The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-04-25
Why the Democratic Party Needs a
Union Soldier Candidates.
Letter TO tile Brooklyn Eagle,

The Southern Democracy had numbered
secession among the reserved rights Of the States and
since the war the late Confederate States have he
come solidy the allies of the Northern Democracy,
and 1t Is plain that the wisest crcumspection the
part of the Democratic leaders could not have
tcractei all the disadvantages of their position,
sulting from the historical circumstances Just
toned. Fifteen years have elapsed since the sup
preston of the great Rebellion. and the bitter ami
4 fay lb are sng S S
sacrifice made has not been forgotten. The cnnstitu
tional rights Of the States indeed as precious
ever; encefOrth OF the rights secured to every
State is the right Of membership In perpetual Union.
The arbltrament of war has settled this and nothing
Judgment In this conclusion there is general acqn-
essence, South as well as North But the spirit OF
mistrust, kept alive for party ends stiil lives.
II has since the more than once overthrown the
| Democratic hosts. Ever since the war the Demo-
cratic party has had no Presidential candidate who
JUSTLY of some completely of sympathy with the doc
trines ont of which the rebellion arose Even Horace
Greeley did not escape this detracon 1t Is time the
| Democratic party, II 1t hopes for success should
cease to be kept on the defensive. 10 be freed from
this necessity must not allow itself to he handi
capped with dead issue. 1t Is the Republican party
| which during nineteen years has administered the
Government, that naturally should be tile defendant.
But the Democracy cannot effectively carry ag-
gressivc campaign so long asthcy kept busy In
deendng their own position upon that which Is III.
garded the most vital point Of public interest and
safety. II the Democratic party aims at success IN
the great national contest which Is approaching 1t
must inspire the people with faith In Its fidelity 10 the
the war. this Is lacking. all else viii be In vain.
The reform of the Civil Service. the settlement Of the
opment of our Industries. are all Of them important
subjects when In serious dispute There isat present,
however, clearly defined Issue upon any OF these
questions between the parties. iu II there were, and
the Republican, party were upon the wrong side Of
every of them, 1t would still prevail II in tiIs
Presidential campaign OF 1880 II persuade the peo
pie that the Union is safe only In Republican hands.
In the forefront Of the Republican array still floats
| lat N n ma
lost Its inspiring power. The adrOit manipulators Of
political machinery, the Don Camerons and the Roscoe
Conkngs. who WELD the conventions of great States,
seemingly against tho popular WILL are slrewder than
the less calculating multitude They know the bugle
answer tho roll cali and step nmbly Into the ranks
under Grant, even though the empire stared him In
the face What is there In Grant to draw men toward
| him? Surely not the remembrance OF an exalted ad-
mnistration OF public affairs during the eight years Ct
his Presidency. Nor the magnetism of his personal
presence. Nor any form of craftsmanship especial
| fitness for the Presidency. but he represents the
Union saved by the war The Republican leaders
guided by past observation, have reason to believe that
Tho Democracy will scarcely be wise enough to avoid
the issues they mean to- present, and which
they think they can present IN the strongest shape
try again whether Grant VIII be their candidate
not. The Northern heart Is to be fred again with
solid South viii be the prolific theme for dire alarms
10 meet this movement the obvious policy of the
and their nominations, the public conhdence. Moth
Ing In this direction should he neglected which will
TESTIFY their fidelity to the prevailing sentiment OF the
country. Their nominee for tho Presidency In tho
present emergency should be ono with conspicuous
Union record. This the first essential 10 meet the
qnreinents of availability. There few DemOciat tic
statesmen whose political career anteaaies the and
who We're not soldiers In tho war, against whom
acts nterances may not be raked up and msrepre-
sented, even invented, 10 suit tho purposes 81
INSCRIPTIONS partisan press. A Union soldier eandl-
date alone can securely break the force Of this assault
and leave the democracy free TO plead their cause
They poed such candilate not because of his mill
tary prestige for appeal to the popular aaimi-
ration for military glory; lie Is needed AS significant
recognition of deep-seatod and absorbing popula r
| sentiment. Snch nomination supported with alac-
rty and unanimity at the south. would do much to
aiay sectional dstrus at the North, and tly repre-
sent both sections ON the brnaest Union platform.
There may he general objections to the nomination
military men FOR elyil once, but they bear
parlso to the present need of such candidate by the
| Democratic party. Especially do such objections
disappear II, In the of Gen. Hancock, the
didato should he something more than soldier, with
public record showing reverence for cyil law aud
the constitutional rights of the citizen. The policy Of
such nomination by the pennrrats IL w no wise de-
pnilont upon the action OF the Republican National
| tpnyeutiOn Only II Gen. Grant should become the
Republican nOineo tho need of Union soldier cadi-
date for the democracy will be the greater. Any
palsan In such event between tho military Oi
the Respective candidate may be dismissed imma-
ieria. Franklin Pierce, the military subordinate OF
tieli scott was easily elected over him. IL Is moi
up0n his military achievements that the Democratic
candidate would be rin, but his record as "a Union
soldier would represent conspicuo,sly his fidelity and
the fidelity OF his party TO a ruling principle.