The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-13
fFor the Disp.tch.l
T,lsc Political sttua tiOft.
COOK could

COLONEL l.. Y. WASHINGTON . LIZ 'H" ~ 40
COMMONWEALTH REVIEWED THE II
BUSINESS NOT PLAYBn oUT-GENERAL HAN
COCK THE STRONGEST CASDlDATE-ANALf-
SIS OF THE FIELD ROOM.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May II, 1880.
A recent letter in the Richmond Com
,non,pedlth has been reprinted III circular
form and widely circulated with the evil
dent object Of influencing the decision OF
Virginia as to ber'choice for the Dcmocratlc
nomination for the presidency. This pro-
duction has been modestly described in the
circular referred to as an "able letter." and
the writer, Colonel L. Q. Washington, APP
parently assumes that his unsupported as
sertion is entitled to special weight, for the
phrases 81 tlJink." 81 adhere TO the be-
lief,'' ain my opinion" 81 knew" 81
think It safe 10 assume" "I think it probi-
ble," 81 think it obvious" &c, follow one
another in rapid succession. Indeed, he has
not fai7ly entered upon his subject before
be gives us "my word for it" on matter
which is not one OF fact, but OF opinion.
Now, it is not unusual for a newspaper
writer to ask his readers to trust his state
ment as 10 a fact within bis personal
knowledge, but it is not only the height OF
egotism, but q proof OF ignorance OF the
methods Of legitimate controversy for a
writer TO advance "my lhis] word 4" Tor the
irrefutabiIity of bis argument. Sir Henry
Rawlipson writes about British policy in
Central Asia, Sir Bartle Frere writes about
affairs in South Africa, and eX-Viceroy
Lord Lawrence criticises Lord Lytton's
theories about the Afghan frontier, but
none OF these eminent authorities on the
subjects they discuss assumes the " l.
think" and "my-word-for-it" tone in
which 81. @. W." presumes to instruct
Virginans as to their duty at Cincinnati.
But let us give Mr.. Washngton's opening
statements a hearing. He says:
WASHINGTON, April 10, $780,
AZ think it may be regarded as practically
settled that General Grant will be the Re-
publican nominee for President. The Sher-
man BOOM amounts to nothing. 1t is
not e0tirely certain that Sherman can get
the vote of bis own State. Blaine is still
making keen fight, but Grant is leaving
him so far behind that il is really no race ~.
adhere to the belief that Grants will be
the only name before the Republican Con-
Tention. and that he lcW be nominated by
reclamation o.. He is, after all. about as
strong q candidate as the Republicans could
put up. He will be harder to beat than
either Blaine or Sherman would be (g.
w uSUDuTu duu TuiuuuuS dtC DoI 1Spl-
rants (?), and it is needless to discuss their
strength.
"Whether Grant can be beaten or not de-
ponds upon the question who is to run
against him. Ii Mr.. Tildcn is pitted against
him, Tilden will be beaten overwhelmingly.
Hancock, in my opinion, would make even
q worse break down than Tilden. The lat
ter has rare executive ability, large civil ex-
perience. and pretty good knowledge Of
men. Nobody could say that he would not
be President himself. 1t is different with
the purely professional soldiers. They are
as unfit for great civic trusts as the politi-
clans are to be the generals of the armies.
GIVE one OF the latter big army to COM
mand, and he would, OF course, have TO do
exactly what the skilled army officers
around him told him to do. He
weuId have to rely on them. On the
other hand, put West Pointer in the
presidential Office, and he would be sure to
be an instrument in the hands of some ring
DR. ether, political or military. The people |
understand all this as we'll as we do. The
who are fond of the rule Of
he sword might indeed rally on such
but, my wOrd for IL, the Demo.
cratic party cannot be rallied except under |
he hammer OF statesman. There is no
disposition 10 treat the army unfairly or
in any way, but, on the other |
hand, il will not do to call on one OF the |
regular army to rule over us. To use IA |
niliar phrase, the army business IS played |
)ut.
ali Hancock were pitted against Grant,
thousands OF men would say, I'VE do not |
must have sone, and he is to be elected on !
he basis % military achievements in the
ate war, let as take the biggest and the
most renowned commander 4 knew
Grant, and d knew Hancock personally.
Hancock is auliable, genllemanly, good
ooking, and all that; but he is much iufe-
ior to Grant in intelligence. Neither OF
hem has the qualifications to be q good
enatOr. Cabinet officer, or President. Some
'ody else in such event is sure to be Presi-
ent."
First. With the objections to q soldier.
The above must read curiousIy TO the con-
tituency four-ffths Of whose senator's and
representatives rose first to distinction as
soldiers. And is there "Con-
ederate brlgadier," from Gordon, Ransom,
nd Hampton down, who was really dis q
ingulshed in war, who has not also proved
apable in the "eivic trusts" to which he 7
as since been chosen? Are they in
Iruments in the hands OF ringsp Does
somebody else" have to discharge the i
uties they have been elected to discharge
lid Hancock rely on the carpet.bag politi- |
ANS who besieged him, or cid he "break |
own" when he was entrusted with extra j
difficult and delicate civil duties /
! Louisiana and TeXasS Was his "the
ale Of the sword" to which Mr.. Washing
m oludes In disparagement Of Hancock's
lndidacyY Was Hancock "President him r
II" when he issued Order No. 40 and C
rote the letter 10 Governor Pease; or was
the knowledge Of men" with which r
ar sable" correspondent credits Cover '
DR. TiIden, that helped him out? Mark Il
e assumption, that any lawyer or Judge, e
, matter how little experience like Judge n
ield] he may have bad in legislation
civil administration, is a statesman"
here are some lay Americans who believe
C Government is cursed with too many n
wyers and too many pseudo-statesmen, +,
no are really nothing but professional pol Il
Clans and chronic office-holders, and that :,
Q country would gain by the influx into 4,
lb,ic life OF more men from the other ayo. II u
toes and professions, even that OF the y
ldier.
II General Grant Is the strongest candI-
tie the Republicans can take, or II he
ems to any considerable number Of them
be so, the same reasons with Die force >,
quire the Democracy to take Union SOL ~
pr. MIR. Washington is doubtless correct y,
urging thai the bloody shirt will lie the :. =,
lin reliance Of the Republicans. General y,
ants candidacy embOdies the sectional -
esiion 10 its most offensive form, for 1t " "
IS under President Grant and by his or. -
rs that bayouets upset State governments
q dispersed legislatures. The sectional III
esfion Is more difficult for northern Demo. tw