Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-09
HANCOCK.
Not the Man for Leader.
Chicago Times DEM June IS.

Chicago Times (Dem.) June IS.
Like the Chicago convention. the
CINCINNATI convention, in sudden ont
break of spontaneity, has taken itself
and the country by surprise. The nom
lnatlon OF General Hancock was neither
expected nor intended. Like the nomi-
nation OF Garfield, it was made with
out Fermentation or deliberation. AL
SO IKE the nomination of Garfield If
Is perhaps more commendabIe on
come than would have resulted from
oeHberate party selection. 1t is, at all
events, fortunate escape from TiIden
upon which the party is to be congrat,
ulated.
But it is no. nomination that can
De said to fulfill the party's opportunity.
1t never had more favorable opnortn-
nifty to bring to the front new political
leader; one who would give promise of
leading the party out of the old political
graveyard and onward to a new and
hopeful future of political ACTIVITY.
General Hancock has furnished no
evidence OF good capacity for political
leadership. As the Times said Of him
he is nothing but a soldier.
and not very brilliant one at that.
Educated for the profession of arms. he
has always pursued that profession. and
rose by personal gallantry during the
civil war to the rank of major general
though he never held an independent
command, and never gained victory.
Ii was when commander of the military
district OF New Orleans, in 1867. that
he chiefly gained public note by the
tenor OF his military orders, declaring
that the true function of the military
after armed rebellion had been put down.
was to uphold the civil power in the
normal exercise of its functions. This
he said would be the guiding principle
OF his action !; but he at the same time
announced that any forcibIe obstruction
of the laws would be instantly SUD-
pressed by arms" These orders were
put forth with good deal of declam-
atory flourish about g free institutions :"
and the great principles of American
liberty" style of superfuous magnilo-
quence that greatly tickled the elusive
land led them to regard Gen
eral Hancock as Northern man with
Southern ideas" Ever since, the South
ern politicians have been fayorablv in
c1ned toward him as presidential
possibility circumstance not ikelyto
his candidacy at the North.
His rame was brought before the con-
vent1on Of 1883 but the objection of
presenting man who was nothing but
a soldier in opposition to one who,
though also nothing but soldier, was
more famous one, caused it to be received
with little favor. 1t was then believed
to be the tue policy of the larty to
present an eminent civilian, of known
for political leadership. The
foundation of that belief was good in
1868, and is equally good now. If the
party at Cincinnati had fulfilled its op-
por5unity, it would have chosen for it's
leader statesman, not mere soldier.
AS regards the military record of the
two men, General Hancock and Mr.. Gar
field may be regarded as standing on
the same platform. Their military rec-
ords are perhaps equally good. But
while one stands on nothing but his
military record, the other has gained
his widest repute as one of the foremost
the ablest of our living states
men. The nomination OF a SOLDIER with
a good war record, whose fidelity to the
National cause is unsssailable, will 90
far to suppress any bloody-shirt Char
acter CT the canvass. The rejection of
Mr.. Tilden takes the hypocritlcaI fraud
issue" out of the combat. What re-
mains There remain the important
political questions that have been raised
by the action, or attempted reaction.