The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-07-07
FoRSEY FOR HANCOCK.
His Reasons for Giving His support to the
Democratic Ticket.


American memory; among them the attack
upon the American flag in Charleston bar
Dor on the 18th of April, 1861; the battle OF
Gettysburg on the 1st I'd and Sd days OF
July, 1868; the fall Of Richmond on the 9th
day of April, 1865, and the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln on the nth day of April,
1863 No days in human history ever
aroused more agonizipg solicitude, or closed
upon more gigantic trensactione, or opened
q wider vista of human possibilities. Each
of these events had strange and almost
providential meaning. Each possessed the
peculiar quality of conqueTing in an instant
millions Of pref udices. The ball fired at the
old fog from Charleston consolidated the
North and struck down human slavery. The
victory of Gettysburg saved the second great
city of the Union from the flames. The fall
of Rich mond was the certain rise of the
Republic, and the death OF Lincoln coDse-
Grated his great mission OF forgiveness to
all When we come to notice the annals of
our civil war, these four events, with the
emancipation of the slaves on the LIST OF
january. 1868 will be to the historian like
so many planets shedding light on all other
objects and marshalliDg the way TO the fins
lesson aud duty OF the patriot. Each was a
revolution ia itself, affecting the rsmotest
interests and leaving all men In a new con-
diiiOn of thought and Self-exami GatiOn.
But mons of these tragedies wrought a
deeper sensation or gave birth to more
lasting gratitude than the battle OF Gettys-
burg 1868. Here, at least, is one of those
occurrences that can not be easily forgotten
The human race lie prone 70 forget One
philosopher says that ingratituds Is the
badge of all our tribe; but like ali maxims
it is pest proved by the exceptions. In this
instance We can not il we would, and, thank
God, we would not IL wa could blot out
what that defeat of the CoDfederstes did for
the city of Philadelphia. Happily it is not
SO long ago as to have faded out of our
minds lie is only seventeen years since,
and it was a day OF such sharp sgony Rnd
such universal terror, and the victory was
snch an unspeskable relief that even the
children, now grown to. men and women,
think Of il as gratefully as the middle-aged
and the grandmothers and grandfathers. Ii
was the single instance II which the fiery
blast of war came close to a great Northern
metropolis. The Confederates advanced in
tremendous force Led by their beloved
General Lee and by his chosen iieutenants,
they seemed resolved to make q last stand in
the rich valleys of Franklin and Adams
choosing, IS if by instinct, the regions called
after two OF the moss precious names in
American history. Grant was engaged at
the same moment winding his fatal coils
around the Southern city Of Vicksourg; but
the point most vital to all at that supreme
moment was the field OF Gettysburg.
What Philadelphia can ever forget the
suspense of those July days? There was not
a household that did not throb and thrill be-
tween hope and fear. There were over 100,-
coo men, thousands OF them from Philadel-
phia and the neighboring towns, ard there
was not family that did not tremble fer it's
loved ones engaged in that fatal strife, or
that did not shudder at the advance of the
foe who seemed so near, or that did not
fency in that advance the loss OF the holy
cause of the Union.
On the morning of the Fourth OF July,
1868, was at the Union League. then on
Chestnut street, near Eleventh, Phlladel-
phiR, in the massive building now upied
by the family of the beloved Matthew Bald
win. The rooms aud gardens OF the lovely
mansion were filled to OVERLOOKING with pale,
anxious men, the streets were full of
silent, waiting crowd; the sidewalks and
windows were crowded with women; even
the children were swed into silence as their
elders discussed in whispers the possibilities
of the dreadful fight in the green valleys of
the Cumberland. Reynolds had been killed
on the "a OF July, along with thousands Of
others, and his brother, James L.. came
from Lancaster, in this State, bowed down
with terror sc the sacrifice. and humble
women were sobbing over the dispatches
already recording their losses Ii was
day of tears and despair bad been pres
ent at other scenes of sorrow. but nothing
like this Fourth of July. 1868. The Com
mgndant OF this Department was General J.
A. ]. Dana, and his Office was in Girard
street. near Twelfth, and held a position
as a consulting member OF his staff About
noon Of that Saturday | saw his lall form
crossing Chestnut street to the League, and
when his eye caught mine, / saw he was IL
tears. he handed me dispatch from Gen
eral Meade, just received. L opened and
tried 10 read il, but could not 1 saw
enough TO feel that We were saved. And
soon the good news became universal.
Then all hearts exploded with JOY over the
Ill T. -Fr,l -. - kIxak
sudden change from grief TO gratitude.
Some shed tears; some shouted in 10y; old
foes became friends, and even inidels joined
in the spontaneous prayers of the preachers.
Robert Browning's thrilling poem describ-
ing rbe man who carried the good news 70
Client" which broke the siege and filled the
souls of the Flemish with deep thanks
giving to God, might have been paraphrased
in honor of the messenger who brought
such happiness TO oppressed and terrified
and despairing Philadelphia.
Who won that great fight? Who saved
Philadel phia from fire and spoil2 Who
drove back the enemy and saved US from
fate OF which the burning OF Chsmbersburg
and Carlisle and the forced contributions
upon York were intended to be grim prepar-
tiops? a brave army OF patriotic citizens,
led by three Pennsylvania Generals-George
Gordon Meade, of Philadelphia; John Full
ton REYNOLDS, OF Lancaster, and Winfield
Reynolds are both gone. Meade died on the
9th of November, 1872, in the house pre-
sented to his wife by the people OF Phlladel-
phia, afierwsrd supplemented by cOntribu-
uon of $1,000 from the same source. Rey-
nclds was killed in battle on the I'd of July,
and is buried at Lancaster. Hancock is to-
day the Democratic candidate for resident
of the United States.
do not stop to debate the other consider
atoms that enter into this vital issue; the
grave considerations that demand the release
Of my dear native State from the desperate
men who in the last ten years have coldIy
crushed out the pride of our people and
placed under the iron heel of brutal inferi-
ority the hopes Of our youth and manhood,
making of this fair Commonwealth q vast
political Golgotha. and of our proud oity OF
Philadelphls an offensive roost for the most
desperate and vulgar mercenaries since the
black days of Tweed and Tammany In New
York. / do not stop to debate these consid
erations now. II is not the time. But this
il the time to open to the common mind our