The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-10-14
MisCel ellameut&s.
GEN. SlCKLES ON HANCOCK
A Clear Presentation of the Issues Of
the CapVass-The Southern
Claims BugabOO.
IA Fifth Ave. N. Y. Oct. 6 1880

- = AANh @A'O'i Az y wv W AOOOs
W. A. Fowler, E-q,, Chairman Executive
Committee, st. James Hotel.
Dear Sir: Business engagements that
cannot be deferred will occupy my time
during the next fortnight, so that l am
unable to make such appointments for
public meetings as you propose. My i'm
pressions about the present canvass have
been freely expressed to my friends and
may be summed up in few paragraphs.
l have always felt that Whenever the
Democratic party-North and South
frankly accepted the results of the war
and nominated a candidate for President
who was firm and steady friend of the
Union throughout the struggle, l could
then, as war Democrat, honorably re-
sumo my former political relations. The
nomination OF Hancock, one of the most
distinguished leaders of the Union ar.
mics; his affirmation of the inViolabili.
of the war amendments to the Constitu-
ton his denunCiation of the unlawful.
ness of all reClamations set up by those
who took part in the rebellion; the gen
eral favor his nomination has received
in the Southern States-the solid" sup.
port of the South given to a Union SOL
dier-remove the cause which have for
some time alienated me from my old
political associates. shall Cheerfully
unite with them now to promote the
election of their worthy candidate.
The people do not sympathize with
the struggle of the leaders of the Re-
publican party to perpetuate their power.
The earnestness of Lincoln, the strength
Of Seward, the enthusiasm of Sumner,
the energy of Stanton are followed by
the rivalries, jealousies and intrigues ex
hibited in the Chicago Convention. TIL
patriotic zeal which animated these
great men of the Republican party of the
past seemed to have degenerated in their
successors to mere strife for patronage
and place, and days were spent in bitter
contention about candidates without pre-
senting to the country any Issue having
a practical bearing on its welfare. The
paramount question to be settled by the
leaders atIChicago seemed to be the Or
der of their succession to the Presidency.
1t is desirable that the inevitable
change in the political control of the
Government, which is no doubt immi
nent, shall take place under safe con-
ditions. 1t is not to be supposed that
any party can hold power indefinitely.
The examples Of our own and of other
countries show that an alienation of
parties every few years is to be anticipa-
ted, and experience proves three period
ical transitions to be wholesome and
useful. Democratic control can be safely
tried with Hancock. He will give us all
the advantages without any of the risks
of a change of Administration.
Republicans and Democrats who uni.
ted with so much satisfaction in electing
General Grant do not seriously doubt the
fitness of soldier to fill the Presidential
chair The supporters of General Hayes
and the party hat has now nominated
General Garfield and General Arthur
must have confidence in military men,
unless it be suggested that neither Gar
field nor Arthur have seen enough serv'
ice to imperil our institutions by their
material proclivities, The country was
never more fortunate than in the election
of General Jackson, the champion of the
Uuion and of sound currency and of
the independence of the Government
from corporations, and who raised our
young republic to the highest plane of
national dignity and strength. Grant
and Hayes and Garfield belonged to the
gallant armies of the West. 1t is time
that the army of the PotomaC-the vic.
tors of Antietam, Gettysburg, Spottsyl-
vania and Richmond-shouldb be remem.
bered in the person of one Of its greatest
commanders.
Five million votes will be cast for
General Hancock. He will have the
suifrages of considerable and infuen
tial part of the population of every State
in the Union. And although the greater
portion of his votes will come from the
North and East and West it will repre-
sent in the aggregate every section and
interest of a reunited country as they
have not been represented by any Exec
utive since the war. all parts of the
Union should share the prosperity we
now enjoy. There is no doubt that the
political agitation in the South, growing
out of apprehended interference in their
local government, and absorbing the at
tention of the Southern people during
the past fifteen years, has seriously re-
tsrded Improvement in their condition.
all such fears would be tranquiiz9d by
four years of HauCoCk's conservative ad
ministration, and a general revival of
enterprise, activity and thrift would be
seen throughout the new South-the
South of l880-greatly to the advantage
of the whole country.
The North means to hold fast to the
results of the war. These are embodied
IA the recent amendments to the Con
stitution. General Hancock declares
them to be inviolable. The South says,
Amen. So be it. Let us make this a
compact by eleCting Hancock and so put
an end to all further controversy about
the fundamental questions settled by the
war of secession. Let the decree he
written ia HanCock's own works
"When rebellion was crushed the heresy
of secession in every form and in every
incident went down forever. 1t is a
thing of the dead past"
Neither party proposes any essential
modification Of the existing laws which
have any relation to our present prosper
ity. In the manufacturing States both
parties sustain protective tariff Lou.
isians has her sugar interests, Vermont
and CnliEnrnin thair rrnnl lnnr1.in md