The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-08-07
ron VICE pRRsIpENP
ELEoroRAL TICKnr.


Letters Of Acceptance.
The letters Of Gen, Hancock and VIM.
H.. English, accepting the Democratic
nominations for President aud Vice-Pres-
ident, were given to the daily press last
Saturday, and are published in the Apyo-
CATE to-day.
Gen. Hancock ) is short and to the point;
clear, .rale and bearing the stamp Of the
statesman. He recognizes that the con
stitution, which is the supreme law Of the
land, calls for union, not nstion-''the
general aud State governments, each act
ing in its own sphere without treuehiog
upon the lawful Jurisdiction Of the other,
constitute the Union y "This Union,
comprising a general Government with
general powers, aud State governments
with State powers for purposes local to the
States, is polily, the foundations Of which
were laid IN the profoundcst wisdom"
On free elections one sentence contains
volumes. Ho says @The bayouet is not
fit instrument for collecting the votes Of
freemenp This means that deputy mar
shals, partisan in the extreme, with powers
70 call upon the military at their own will,
have no place at the polls, where frocmeu
are exercising the dearest right Of citizen.
ship.
We shall not follow Gen, Hancocks
letter. It speaks for itself, and must chal-
lcuge the admiration OF all who love the
republic of their fathers Let all read it,
and read it carefully.
Mr.. English's letter is also strong doc.
ument, and deals more at length with the
leading ISSUES Of the day He opens with
a just aud glowing tribute to his fellow
candidate, aud then proceeds to argue why
the Republican party should be no longer
continued 10 power, and successfully COM
bats their claims to recollection. Allu-
ding to the fraud Of 1876, he snys-"It
should not be forgotten that the last four
years Of power held by that party were pro-
cured by discreditable means, aud held in
defiance Of the wishes of majority Of
the people. 1t was grievous wrong to
every voter aud to our system Of sclfgov-
ernment, which should never be forgotten
or forgiven" These sentiments touch the
popular chord, and the people, many Re-
publicans as well as Democrats, will re-
spond. They viii not condone that fraud
upon free elections by endorsing the party
thatperpetratedit, especially as their leader
10 this campaign was one Of the eight of
the by I commission that finally consum-
mated the outrage by which the Republi-
can party now holds power
The issue Of the contest is clearly set
forth in the following extract from his
letter:
.'rhis contest is, ia fact, between the people
endeavoring to regain the political power
which rightiully belongs TO them, and to re-
store the pnre, simple, economical constitu-
tional government of our fathers, on the one
side, aud hundred thousand federal office
holders and their hackers, pampered with
place and power, and determined to retain
them ut alPhazards, on the other
The next paragraph alludes to the effort
Of the Republican party to change the
government into a centralism, and foretels
the result if they are not checked by
change Of administration
Hence the constant assumption OF new
and dangerous powers by the general govern
Hent under the rule Of the republican party
The effort 10 build up what they call a strong
government, the Interference with home-rule
aHd with the administration Of Justice in the
courts Of the seveFal States, The interference
with the elections through the medium Of paid
partisan federal ofice-holders interested in
Keeping their party in power, and caring more
for that than fairness in the elections-in fact,
the constant encroachments which have been
made by that party upon the clearly reserved
rights Of the people and the States--will, il
not checked, subvert the liberties Of the peo-
ased BY the fathers, and end in great con
solidated central government, strong indeed |
for evil and the overthrow Of republican iusIi
tniions.n
Mr. Euglish's letter is strong aud posi-
tive throughout, and ike Gen. Hancock's, !
must challenge the admiration Of the
people Taken together the letters con
atitute formidable campaign document
Straight forward and certain in their enun- |
citations, there is no room for partisan
misiuterpretation. TheEe is no evasion or
attempts TO conceal real views or opinions.
The Democratic and Independent press |
cOnmand The letters heartily, whilst the
Republican press find but little to take
Issue with.