The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-24

/ (Concluded from second page.)
the subject upon which they act, aud BY
legislation not only in conflict with the
letter OF the constitution, but with its
spirit and the genius of all our political
institutions, both local and general. 7Es
sEYMoUR's EULoGY ON HANCOCK.
! Turn from Mr.. Garfeld's letter of
acceptance to that of General Hancock.
He bows to the DEGREES of the constitu-
ton. lie accepts its teachings; he is
i'm bued with its faith; its terms TO him
are sacred: his earnestnass chimes out in
every line. and when he swears to support
| the constitution In its letter and spirit we
know he means to do so. Those who
| formed IL not only choose fitting words to
| tell its meaning. but patriotism, like
| religion. has it's symbols. No flag which
floats in the wind Of heaven tells SO much
| as ours of the history and character of the
government it represents. Its stripes
| recall the names of the states which
fought the battle which gave us liberty, and
which crowned their glorious work By form
ing our Union. The states are numberedby
the stars which glitter upon its blue field
He who would strike one star from its
place, or who would blend or blur these
sym bols 30 that they would tell only of
I01SD~AS pSLfoHRh1A1f Iec tasCuS tIGAsUu IN
his heart. 81 sF
We are asked why We took soldier for
our standard bearer2 To whom can we |
lntrust it with more safety than to one |
who has had its tdeep and grand signifi. |
canoe burnt into his very being By thei
fires of battle ields2
There is not color upon its folds there I
is not stripe upon its emblazonry, there |
- not star upon its azure ground that
has not been sacred to him. The appeal
which drew him and his fellow soldiers
from their homes to the battle field was to
rally around the stars and stripes and to
uphold the Union. They will never make
our Tag an unmeaning thing; they will see
to 1t that it remains true emblem of the
spirit OF our constitution. By che peoples
vote General Hancock will bear this stan
dard on to victory in this contest, rs he
has heretofore done on the bloody fields OF
battle. He has learned from it the grand |;
purposes of the constitution by teachings
amid all the solemn lessons of war, by the Ii
Inspirations OF the battle field by the sad
and solemn aspects of the blood-stained
earth and the dying groans OF men when
The struggle has ended. He has learned
tho great lessons OF statesmanship NOT
amid scenes OF party strife, not in an I
atmosphere furnished By personal anbi.
ion or scheme of plumber, but where
w asbington and Jefferson learned the
esson of duty to their country and of
obedience to its laws and constitution. Iii
s now charged by our opponents that we J
ire inconsistent when We place soldier at
he head OF the government. The propri- n
IT. OF doing this depends upon the char
loter OF the mao and the nature oil. the
erTice upon WHICH he has been engaged. I
The general who has fought only for vic
DRY or conquest. or has been engaged t
,nly TO promote schemes of ambition or a
crafty feelings of hate, has been taught a
lpon the battle field only lessons of force t
md violence. But those who have dared
be perils Of war TO free their country of
oppression, to gain fer it an independent
government. to resist hostile inyas.ons or | 4
o uphold it against resistance to its right
la authority, have their minds filled with
tjects Instructive, ennohling and patri-
tie.
With intellects quiekened by all the i
larger aad eKcitements OF the strife they ,
ce moro clearly than other men the
aine of obedience to laws and the duty
{ sacrificing all things for their eountry's
God. 1t was in ithis school that Wash
1gton learned the grand duty of laying
own his sword and retireing TO private
~ NuSU tnS WCIta thought he would
laIEn crown as his reward This act.
D constantly referred to in other lands as
ur own, gave him his Immortality.
Il was in the same school, under ike ~
that in the hour Of liotoryI
ackscn curbed and restrained his feryI
pirit and submitted TO injustice and indig- q
ity because it was imposed upon him by Is
legal tribunal IL
IF called to the Presidency | should a
Gem it my duty to resIst With all my II
over. sDg attempt to impair or evade the
Ill force aud effect OF the consitItutio. !
hich, Ia every article, section and amen5.
lent.sis the supreme Jaw of the land. .
NFIELD SCeTT HANCOCK. "
he who has learned to obey rightfail
minority has bean taught the great lesson F
hioh fits him TO exercise Authority He =
hy reverence the laws of his country is a,
le right man to administer them, He 10
no has proved his devotion to it's inter
'ts is the one TO whom we can most safely
ust the work of guarding and protecting
lem. Therefore we placed him in nom
lation, and go into this contest with the !
run faith that we shall elevate him 10 the
asitlon of President of these United
tates Icf