The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-07-03
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of applause, and the spectators and as
sembled multitude were fairly carried
away by the sudden and genuine en-
thusiasm evoked by the magic of a
name.
There were no hired men, no ctaqusrs,
no big moneyed influence at work to
manufacture applause or create a ficti-
tious enthusiasm, and even tyro In
politics could discern that the move
ment was hearty, genuine, overwheim-
ing. 1t proved to be infectious, and
when on the second ballot the signs
grew more and more distinct that the
peerless soldier-statesman would be
nominated, a tidal wave of enthusiasm
swept over the assembly and swept
everything. before it. Then it was that
the banner of Louisiana, with Han
cocks name inscribed thereon, was
carried to the platform amid snch a
scene of rejoicing and of wild excite
ment as has rarely ever been witnessed
in any great public assemblage.
The Louisianians and Texans there
were especially radiant, for they knew
how rejoiced their people would be to
learn that the man who had after the
internecine strife evinced towards them
the magnanimity of a true hero, and
upheld the supremacy of the civil law
at time when the bayonet ruled most
of the Southern States, was at last to
be rewarded by the whole nation and
placed above all those who would have
destroyed the very fabric of tl,e Re
public and trampled the South forever
beneath the heel of military power.
1t was Just and most appropriate that
Louisiana should have cast her votes
solidly for Hancock on both ballots,
for in the heart of every Louisianian
to-day there is the most fervent and
genuine gratitude felt for the illustrious
soldier and patriotic gentleman.
The Cincinnati Enquirer, in speaking
editorially of the nomination of Han
cock, said:
"But gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr..
Dongherty, took the platform to place Gen.
Hancock In nomination. Mr.. Dougherty is
finished and eloquent speaker. He was not
known TO the majority of the delegates.
Before the convention could have known
that he was an accomplished orator, his allu-
sion to the name of Hancock ELECTED warm
applause. He only said that he bad been re-
quested to nominate q man who had been dis
tinguished on the field Of battle, and the APP
tall AalIf
the announcement from the Pennsylvania
delegation that Pennsylvania had no candi-
date. When, soon after, Mr.. Doughertv men
toned the name Of Hancock, the first genuine,
spontaneous, commanding and significant APP
plause Of the convention was heard. 1t was
not the applause of the galleries. 1t was not
the enthusiasm of the spectators. 1t was the
sentiment of many Of the dele
gates to the convention. II was exceedingly
significant. When an eloquent man from
Texas and another eloquent man from Vir-
ginia, representing the "wfid rebel music,n
seconded the nomination Of the Union soldier
who had been first among soldiers 10 maintain
civil liberty when the war was dead, the
prominent candidacy of the Union soldier be-
comes the fixed and apparently controlling
fact. Conventions are often carried by emo
tions. This seems likely to be carried by q
noble and patriotic emotion, and largely by
men from the sunny half of the land. The
friends of Gen. Hancock said that they had
no boom and no money, but they had man
and cause"
We believe there is no modern in
stance of any nominee for the Presi-
dency receiving 30 superb an ovation
from the people of all the States, and
the wave that took its rise IA the con-
vention is now rolling over the country,
force and volume as it goes.
From all sections comes the cheering
intelligence that the nominations at
Cincinnati have taken the people by
storm, and that men hitherto stannch
are declaring that, as be-
tween a corrupt republican nominee
and the gallant and nnblemished cham
pion of the democracy, they will un-
besitatingly vote for the latter.
Many and many thousands of old
soldiers who followed where Hancock
led during the war, and who know him
true to the core to the Union which he
served SO well, win pay respectful hon.
age to- their old commander in Noyem-
Der at the ballot box, while all honest
men, Of whatever party, will be con-
science-driven to his support. "The
mills of the gods grind slowly, but they
grind exceedingly fine" Who in 1868
could have dreamed that the time was
coming when the man on horseback,
the petted and caressed chieftain, the
all.powerful Grant, who endeayored to-
crush and humiliate Hancock for his
allegiance to the principles of consti-
tutional government of the people Of
Louisiana and Texas, would in ! $50 be
rebuked by the very people who APP
plauded him then, while Hancock, the
reyiled and insulted general, would be
placed in power in the White House,
or at least upon the plain and open
road to itq
Garfield having failed in procuring
the passage Of bill to reduce the num-
Der Of Major Generals, in order to get
rid of Hancock, in 1868, might now
try his hand at q bill to reduce the
nuhaber of presidential nominees. If
be could only eliminate Hancock from
this struggle lie might win the race