The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-16
THE WAYS OF DEMOCRACY.
ted---His "Statesmanship'' at New
Orleans.


Those persons who are surprised that
the Democratic party should nominate
candidate for the presidency who fought
on the Union side in the war against
rebellion are entirely without justifica;
ton.
Since it nominated and supported
Horace Greeley no one has right to be
surprised ut anything it may do, unless
it should be something indicative of
higher aim than mere party success and
the possession of power and patronage.
1t has always been ready enough, in
the northern states, to nominate union
soldiers as candidates for governors and
members Of congress, when it could find
such willing to wear its badge and serve
its ends. In the south, where it is solid,
it promotes only those. who fought
against the union. It now dominates
for the presidency q union and not q
rebel soldier. because it must have some
in the rebellion or be defeated, and for
no other reason. It admires Wade
Hampton more than Hancock, but it
don't think Wade Hampton would be as
strong candidate as Hancock in Indi-
ana.
No doubt the members of the party
feel keenly ut times the awkwardness Of
the situation in supporting union
soldier, even though he be Of the plant
kind who are ready to lend themselves to
the service of the party. This WAS mani
fest at the Democratic ratification meet
ing, Saturday evening. Hon. John w.
Gary attempted to eulOgiZe Hancock for
his military exploits. 1t was fearfully
cold-blooded style of OratOry. The
speaker acted as If he wanted to sit down
and rest at the end CT every sentence.
When he faltered out something about
Hancock's gallantry in Fighting our
enemies"
"There was silence deep as death,
Aud the boldest held his breath
For time"
The thought doubtless flashed across
the mind of every Democrat present that
those thus stigmatized az "our enemies 4"
were to man good Democrats, fighting
for the Democratic principle of state
sovereignty, and that, without their
votes this year, Hancock has no more
chance of an election than he has of
being translated like Enoch. Instead of
applause there was an embarrassing
hush, and Mr.. Cary looked as if he
wished he hadn't said it.
In nominating Union soldier, how
ever. the Democratic leaders acted with
discrimination. They have kept more
carefully i'll mind the events of dozen
or more years ago than have the mass of
the people. While the multitude have
forgotten, the old Bourbons cherish the
memory of Hancock's career in Louisi-
ana in 1867 and 1868. 1t is not Hancock
the soldier whom they esteem, but Han
cock the instrument by which President
johnson sought to carry out his policy
and thwart the reconstruction measures
of congress-. The rebel element in
Louisiana hoped to secure recognition
for the state rs restored to its normal
relations in the Union without ratifying
the constitutional amendments. There
had been a reign of terror in New Or
leans. A mob of white Democrats in
July, 1866, had assailed the members of
the state constitutional convention, and
some forty Republicans, white and black,
We're killed outright, and about hun
dred and fifty wounded. A period of
turbulence followed. Gen. Sheridan
was in command in the department., and
did what was possible to restore and
maintain peace. The courts were in the
hands of the disloyal class. There was
no justice for Republicans and Radicals,
no punishment for Outrages committed
upon them 10y Democrats. Such pro-
lection rs was extended to them came
from the military authorities. Then
Gen. Sheridan was removed by President
johnson, and Gen. Hancock sent to New
Orleans. No exception was taken by
Republicans to his first order, now
quoted with 80 much effusiveness by his
present supporters, with its common
places about the right of trial
by jury, the habeas corpus, free
dom of speech and security
of person and property. 1t was only
when they discovered thht under Gen.
Hancock's supervision these privileges
We're to he confined to white men Of
rebel and Democratic antecedents, and
when Gen. Hancock, in a subse-
quent order, substantially denied the
right of congress to any voice in the re-
construction of the state government,
that Republicans commenced to COM
plain. This was the craftsmanship
which his Democratic friends SO much
commend. 1t then gave rise to lauda-
tory message to congress, of an extraor-
binary character, from President Johnson,
and a resolution of thanks from Mr..
Eldredge, then in congress from this
state. No more pungent criticism of
the strange and monstrous notion, avowed
by Gen. Hancock, that the accidental
president should automatically deter
mine the conditions of reconstruction, III
opposition to the views of the represent
tatives Of thepeople, can be found than is
contained In the speeches Of Lyman
Trumbull, then a senator, and now the
Democratic candidate for governor of
Illinois. 1t was Mt the time understood
that Gen. Hancock was IN aspirant for
the Democratic nomination for presi-
dent, in the convention that was to meet
a few months later, and his course at
New Orleans was regarded as the bid of
an ambitious candidate for votes. But
the Democratic party was then more
arrogant and hopeful than now; it would
not stOop to try to conquer with Union
soldier; Hancock received few votes,
but was dropped in favor of an old party
politician who had presided over the
convention that proclaimed the
war for the maintenance of the
Union a failure. But his alac-
rty to serve the purposes of the
Bourbon politicians was remembered,
and hence, when it was deemed policy to
nominate soldier, they naturally
turned to Hancock.
In evidence that this view of Gen.
HancOck's course at New Orleans is not
of recent date, nor assumed in cOnse-
quence of his nomination at Cincinnati,
We reproduce the following editorial
article from the Eeening Wisconsin, of
January 9th, 1868;
GEN, HANCOCK IN LOUISIANA,
Gen. Hancock has issued another order which
looks as if he had taken the presidential hook
thrown out to him by President johnson. Ho
appears now to be in the field for the presidency
Az he never had the remotest probability of
securing presidential nomination from the
loyal men Of the nation, he must turn his face
toward the southern rebels and the northern
cdpperheads. He has therefore, issued annth-
er order directing that all tho military force In
his department Of Louisiana and Tex
az shall carry out the decisions of
the rebel courts and juries. This
is going back nearly to the old status of slavery
for, as most Of these courts and jurics hold that
the cniored people are not legally emancipated,
n all questions which affect their property,
their rights and their freedom, the decisiaps
will be according to the old laws of Louisiana.
Under this order of Gen. Hancock, if it should
be carried out to its full extent virtual slavery
Of the cOlored race would be re-establshed in
the department If the gulf,
Gen. Hancock has made magnificent plunge
info Nil mn all
green and Shiny, suitable for a copperhead and
ODDer-faHtened candidate for the i,residency