The silver state., 1880-08-02
HANCoCKs LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE,

unanimously rendered him. by the Cin-
cinnati Convention, is brief, but to the
point. The soldier doese not resort to
the tactics of the. politician and en-
deavor, by meaningless verbiage, to
conceal his ideas~of the correct manner
Of administering the affairs of the Ma
ton. His meaning cannot be- rniscon-
strued The principles enunciated by
the Convention are those which he has
cherished in the past and shall en-
deavor to maintain in, the future. The
Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth
Amendments to the Constitution, en-
bodying the results Of the war for the
Union, he holds are inviolable, and if
called to the Presidency he shall deem
it his duty to resist, with all his power,
any attempt to impair or .evade the full
force and effect of the Constitutions
which in every, article, section and
amendment is.the supreme law of the
land. As, the Constitution guarantees,
TO every State a republican forms Of
government, to every citizen freedom
Of speech and the elective franchise,
subject. to State regulations, etc., and
prohibits the. payment. of the rebel
debt. there is noroom, to doubt his po-
sition on these. matters: "The unity of
the government, which constitute US one,
people, !" he says. lis justly dear to us.
It is the, main pillar in the edifce of.
our real independence, the support
cf our peace, safety and prosperity,
and of that liberty we SO highly prize,
and intend at every hazard to pre-
serve. ~
is Hancock fought to preserve that
unity of government, thereby proving
by bis actions the sincerity of his words,
who among the 'mud throwers," who
arc endeayoring to create the false i'm
preston that he was and is rebel SYM
pathizer, did more, or as much, for the
cause. of the Union. "But. no form of
Government, he says. however care
fully devised, no principles however
sound, will protect. the rights of the
people unless the Administration is
faithful anda efficient" Neither frand
nor force must be allowed to subvert
the rights Of the people, as when fraud,
violence or incompetence controls, the
nobiest constitutions and wisest
laws arc useless. ''The bayonet,
says General. Hancock, is not fit in
stcument for collecting the votes of
freemen," and a nobler sentiment was
never uttered by soldier or statesman.
It is only by full vote, a free ballot
and a fair count that the people can
rule as. required by the theory of our
Government Take. this. foundation
away and the whole structure falls. His
idea of Civil Service reform is express
ed in few words, which embrace the
whole subject:
"Public Office is trust, not'a bounty
bestowedupon the holder. No incompe-
tcnt or. dishonest persons should ever
be intrusted with it,. or if appointed
they. should be promptly rejected. .
There is suggestion for Mr.. Hayes
to act upon in appointing Custom House
aai other officers.
General Hancock says the time has
come to enjoy the. substantial benefits
of ouSs reconciliation as one people
with. common interests. He advises
the encouragement of harmony and a
generous rivalry among our industries,
which will revive our languishing mer-
chant marine, extend our commerce
with foreign nations, assist our mer,
chants, manufacturers and producers to
develop our vast resources and increase
the happiness and prosperity OF our
people. If elected, he shall, with Di-
vine favor. labor with what ability he
Possesses to discharge hia> duties with
fidelity, according to his convictions,
and shall take. care to protect and de.
fen1- tho Union, and to see that the
laws are faithfully and, equally execu-
ted in all parts of the country alike,
and no candid man, however much he
x,oaxr 1,naa1,sa Lia elect ian will doiiLt his