The daily gazette., 1880-08-03
From the Philadelphia Times. Qnd.)
A Lucky Campaign Document

The full text of General Hancock's
letter to General Sherman in 1915, was
printed yesterday in the Sunday edition
Of the Times, but we reprint it entire
this morning for the benefit Of the thou
sands of readers who receive only the
regular daily issue.
"This letter will be read and studied
with special interest by Intelligent citi-
zens of all parties. 1t will command
attention not only because it relates to
an extraordinary event in the history of
the Republic, but because 1t must be &C.
cepted as the free, unbridled, heartfelt
expression of a soldier writing in the
confidence and trusted friendship to his
superior officer, who had, in like conf
dence and freedom, sought the judgment
of his subordinate.
1t was written when no politicians
buzzed about the soldier to halt his con-
victions or qualify his expressions; when,
as the author said in an interview for
leading journal, he was Gin Western
town on private business, with no sec
retary or member of any staff with me.
l wrote frankly and with no restraint"
The intrinsic value of the letter con-
sists in the fact that it was not written
for the public eye, and that it gives free
expression to the settled conviction of
the writer. 1t is emphatically his own
production, and not only the product of
his own pen, but it is an honest declara-
tion Of his duty as asoldier and citizen
In an emergency that made politicians
of all sides quake with fear. Without
intending to do aught else than define
his duty as o military commander, the
obedient servant of the civil law, he has
displayed the soundest and broadest
craftsmanship, and his confidential ut
terance to his chief, that is mingled with
his home affairs, and home improvements
aud home enjoymeDts, will be quoted
henceforth by all parties, as the clearest
definition of the civil and military pow
ers of the government in case of con-
flicting authority that has emanated from
either field or FORUM
1t is most fortunate for General Han
cock and equally fortunate for the
country, that partisan organs have so
distorted this letter as to make its pub
lication a public necessity. That it
will be campaign document of price
less advantage to General Hancock, is
his Just advantage, for he merits all the
considerate approval that such letter
must command from both friend and
foe; but the great benefit of the publica-
t on will be to the country, as chart
for the people and fol dlsputing parti-
sans in future conflicts. The whole
theory of our free government is
summed up by General Hancock in the
f)llowing brief paragraph:
"The army should have nothing to do
with the selection or Inauguration of
Presidents. The people elect the Presi-
dent. The Congress declares in joint
session who he is. We of the army
have only to obey his mandates and are
protected in so doing only so far as they
may be lawful"
Politicians may bubble and orgai s
may defame, but the people of every
faith believe in law and order and
popular supremacy and the subordina-
tion of the military to the civil power;
and they will rejoice, regardless Of their
purpose to favor or oppose General
| Hancockis election to the Presidency
that he has thus bravely put our reck-
less politicians to shame by his clear and
statesmanlike elucidation of the rights
and duties of our civil and military
rulers.
There will be no more taunting in
ouiries about the authors of Genera
Hancock's orders or letters. 1t will no