New-York tribune., 1880-09-27

n N
over the attack Of Lee a Seiysersg was m limit
and the highest wave OF the Rebellion reacheo I've "''
ever after 10 recede x,, -,
But for the timely reinforcement OF webb oy
f,,snirg peveraux. Stannard and Hall. after
Hancock and Gibbon had fallen, all would nave
heen lost and go palpable was the character CT
this defence. that General Meade. the commander
inchief after careful investigation. presented 10
Webb. Medal, accompanied by the following
letter
PHILADELPHIA. Now l. ieoo'
Brra Mcjor-Generat A. S. wEBB, Q. g. Army we"
G,stRs t1 ~ The Union Leagues of Philadelphia have
fuTnshcd few copies IN bronze OF the slesat @
9nriion 9o" Of the battle OF Gertysburg In selecting
tbose 10 whom I should distribute these meuas kno"
stSer S for distinguished personal salantry on that
evcrnemorable field or for The cordial, sei
sympathy and supportso grateful Tor commauu
ING nsperai TO receive from his subordinaes Accept
therefore, the accompanying mccall: no. ony a. ev, %
memor alive OF the conspicuous part you pore III tue
great bar but evidence on my par OF
cation OF the kindly feelings ,na nave Va ,r,,v
"rs ,.s ~ GEO. g. MEADs.
'' Maior-Genera U. s. A.
At al; times and Ola all occasions. Meade
.v-a-,lcd TO Hanccck all praise for his gal
Io..rv on that field lie insisted however that all
the Generals who were in the great struggle
which won the victory, had covered them
solves with imperisLable honor; but as 1T had
heen Webls good fortune to have received and sus-
taiped the fearful assault. TO him belonged es-
pecial credit And accordingly. in the great paint
ing.by Rotherme for which Pennsylvania APP
urour,ated S25. 900, Webb is given the place OF
honor.
RoBs,SG THE MEMORY OF GENERAL MEApE.
Genera Meade died III the full belief that he had
~on In, gyeatest battle of the war:. and that
The impcrshable honor of his triumphant victory
would prove a rich inheritance for his children
lie little dreamed, that any one OF his brave asSo
.iates yould ever attempt to rob his memory of
what grateful country had so universally con-
seded. or his children of their great inheritance.
And intelligent people will Indignantly frown
anon this base attempt to sacrifice the memory OF
.be bonored dead to the ambition of a living COM
rasle or to the reckless political purposes OF the
Iraitor-rcbels whose rebellion he SO effectively
crushed at Gettysburg.
We DO not say. nor do we believe, that Hancock
has prompted this ridiculous. but wicked and I'M
princped claim seventeen years after the battle Of
Gettyshnrg: and when history. has so decidedly
awarded to the dead hero. the honors of the great
battle. But by his silence, he sanctions it, and If
he does not promptly denounce the clalm thus I'M
pudently put forward in his name and for his ben
Eft. those who like myself. honor and respect the
brave and gallant soldier, cannot fail to treat with
contempt this yielding to selfish political oXpe-
dIeney.
Most of the 500 pages of Forney's life of Hancock,
are devoted to establishing HancOck's claim to the
gratitude of the people and their support for the
Presidency on the broad ground that by his victory
of Gett ttysburg-where he was subordinate 0lilcer-
he saved Philadelphia. New ork Baltimore, and
Washington from capture and pillage lie says.
Hancock saNed-his native State from successful
invasion III 1868; by this act also, delivering the
whoc North including our commercial metropolis,
New-York and our political metropolis ashing-
TON. from Confederate invasion ~! And then, he i'm
nndently asks: " Do we think how near we
were to lose these greatest of human blessings 7
Had Hancock fallen on the Sd. as Reynolds fell on
the 1st OF July, 1863 what fate would have been
ours ?"
Is not this exceedingly ridiculous Hancock aid
fall on July 3, 1868: and what was the conse-
quencel Why lying on the ground supported by
ms friends he saw Cushing. Hall, Deveraux.
aud Stanuard rushing to the support of Webb !;
and what was more. he saw the enemy repulsed
and captured or driven in dishonor from the field,
by those gallant Generals.
In all this intend no discrcdit to Hancock; the
great Rebellion. saw no better soldier than he. In
numerous battles. but always nearly
\ always a subordinate, he golden
honors, and proved himself among the
bravest of the brave; but he did not win
the great victory ct Gettysburg; and being
the candidate for the Presidency Of the Solid
South and the ex-rebels. against whom and
their treason, he fought for four years,-wIl
constitute no claim with the people OF
the United States. for robbing the mem
DRY of Meade of the honOrs which grateful coun-
try awarded to him while living; and which, now
that he has gone to his rest. embalm his memory in
the affections of the Nation which ne served.
HAN COCKS UNgIrNEss FOR THE PRESIDENCY
But while | respect General Hancock a soldier
and man. the record or his life doesnot prove him
to possess solitary quality requisite for an in
dependent and intelligent discharge of the duties
of the Presidency. Ii had entertained any doubt
in regard 10 his un6tness for the -Magstracy,
bis letter accepting the nomination of the Demo-
cratic party would necessarily have removed such
doubt. That letter, instead of manfully setting
forth his opinions in regard to the great questions
Of the day upon the intelligent decision Of which,
the prosperity of the country. the happiness of the
peoplr and the safety of our institutions depend.-
simply proclaims that he swallows unchallenged,
the doings and the platform OF the Democracy! " L
say ditto to MI Burke" Mr.. Crugers re-
sponse from the hustings of England. when called
upon to follow the great statesman In his Declara-
ton of Principles and 80 it is with the Democratic
nominee for the Presidency. Z" / say ditto to the
Democratic platform proclaims General hancock
but he does not say. and probably does not know,
whether ho is for or against free trade or tariff
because he was equally emphatic in his endorse
ment of the Democratic platform OF 1865.
There are great and mighty issues to be deter
mined by the result of the pending Presidential
election: but General Hancock ignores them all
and while asking for the peoples suiirages, will not
and dare not give them lis opinions upon those
issues If he has any settled convictions upon the
great political questions of the day, 1t was
his duty to have proclaimed them; and
it, as is doubtless the fact. he has nc
such settled convictions in regard to public
matters then is he utterly unfit for the high station
TO which he aspires A supplemented, honest soldier