Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-08
HENDRICKS on HANCOCK.
why THE GREAT GENERAL SHOULD AND WILL
BE ELECTED.

WHY THE GREAT GENERAL SHOULD AND WILL
BE ELECTED.
From Hendricks indianapolis Speech
We have presented to us n ticket for
our consideration and our support.
That ticket was made last week at
Cincinnati, and the question is, shall it
be elected? [Cries of "Yes, yes
OF the result | say to you tonight !
have no doubt that General Winfield
Scott Hancock and William II. Eng
lish will be elected. [ [Applause.l Why,
if | had n doubt before | could have
none now, when | see this vast crowd
of ladies and gentlemen here TO attest
their appreciation Of the strength and
excellence of that ticket. General
Hancock is distinguished in war rs he
is in peace. As n warrior he was dis
tinguished in Mexico; as a command
or he was distinguished in the late
war Mo man stands above him as a
military chieftain, and when the war
was over, and the administration sent
him down To New Orleans in command
of Louisiana and Texas, he attested his
qualifications as civil ruler.
Thinking men-I dare say many of
you have thought that the contest for
free elections was made first at the ex-
ira session Of Congress last year. In
that you are mistaken. The fight for
free elections is more than r century
old among English-speaking people,
but in the politics Of this country it is
older than the extra session. 1t is
found for the first time in Louisiana
and Texas, when General Hancock
made the contest for free elections.
[Applause. In his order issued in
1867 he declared the military power
in Texas and in Louisiana should not
at all interfere with the elections, and
went further and directed that no
soldier should approach the voting
place unless to exercise the lawful
right to vote himself (applause), and
when any Republican gentleman asks
me why | support Winfield 5. Han
cock, he being military man, say
that in the civil government that he
maintained in Louisiana and in Texas
he did assert those principles which
will preserve the whole country.
Ny fellow-citizens, this election is a
very important one. Here in Indiana
we are an October State, as it is called.
We are to vote first in October, Indi-
ana and Ohio also. and it is of prime
importance that Indiana shall speak
boldly, plainly, strongly in October, so
that all the other States that are to
follow in November may know how
the freemen stand in this contest. We
have got to fight the battle first we
have got TO meet the officers of this
administration. Under the pretence
that it will not allow its officers to in
terfcre in political affairs it does most
corruptly-I believe more corruptly
than any administration the country
has ever known-interfere with all its
ofiice-holding army.
That army is now a hundred thou
sand strong-a hundred thousand par
tisans under pay. Already they have
been called upon to contribute their
SO a piece; already this order has
gone forth to contribute this enormous
sum of money When it is known
that the Presidential election does turn
or is TO turn upon the pivotal State
Indiana, how much of that money is
to come here to corrupt our free elec-
tions1 Oh trust to you, men.
You have stood up in the spirit of
persecution when they have prevented
our civil and business relations because
of your Democracy. You have stood
when soldiers were here to threaten
and disturb you, and now, when they
send money to influence the election
in Indiana, | trust, with the greatest
confidence, that we will maintain a
pure election and the supremacy of
the Democratic party.
Shortly after General Hancock is.
sued these orders in the name Of pop.
ular liberty they turned him out of
command, Supplied his place with