The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-07-15
HANCOCK AND TILDEN.

HANCOCK AND TILDEN.
There can not be much doubt that
Hancock wrote to Sherman, In response
to letter by the latter, stating that in
case congress should declare S. J. Tilden
the legally elected president of the Unit
ed States, he (Hancock) would obey his
orders after the 3rd of March. Demo
Gratis have no need to stand on the defen-
sive on this issue. Ii il were possible to
recall that letter, and take the question
thus intruded out of the campaign, We
should vote every time to stand by the
record made by Hancock, and take pride
In doing so. He did not seek to add to
Me difficulties of the situation, nor to
prevent an amicable adjustment, by de-
claring publicly that he would obey Til
den in the event of his being declared
president by the only competent author
ity. Knowing as he did that Tilden was
elected by the people Of the United
States, he did not say he would recognize
him as president until his title was pass
ed upon by congress, and declared good.
He made the announcement privately
while republicans were claiming for the
vice president the right to count the cleo
toral vote, pretension that was aban-
doned hurriedly when the great constita
tionaI lawyer and leader Of their party in
an able speech proved that no such right
was vested in that officer either by pre-
cedent or Interpretation Of law. Suppose
congress had declared Tilden elected and
the president of the senate had so count
ed the electoral vote as 10 give Hayes a
majority. Which one would be best en-
titled to receive the obedience of the
army? Suppose the senate declared
Hayes elected and the house, Tilden,
would Sherman be less culpable in giving
in his adherence to Hayes than Hancock
in taking his orders from Tilden2 Why
were troops being massed at Washington,
and why, before the idea of the electoral
commission suggested a means of COM
promise, was it thought advisable to send
Hancock to California; Was it not be-
cause the generals of the army were
strong partisans of Hayes and determin-
ed to seat him, although over one quarter
of million of the popular vote was OPP
posed to him and he was decidedly in a
minority on the vote of the electoral col
leges? Because Hancock refused to be
party to ali outrage on the people he is
denounced. What right did Hayes have
to expect the obedience of Hancock, that
Tilden did not have in a greater degree
Hayes was made president by virtue Cor
vice. of the electoral commission, and
Hancock in common with all others ac-
guessed in that decision. Before the
people, by the act of their representatives
surrendered their right to commission
and revoked their own act, Tilden was
entitled to the presidency on the 4th of
March, 1877, and Hancock or any other
general, who should express determin-
alton not to yield him obedience on
March 18th, he having taken the oath,
backed by large majority of the popu-
lar vote and of the presidential electors,
supported by congress or any branch of
it, having aS competitor n man known
to be defeated at the polls, with his title
to the presidency deriving no sanction
from any department of the government,
the general we say who should refuse
obedience to Tilden and give in his ad
herence to the pretender would be guilty
| of treason, and democrats have reason to
| rejoice that their candidate had manhood
enough to stand up for the right. Han
cock declared his intention of obeying
the legally elected president; Garfield as
member of the infamous commission
aided by his vote to seat a man in the
| presidential chair who was defeated by
| the people. Which did the more manly
act? Which was truer to the people and
| to the constitution
Hancock was asked by his superior Of
| ficer what his course would be. Suppose
he had said he would oboy Hayes after
March 4. This would be all right al
though he did not at that time have a
singls right on which to base his preten-
sions to the presidency. He is the pres
ident of the electoral commission end
! having been chosen by the commission,
! he has had obedience from Gen. Han
cock. Since Hayes's Inauguration has
Gen. Hancock manifested any inclination
| toward disobediencei Gen. Hancock
knows as does every person acquainted
with the facts, that Hayes is not elected
president by any means known to the
constitution. He was chosen president
by the votes of eight men to whom the
people had delegated trust, which these
| eight nen abused. Gen. Hancock does
not set up his Own opinion in opposition
to the decision of that commission. Had
Haneocia,r after March 4, refused to ac-
knowledge Hayes as eommander'in-ehief
of the armies of the Unite,. Saa'es' DIS
crime would not be one .ithe rs great As
that OF his rival, who gave to the people
a man as president whom they had re-
lected. garfield toas guilty Of treason,
as was every man of the eight who refus-
ed to receive testimony and annui!ed the
wishes of the people expressed in accord
ance with the constitution.
IHE New York Tribune is greatly ex-
cited because Geueral Hancock will not