Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-12
JUDGE DAVIS FOR HANCOCK.
THE INDEPENDENT NAN or THE SENATE
WARMLY SUPPORTS THE DEMOCRATIC
TANDfDATE

THE INDEPENDENT NAN or THE SENATE
WARMLY SUPPORTS THE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE.
WASHINGTON, August Sin view OF
the independent position Of Senator
David Davis, of Illinois, there has been
considerable curiosity to know his pref.
eience in the pending campaign. The
following letter from Senator Davis has
been received by the Hon. James d..
Harvey, OF this city
BLOOMINGTON, H., August 4, 1880.
MY DEAR SIR: The training and hab-
it's of my life naturally lead me TO pre-.
fer civilians to soldiers for the great civ.
il trusts. But as parties are organized
voters must choose between the candi.
dates they represent or stand aloof,
Indifferent or neutral, which no good
citizen ought TO do at a Presidential
election. have no hesitation in sup.
porting General Hancock, for the best OF
all reasons TO my mind, because his cleo
ton will put an end to sectional strife
and to sectional parties, and will revive
q patriotic sentiment all over the land,
which political leaders and factions, for
sinister ends, have sought to prevent.
There can be no permanent prosperity
without pacfcation.
Great as were the achievements of
General Hancock in war, his conduct
in peace, when in command Of Louisi.
ana and Texas in 1867, was still greater
and justly commends him to the conf.
dence of the co Intry. That was a time
when passion ruled in the public coun.
ellis and military power was exerted to
sileDce civil authority. The temptation
was strong to sail with the rushing cur.
rent, for an inhamed partisan opinion
was too ready TO condone excesses and
to applaud oppression.
General Hancock's order No. 40 in as.
suming charge Of the Fifth Military
District announced "the right of trial
by jury, the habeas corpus, the liberty
of the press, the freedom of speech,
the natural rights OF persons and the
rights of property must be respected"
These principles are the basis of free
government and the proclamation OF
them by General Hancock stands out in
striking contrast with the action of his
superior, who soon after rebuked and
drove him from that command for utter.
ing sentiments worthy of all honor.
power voluntarily uncovered before the
civil authority, sheathed his sword, ties.
tilted his fidelity TO the Constitution
and set an example of obedience 10 law
which will pass into history as his
proudest claim to distinction.
The man who in the midst of the ex.
elements OF that stormy period was
cool enough TO see his duty clearly, and
courageous enough to execute il firmly,
may be we'll trusted in any crisis. His
letter TO General Sherman, recently
brought to light, lifts General Hancock
far above the past appreciation OF his
civil ability. II makes him as one OF
the wisest Of his time. with o states !
LIau's grasp OF mind and with the integ.
rity of q patriot whom no sense of ex.
pediency could swerye from his honest !
convictions. Long and unchecked pos.
session of power by any party leads to
extravaganza, corruption and loose |
practices. After twenty years Of domi |
nation by the Republicans. chronic
abuses have become fastened upon the |
public service like barnacies on the |
bottom of stranded ship.
There is no hope OF a reform by lead.
ers who have created a system OF malad.
ministration and who are interested in |
perpctuating its evils. Nothing short
OF the sternest remedy gives any prom.
ise of effective reform, and the first
step towards it is in change Of rulers.
The government must be got out of the
ruts in which it has too long been run.
New blood must be infused into the
of public affairs before re.
lief can be expected. The people de
mand change, and being in earnest
they are likely to be Rrati6ed. Very
DAVID DAVIS.
Hon. Jas. Z. HARVEY, Washington City.