND HANCOCK.

In the last issue of the Progress, published
in Philadelphia, its editor, Col. John w.
Forney, for twenty years stalwart Repub-
lican, gives his reasons for supporting Gen
eral Hancock for the Presidency:
"There are many deathless days in the
American memory among them the attack
upon the American flag in Charleston har-
Dor on the 18th of April, 1861 the battle of
Gettysburg on the list, I'd and Sd days of
July, 1868; the fall of Richmond on the 9th
day Of April, 1865, and the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln ON the l4th day Of April,
1866. No days in human history ever
aroused a mare agonizing solicitude. or closed
wider vista of human possibilities. Each
OF these events had strange and almost
providential meaning. Each possessed the
peculiar quality of conquering in an instant
millions Of prejudices. The ball fired at the
old flag from Charleston consolidated the
North and struck down human slavery.
The victory of Gettysburg saved the second
great city OF the Union from the flames.
The fall Of Richmond was the certain rise of
the Republic, and the death of Lincoln con-
secrated his great mission of forgiveness to
all. When we come 10 notice the annals of
our civil war, these four events, with the
emancipation of the slaves on the first of
January, 1853, will be to the historian like
so many planets shedding light on all other
objects and marshaling the way to the final
lesson and the duty ofthe patriot Each was
revolution in itself, affecting the remotest
interests and leaving all men in new con-
dition of thought and scf-examination."
After speaking of the excitement existing
in Pennsylvania, especially in Philadelphia,
during the battle of Gettysburg and the re-
treat of the Confederate forces back to Vir-
ginia, he says:
"who won that great fight? Who saved
Philadelphia from fire and spoil? Who
drove back the enemy and saved US from
fate of which the burning Of Chambersburg
and Carlisle and the forced contribution
upon York were intended to be grim pre-
parationsy brave army of patriotic citi-
zens, led by three Pennsylvania generals
George Gordon Meade, of Philadelphia Jno.
Fulton Reynolds, of Lancaster, and Winfield
Scott Hancock, Of Montgomery. Meade and
Reynolds are both gone. Meade died on the
9th of November, 1872, In the house pre-
scented to his wife by the people of Philade-
phia, afterward supplemented by contr-
button Of 100000 from the same source,
Reynolds was killed In battle on the End of
July, and is buried at Lancaster. Hancock
is to-day the Democratic candidate for Pres.
dent of the United States.
81 do not stop TO debate the other consid-
erations that enter into this vital issue; the
grave considerations that demand the release
of my dear native State from the desperate
men who, in the last ten years, have coldy
crushed out the pride of our people, and
placed under the iron heel of brutal inferi.
ority the hopes Of our youth and manhood,
making of this fair Commonwealth a vast
political Golgotha. and of our proud city Of
fhiladephia an Offensive roost for the most
desperate and vulgar mercenaries since the
black days of Tweed and Tammany in New
York. do not stop 10 debate these con.
siderations now. II is not the tine. But
this is the time 10 open TO the common mind
our pledged word 20 the last of the great
soldiers who placed us under an obligation
That We fastened 70 avow, and repeated over
and over again. My own pledge binds me
as my own note Of hand In law il Il had
been signed TO the promise to pay a money
debt could be held by il, and my estate Il
failed TO pay il. In morals il is as solemn as
II had gone before a magistrate aud sworn
20 abide by IT, And what is true of myself
Is equally binding upon Others. What my
fixed judgment. private and public. is of the
men who saved the American republic,
have not concealed. II IL passion that
grows stronger the more | ace the value OF
what has been saved 30 ourselves and TO all
mankind. feel II as the rescue of human
freedom for the ages 10 come. | prize IT,
this overthrow Of the rebellion, as the best
blessing 10 the South which made that re.
bellion. ! cherish II because the more
ponder the priceless value Of the enormous
Destiny 50 saved, the more eager | am %
convince the Sos,th that they must aid e
perpetuate IT,"