The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-06
The South and General Hancock.

The South and General Hancock
Some OF the Republican papers profess
,urprise at the enthusiasm with when tue
nomination OF General HANCOCK has heen
received by the people OF the southern
States. who not many years ago were
boldly confronting him and his comma"u
ON the field OF battle. II should not ne
matter OF surprise to any mind rigb''y co"'
s,ituted aud alive to the instincts OF nonor'
When that iavorite son OF Nirgih'a, "''
J,ux w DASrgr, himself crippled, anu
l,.n SIR I,xcrLor, Scared with WOUNDS
On honorable battle, arose in tue Cinc'n-
na,i Convention TO second the noth'ha''o"
., General HANCOCK, his eloquent ana ring
inc words q, praise and commendation, ana
Of endorsement and trustiuiness oi '"o
Generals high character, were nut respon-
sive 10 the feelings, the wishes, the cohu-
denee OF the surviving soldiers oil the Con-
fcderate army. who had had opportunities
10 know his high, manly and chiValrlc
qualities. They had met him at Get'yS-
burg, at the Wilderness, ut Spo'>y'"'
mia Courthouse. and at Cola harooi'
and everywhere they had "met foeman
worthy Of their steel" Conscious OF their
own weI.earned character, and OF having
exhibited during the four years engage
men,s courtesy, courage ana nerOlsh
that have carried their name and EXPLOITS
in honor through the world, they have no
Mace for envy. for the petty iealon>ies OF
icnoble minds; and now that the cannon
and sword are laid aside. and peace WIN
honor has been restored, and we nave
pledged ourselves 10 the union OF tue
States and the preservation OF the kepuo-
lie, they gladly recognize In thelr own
ranks or I'm the ranks OF the opposing
lecions all that is true. brave, grand, ana
heroic. Prominent among the chief OF
these we recognize General HANCOCK who
nj Gettysburg grasped the military sltua'
ton with quickness that was Napo'eon'c'
and who bv the means Of that position was
enabled to hold in check the Hover OF
General LEES army. In every prominent
battle OF the war he appears to have been
conspicuous for his ability and good leader
ship. Surely this should win the applause
OF our army. who could well afford to lay
down with their arms all hatred and AMI
mostly when they had won by their courage
and consiancy the terms accorded TO the
Confederate army at AppOmattoX Court
bouse. With that army envy and jealousy
never had place. 1t was TOO surely pos
sessed OF the fame OF LEE and JACKSON TO
fear that their names would fade by con-
parison with any rival. And going back
into the family OF States, they felt assured
that the heroism exhibited by either army
was the common heritage OF The whole
that we should prize the good and reject
the bad: elevate the noble and reject the
ignoble; and that the test Of character ana
fame would he in having acted wellthe part
assigned in each res pectiye position.
Unbappily ior many years the promise OF
reconciliation and honorable peace was
rudely disturbed and broken by the >tay-at.
home malignants OF the North who chose TO
keep alive ieaIousies and heartburninSS and
TO rule the South through policy the on
spring OF hate, greed, and envy. Again we
saw General HANCOCK cndeayOrng TO calm
and reassure the whole country. lavested
with command in LOuisians, he declared
that peace had been established, and that in
peace the military must be Subservlent to
the civil power; aud he accompanied that
declaration with STATE paper so re-
plete with craftsmanship and sound
political principles a to attract the at
tention OF the world. 1t spans the political
horizon as the rainbow OF promise as set In
the heavens to give promise and assurance
OF peace after the darkest storm. The South
was now attracted to General HANCOCK a.
q statesman who, il not ver>ed in congress
sional or political wrangliug, had those
qualities that constitute in any age or cline
the true statesman. the hero that history
delights TO honor. 1t has been well said
that craftsmanship is founded on good COM
mon sense, magnanimity, and an entire de-
sire to do right. When these qualities are
united in one man, and he is called on to
decide on important measures, his very in
slincs will guide him Alright. They are to
him angel whispers-the voice OF God
himself. Following them, he cannot go
wrong.
With these qualities OF the efficient and
successful soldier and statesman General
HANCOCK has exhibited no parade or Osten.
tatious display. He did not yaunt himself
In Richmond after its fall at the head Of his
conquering army. He has not accepted do
nations OF fortune from private hands,
given under the pre,ence that they were the
offerings Of grateful country which he had
saved. He has not greedily sought for the
bonors or the notorietes OF public recep'
lions, with banners, drums, speaking, mu-
sic, aud ieasling ut every city in the Union.
He could we'll say that he had not served
his country for money and such honors as
these. The whole country will unite to do
him honor; and North and South, recOg-
niziDg his signal merit in war and in peace,
his public and private record, his lofty and
republican simplicity OF character and de-
pertinent. haillng his nomination with
heartfelt joy, will with an enthusiasm and
unanimity unparalleled cast their votes
for him as President.
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Virginia.