The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-06-26
ARIsroCRAr vs.. PLEBEIAS.


Democratic RlkuEehenu.
WAsIIiXOroS, June 24.-"It will be g
contest" said an old West Pointer and
Democrat, and an army friend Of Genera
Hancock, at will be a contest between q
West Pointer and volunteer soldier; be,
tween man born In the midst Of aristo.
caticsurroundings, In family Of influence,
and a man born among the people; be.
tween a man who has been fed and
educated by the government and who
Is mere soldier, though man
OF magnificent vAlOr, and man
who has fought his way to the
front through hard knocks, and who
has now n reputation throughout the civ.
iliEed world as an eminent statesmen, as
well as brave and distinguished volun-
teer soldier, and | say this with the great
est admiration for that brave soldier and
true gentleman, Winfield Scott Hancock,
but 1t Is useless now TO deny what will be
apparent before the campaign has far ad-
yanred, that the Democrats have chosen
an AristoCrAt, and one who has always
been an army officer, 10 contest for the
great prize with man who has risen
from the humblest classes, who taught
himself TO read and write after he was six.
teen years Of age, and who has pushed
himself by his own merits TO the front
rank, both as citizen and as a states.
man"
This comment by an old army officer
upon the ticket Is the kind Of talk one
hears In confidential circles, and oil which
the people will hear much more before
the campaign is ended. The books show
little Of General HAncork's record. He
has been 90 long an olliCe-seeker that he
has been careful TO make As little record
rs possible, except in few instances,
where, after shrewd coaching by his Pres.
idential trainers, he has passed before the
country as great constitutional lawyer,
as lover OF liberty, a1d rs au Indignant
protestor against the laws which he had
been appointed 10 execute, and against
the authority which he had sworn 10
obey.
From agreat variety oisources, however,
! have been able TO gather some facts as 10
the Democratic Presidential nominee,
which have not appeared In the Demo.
cratic press, and which will not find place.
in the Democratic campaign documents.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born In
Pennsylvania of parents who, II not
wealthy, were persons OF political influ.
ence, for in those days Of slave dominion
none but sons Of rich men, or OF persons
OF considerable importance could receive
appointment at West Point.
General Hancock went with General
Grant TO Mexico, and when they returned
General Grant forever .aiterwRrd Is re-
ported TO have considered General Han
cock with extreme ayersion. II Is gener.
ally known among the old soldiers and
army men that the personal dislike OF
Garnt tolHancock practically amounted to
hatred.
After the war Of the rebellion Hancock
entered upon career as an office seeker.
Up to that time he had not developed any
ability as a constitutional lawyer, or se-
cured any reputation as political thinker.
No public utterance OF his would warrant
any conclusion that he was statesman, or
was In fact anything more than soldier,
but under Andrew johnson, Hancock ap.
peared as a politician oithe Andrew John
sou school, and from that time forward
generally obeyed the orders oihissuperiors
with protest.
One Of the first and most notable appear.
ances was when he hppeared In the South
and wrote his noted letter to Gen. Pease.
Persons thoroughly familiar with Gen.
Haucnck's movements at that time,
say that they have reason to believe that
every word Of that letter was written by
Judge Jere Black, Of whose political acu.
men It bears traces, and that most all Of
his pronunCiamentos with which be made
bids for the Democratic nomination, and
sought generally TO promote bis political
were either written by or super.
vised by that emlHent Democratic states.
man. Indeed, persons familiar with Han.
cock 8 political maueuyers express the
opinion that Judge Black, who Is now in
Europe, will take the next return steamer,
aud be here before Gen. Hancock writes
his letter Of acceptance. III. .l