The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-08-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Two Remarkable Letters--Repub-
licans Invoke EpistOlary Dyna-
mite--Mr. Garfield Morally
Oblique,buta q Great Man?
From our Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, d. c., August Z, 1880.
1t is not too much 10 say that. the ap-
pearance OF Gen. Hancock's letter of
acceptance, followed BY the publication
of his remarkable letter to Gen. Sher-
man, has produced feeling OF depres-
sion, almos, of despair, among the thou
sands of office holders here, whose bread
and butter depend upon his defeat. Re,
pnblicans had begun to recover from the
shock Of what all admitted was singu-
larly strong and wise nomination Their
splendid organization, if not proof
against defeat, was, at least. proof against
complete rout in the beginning of the
campaign. Their houndless resources,
used effectively, had stimulated the most
faint-hearted, If not with confidence, at
last with hop,. An improved action
was beginning to be felt in the relubri-
Gated machine. But to have their own
guns captured and turned against them
would have been too much for the stead
iest discipline and most splendid mo-
rale.
The chiefest danger to Democratic
success now, is that the party will trust
too much to the invulnerability OF their
leader, Gen. Hancock's unimpeachable
record in war aud in peace, his undoubt
ed ability, which makes him, even in a
private. letter discussing national affairs
in a most critical period, talk with the
direct simplicity of soldier and the
profound insight Of a states man, has 81.
lenced the argument that he was'a mill
tary man merely, and unflted.te meas
ure and weigh the great questions that
modern civilization propounds to execu-
tive craftsmanship. That argument was
futile against Giant. even after he had
justified Is by the most deplorable Presi-
Dental term in our history, and those
who have been using it with inane itera-
ton against Hancock were the very per-
sons whom neither the theory nor the
practlce could convince in two terms OF
Grant. but who endeavored to give him
third term. ...4-.
That Gen. Garfield is morally oblique
the Credit Mobilier and DeGolyer epi-
sode, but especially the Electoral Com
mission history. show. have been Ia
ken to task for denying. In former let.
ter, that he was a man Of great intellect.
We Judge intellects by comparison.
have seen and heard the Republican can
didate in various situations during the
last seven years. I have also had an op.
portunity to compare him with other
men who have achieved greatness, so
called, like Thurman ;or been born great,
like Don Cameron; or have had great
ness forced upon them, like Acklen,
Spencer and Patterson, OF the Solid
South. Compared with the latter three
I think Garfield is q great man, but as
compared with Thurman, Gladstone and
Gambetta, he is like the combined little.
ness of Acklen, Spencer and Patterson.
But my assertion proves nothing. Well,
as Carlye said Of the admirers of a great
novelist, "Those to whom he is great
may, with all reverence, think him 80"
His ablest apologist, the New York Ma
ton, was open in its contempt Of the
weakness of his letter Of acceptance
No one has ever sapposed that the fraud.
ulent Executive was great man, and
yet his letter OF acceptance vas phal-
AJAX of principles, an array OF splendid
promises, and a much more effective doc.
ument than anything Garfield has uttered
or is capsule OF uttering.