Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-08-06
The Democratic Letters.

General Hancock's letter of acceptance
meets with the approval of his party, and the
leading Democratic papers are zealously la
boring to awaken some enthusiasm in the
rank and file of the Democracy by tho UNI
bounded laudation which they bestow upon
it. just why this paper has called forth 30
much Democratic gush is not apparent, unless
il be that IL reads well and means nothing. II
certainly abounds in sentiment and glittering
generalitics, like n school-boys Grafton but
it most signally fails to touch upon any of the
questions at issue between the two great par
ties of the country. Possibly it may have
been framed by Gen. Hancock alone, for it
bears no evidence of craftsmanship. We are
inclined TO believe, however, from the length
of time this letter has been under considera-
ton, as well as from its contents, that it is
another dodge" of the Democratic party. In
this view the letter is an astute and cunningly-
devised piece of workmanship. 1t studiously
avoids the discussion of any and all questions
which the people have not already settled it
carefully conceals from the public, as much
as possible, the principles and platform of the
party. Upon the question of the tariff, which
the dominant wing of tho Democratic party
insisted upon having placed in its platform,
and which is Of such great importance to the
manufacturing interests Of the country, Gen.
Hancock is profoundly silent. Not a word or
suggestion is offered upon the vexed Chinese
question. In fact, every palpable issue seems
to have been purposely summed
But this letter is as remarkable in what it
does contain as in that which it avoids. Gen.
Hancock first asserts his devotion to the prin-
ciples of his party, which he AYERS he has
dlrdys herished,' and then, unmindful of the
past, approves of the constitutional amend
ments, which he and his party in 1868 declar
ed in their platform to be unconstitutional,
revolutionary and Uoid. What is said abouta
full and free ballot appears inconsistent and
out of place when we consider that the letter
is addressed to the Democratic instead of the
Republican party. Gen. Hancock and his
party know full well that without "solid
South" his election is impossible He further
knows that several southern States, on a free
ballot, would show Republican majorities, and
that in some of these, as Alabama, Arkansas
and Mississippi, the Republican party has
practically no existence to-day, because of
Democratic violence and intimidation. This
fine talk, then, about fair ballot and an hon
est count emanating from Democrat is, in
the light of history, thinner mask than the
selection of O Union soldier as q candidate of
the solid South. A brief examination Of the
points above suggested clearly shows that
Gen. Hancocks letter of acceptance was care
fully planned and prepared to deceive the
public by concealing the designs ohtho Dem
ocracy, and also for the purpose of uniting
the protectionists and free traders, the hard
and soft money factions, and all the other in
congruous elements of his party.
Concerning the letter of Mr.. English we
need say little. 1t speaks for itself 1t is
weak, coarse and violent and proves, what
the Democracy have constantly feared, that
their candidate for vice president will be too
burdensome for the party to carry.