Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
our wAsmINGTON LETTER


WAsHTNGToN, ID. g., Sept. l3, 80.
What is the duty now ? should be the
one absorbing thought of every true aud
loyal citizen. WeshS'l say nothing against
Hancock, preierrng to leave with his
friends the pleasure and honor, il so IL be,
Of speaking words of praise and to those
who are less friendly, the telling of his
faults; but I would like TO call the atten-
ton Of all men who fought in the great war
to the position he now holds as the polti.
ca Ifead Of the Democratic party. He'es
what? and TO what does his position pledge
him2 These questions are Of vital import
now, aud they should be pondered deeply.
1t will not do TO let enthusiasm for the
ave soldier influence votes; it will not
do to give away to the magnetism Of lis
pernonality, or to be swerved in judgement
by memory OF his great achievements rs a
gallant and skillful chieltain. We must
reason soherly and then act wisely. Men
have died for the Union, but it is now that
the great, the real battle is being fought to
perpetua'e that Union and all the blessings
and h0nors which properly belong TO aud
abundautly flow from it. What are the
claims of the party TO which General Ham
cock stands to-day pledged? One claim is
the encouragement of the National affairs
by the Administrations which have sue
ceeded those OF Lincoln--the soldiers great
and good frienJ-ihe Nations sainted
Martyr Another claim is: The increas-
ing weakness of the Republican rule and a
drifting towards absoluism-the inherit
ance, as it is sometimes defined Of rule and
power. Indeed the claims are varions, and
all about equally balanced in respect to
prosperity or honesty. We will not say
what the Republican party has done, is
now doing, or what it promises to do. That
which has been done is open and plain to
all men; that which it can do may be esti-
mated from its past history and presen po-
sitiOn. Now il the good that has been done
does not seem good to the Democratic par
ty, then it is fair to think and say that
that party propose TO do something else.
But what can it do? 1t cannot pay the
public debt any faster than debt is now be-
ing paid; it cannot keep our bonds ut
lower rate Of interest than they now bear;
II cannot make us more prosperous at
home or respected abroad than now. 1t
cannot change our public affairs fOl the
better, therefore it is fair to suppose that
any change will be injnrious aud us
changes-great changes, are promised, il
must necessarily follow that evil and not
good would be the result. What more can
be done for the South than has been at
tempted VIII Northern men be any more
safe there, under Democratic Admnistra-
tion, than now? Will those who control
the elections in those States act more hon
estly than now If the present little restraint
is removed? IL is useless to say that the
business OF the North will be enhanced un-
der Democratic rule. That were impossible
and so deemed by the wisest of our busi-
ness men, even many who are by political
association, and by prejudices, Democrats.
| am talking, or would talk to thinking
men, not to those who shout loudest, drink
deepest, aud act the most insanely-act not
as worthy political enemies, not even as
partisans deserving of respect, but more
often a. brutes swayed by passion, and un-
thoughtful in their ignorance. Not such
as these latter stood staunchest at Geltys-
b'IS, 1T AHtlethIl, uC lChSDuTPj wherever
the great battles were fought. Men thought
as well as fought when those great deeds
were being done, and a vast majority OF
those men are now receiving their reward
in pensions whish-think not lightly Of
the assertiOn-a Democratic Administra
ton, with Hancock at its head may re-
move, or, most likely degrade by pension
ing, or in other ways endeavor to compen-
safe, even those against whom our heroes
waged successful battles? These are not
light words, nor uttered without earnest
thought and convictions founded upon what
we know, and time may, alas! prove.
That is where Hancock is, and all this is
what he is pledged lo-tacltly pledged to,
and which he must permit, for, even were
he more truly patriotic, he cannot escape
the inevitable consequences which would
follow National Democratic success.
Tom.