The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-07-02
WI 70

VI OuClAud11, ctAlu CllCOC oil OU1ulCIS UN
the side of whom Hancock is not t.
be regarded a star of even the second
magnitude. In fact, their love for thu
Union soldier of any grade has never
been particularly marked. Why ther
did they nominate him?
Was it because he is a statesman
No one will presume to claim that he
has ever shown the least ability il
that direction.
Was it to secure some doubtful
state? New York, Indiana and Con
necticut are the only doubtful states
and the nomination of a Pennsylva.
MAN could not by any possibility give
strength to the ticket in either OF
these,
Why was he nominated in prefer
ence to Bayard, who IS statesman
from a democratic point Of view,
Mcdonald who could unquestionably
have carried Indiana, or the half dozen
other aspirants who appear to be his
superiors in every available particular +?
Why?
We answer: Because he was the
candidate of the "Southern Briga-
diers." They know their man. He
has been tried by them and not found
wanting. They insisted at the start,
and the democracy Of the north, as in
the days before the war, humbled
themselves before the ''Chivalry," and
said, Amenw He was the candidate
of the ex-Rebels, andlwhy shouldn't he
be? He had befriended them; he had
come to their rescue in the hour Of
their extremity. Sheridan, the mill
tary commander Of the District of
Louisiana and Texas, had, in accord
ance with the reconstruction acts of
Congress, issued an order prohibiting
all rebels from voting who had previ-
ously served in the United States Con-
gress, or who had Willfuly violated an
oath to support the Constitution. Pres
ident johnson deposed Sheridan for
this and other acts obnoxious to rebel
taste, and appointed Gen. Hancock in
his stead. Hancock revoked this order,
and acting upon the estate Rights"
doctrine Of his party, and particularly
that portion Of it which had lately
been in arms against the government
he directed the registers to be guild
ed by their own Interpretation Of the
laws and constitutional amendments,
and they were so guided. The rebels
voted and the niggers " were disfran-
chised. This was followed by ku-
kluxism, suppression, and peace, glori-
Gus peace, for the negro, and the union
list did not dare say his soul was his
own. There was no longer any strife,
no further necessity for the kukluX,
and so they ceased their depredations,
and were pardoned. This is the story
in brief. Is it any wonder that Loui-
siana went solid for Hancock on the
first ballot at Cincinnati? They knew
their man. Is it any wonder that Texas
supported him? He had shown him
self to be consistent democrat. Is it
any wonder that Wisconsin went over
to him in a body? The Wisconsin
democrat feels for the poor downtrod-
den Rebel Brigadier, and longs to ask
his forgiveness for ever having doubt
ed his loyalty.
Hancock was a good and a brave
general, but that is not why he was
nominated. He is, so far as we know,
man of most excellent character
but that had nothing to do with his
nomination. He did what he could
after the war was over to reinstate
rebel rule in the south, to re-establish
caste which the war had overthrown
to render the laws Of the United States
imperative in the states; to protect
the oppressor and crush the oppressed
and this is why he was nominated
He embodies all those virtues which
the 1oble southron so admires. He
has been more than a brother to the
chiyalric son Of the Sunny South, and
as a matter Of course the north want
ed him because the south did, and sc
there was great harmony, and unan
unity, and brotherly love. and senti
ment and sweetness, and Hancock was
nominated. 1t was beautiful.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTERS.