Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-14
lanraster f1telllgenrer.
WEDNESDAY EvEN'a. JULY IA, 1890
What Fools These Mortals BE!


1t is to be hoped that General Han
cock willso be made aware of his nom
ination What a deal of sickeniAg nom
sense there is about sensible men, and |
how apt they are to make geese
of themselves when charged with ar I'M
usual duty /; especially when there is not |
much to do. They seem to feel that the |
dignity Of their position can only he
maintained by deal of fuss and talk.
Every sane man knows that General
Hancock knew Of his nomination as soon
as it was made. Nevertheless, it was
very proper that he should have All Off
cial notice of it from the officers of the
convention or from committee ap-
pointed for that purpose. This is Gus
tom and sensible one. But why the
president and secretary of the cOnven-
ton should address written notifica-
ton to General Hancock, and the CON-
mittee appointed to notify him should
do SO through a speech of their chair
man, while they at the same time hand
him Il written notice signed 10y them
all, we do not comprehend. The
idea may have been that SO much
notification WAS demanded by the i'm
portance of the occasion which is a mis-
take. since the performance was unmis-
takably absurd. Probably the true
inwarlness of it was that nobody who
had chance to exhibit himself on the
occasion was willing to hide his light.
Old Governor Stevenson, who had not let
his shine very brilliantly at Cincinnati,
wanted to illuminate New York HarbOr !:
and none of the committee could he ex-
;ected to forbear putting their names
down in writing Oh Il paper which would
be laid away among the souvenirs of the
Coming president, and which would serve
to keep their names fresh III his grateful
memory. Then of course the chairman
had to make speech when he shook the
Generals hand 1t would have been de-
cidedly un-alnerican, where more than
two men are gathered together to do any
thing, to do it without speech. 1t was
not to he thought of that this COM
mittee should meet General Hancock
on such an important occasion without
fiinging at him speech notwithstanding
they had presumably said all they had
to say in the written address they hand.
ed him. They ought to have done so il
they did not. 1t is interesting, 10y the
way. to observe how this important paper
was tlelivercd-the chairman passed it tC
the secretary who handed it to the Gen
eral.
We are glad to know that he has it
1t is pleasant to be assured that the Gen
eraI officially and thoroughly knows tlla,
he is nominated. We are curious tt
know how and when we are to he made
acquainted with the fact that he accept:
the nomination. We know it now in ;
manner: but it is acknowledged al
around that we do not know it in Il proper
and satisfactory way. 1t is mcumben
upon General Hancock to tell us. liz
assures us that he will do so just a
suoi as he can do justice to the impOr
tant question. lie is not likely to keel
uS lOli3 "stllliIe. AIC 10 a ooiNtiSi e'i'
should be prompt. We expect him als'
to be sensible and brief. All he needs tt
SAY is that lie accepts the nomination ant
the platform of principles accompanying
it. lie cannot improve upon the princi
pies, and he has no business to do SO i
he cJuld, They state the party belief
and that must be his belief. lie ma.
properly emphasize the special principle
which he holds to be particularly vital an'
renew, as Il soldier, his expression of de
vo;iun 70 the supremacy of the civi
power. But he need not attempt to VII
with the convention in the expression o
Democratic truths, but will wisely TAX
the creed as expressed by it, declare sim
ply the feelings with which he receive
the announcement of his selection a
the Democratic candidate for the chic
magistracy, and protest the sincerity AM
devotion with which he will aim to dis
charge the duties of the high office t
which he is sure to he elected and h
will then show himself wiser than tn
fussy politicians who deluge him wit
words and letters and addresses to dis
charge very simple duty.