Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-05
GEN. HANCOCK ON STATE RIGHTS.

GEN. HANCOCK ON STATE RIGHTS.
The letter of Gen. Hancock accepting the
Presidential nomination, like all his political
utterances, improves the more it is perused.
1t is concise, unequivocal review of the
important political questions now before the
people, coupled with an explicit declaration
of his own views upon those subjects. His
views on the subject of State rights should
be memorized by every voter in the land.
He says:
The constitution forms the basis of the gov
eminent of the United States. The powers
granted by it to the legislative, executive and
judicial departments define and limit the au-
thority of the general government; powers not
delegated to the United States by the CONSTR
tuition, nor prohibited by it to the States, be-
long to the States respectively or to the people,
The general and State governm ents, each acting
in its own sphere without trenchlng upon the
lawful jurisdiction of the other. constitute the
Union. This Union, comprising general
government with general powers and State gov,
ernments with State powers for purposes local
to the States, is polty the foupdations OF
which were laid in the profoundest wisdom.
No man having the best interests OF the
country at heart can object to any one of
these declarations. Gen. Hancock had pre-
viously declared his acceptance in good faith
of all the amendments tn the constitution
adopted during or as consequence OF the
war. He recognizes the existence of the
general government, but holds that it only
has those powers specially delegated to it by
the States. On this point he Is very decided,
and his views coincide exactly with the we'll
known theories of the Democratic party. 1t
elected, as he certainly will be, there is no
doubt but he will soon scatter to the four
winds the senseless gable about the United
States being nation in the sense that the
monarchies of the old world. are nations. 1t
is heresy of but recent date, but has al
ready wrought much injury to the republic.
1t has created in many minds distaste for
the republican simplicity that characterized
our government under the former regime,
and awakened desire for the establishment
of the pomp and circumstance that surrouL
the royal courts of Europe. It has alarmed
| those sincere patriots who still cling to the
| traditions handed down from the founders of
the government. These are more determined
than ever to resist the encroachments of cen
tralization, and to preserve the republic in
| all its purity.
The distinctive rights of the States must
be maintained by the Democratic party, and
| it is gratifying to observe that both of the
candidates occupy an unequivocal position
on this question. The perpetuity of the re-
| public depends upon this cardinal principle
| of the party. If this is surrendered it will
be question of but a few years when we
will see privileged class dominating the
country-an aristocracy more intolerable
| and intolerant than the aristocracy of Eng
land, and with far less excuse for existence.
Already the money power yields vast in
fuencs. If permitted to 60 on without let
| or hindrauce it will be but short time ere
| patents of nobility will issue, carrying with
| them extraordinary privileges. To nip
this tendency in the bud is one of the mis-
| sions of the Democratic party, and Gen.
Hancock is happily in complete sympathy
| with the idea. He is Democratic to the core,
| and his; statesmanlike utterances will long
continue to be the watchword of all who desire
to maintain the republic in its original form
| and throttle the dragon of imperialism that
has been rearing its head with such audacity
| within the past few years.