The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-07-08
FORNEY ON HANCOCK,
THE REASONS OF THE VETERAN
REPUBLICAN FOR SUP
PORTING HANCOCK.
The Debt Pennsylvania Owes the Hero Of Gettys
bnTg.
From Forneys Progress Of July 81

and Sd days Of July 1868; the fall Of Richmond
on the 9th day Of April 1865 and the assassination
Of Abraham Lincoln on the 1Ith day OF April 1865
No days In human history ever aroused more
agonizlng solicitude or closed upon more gigantic
transactions or opened a wider vista of human
possibilities Each Of these events had a strange
aud almost providential meaning. Each possess.
ed the peculiar quality Of conquering in an in.
stant millions of pEejudices. The ball Ared at
the old flag from Charleston consolidated the
North and struck down human slavery. The vic.
tory Of Gettysburg saved the second great city Of
the Union from the flames. The fall of Richmond
was the certain rise Of the Republic, and the
death Of Lincoln consecrated his great mission Of
forgiveness to all. When we come to notice the
annals of our civil war, these four events, with
the emancipation Of the slaves on the LIST Of Janu
ary, 1868. will be to the historian like so many
planets shedding light on all other objects and
marshsling the way to the final lesson and duty
Of the patriot. Each was revolution in itself
affecting the remotest interests and leaving all
men in new condition Of thought and self ex.
animation,
But none of these tragedies wrought deeper
sensation or gave birth to more lasting gratitude
than the battle Of Gettysburg, 1863 Here at least
Is one Of those occurrences that cannot easily be
forgotten. The human race is prone to forget,
One philosopher says that ingrattude is the badge
Of all our tribe but like all maxims 1t is best
proved by the exceptions. In this instance We
cannot II we would, and, thank God, we would
not II we could, blot out what that defeat Of the
Coniederates did for the city Of Philadelphia.
Happily 1t is not so long ago as to have faded out
Of our minds, It's only sixteen years since, and
1t was day Of such sharp agony and such uni.
versal terror, and the victory was such an un'
speakable relief, that even the children now
grown to be men and women think OF 1t as CRATE.
fully as the middle aged and the grandmothers
and grandfathers. II was the single instance In
which the fiery blast Of war came close to great
Northern metropolis. The Confederates advanc.
ed In tremendous force. Led by their beloved
General Lee and by his chosen lieutenants, they
seemed resolved to make a last stand in the rich
valleys Of franklin and Adams choosing, as II
by instinct, the regions called after two Of the
most precious names In American history Grant
was engaged at the moment winding his fatal
coils around the Southern city Of Yicksburg; but
the point most vital to all at that supreme mo.
ment was the field at Gettysburg.
What Philadelphian can ever forget the sus-
pense OF those July days2 There was not house.
hold that did not throb and thrill between hope
and fear. There were over 100000 men.
thousands Of them from Philadelphia and the
neignboIing towns, and there was not family
that did not trembe for It's loved ones engaged in
that fatal strife or that did otshudder at the ad.
vance Of the foe who seemed so near, or that did
rot fancy in that advance the loss OF the holy
cause Of the Union.
On the morning Of the 4th Of July, 1863 was at
the Union League, then on Chestnut street near
Eleventh. Philadelphia in the massive building
now occupied by the family of the beloved Mat.
thew Baldwin. The rooms and garden OF the
lovely mansion were filed to overhowing with
pale, anxious mem the streets were full OF a silent
waiting crowd; the sidewalks and windows were
crowded with women; even the children we're
awed into silence as their elders discussed in
whispers the possibilities Of the dreadful fight in
the green valleys Of the Cumberland. Reynolds
had been killed on the I'd Of July, along with
thousands OF others, and his brother, James L.
came from Lancaster, In this State, bowed down
with terror at the sacrifice and humble women
were sobbing over the dispatches already record.
ing their losses. II was day Of tears and des.
pair had been present at other scenes of ROr-
row but nothing like this Fourth Of July, 1868
The commandant Of this department was General
near Twelfth, and held position as a consult
Ing member Of his staff About noon Of that Sat.
urday saw his tall form crossing Chestnut street
to the League, and when his eye caught mine
saw he was In tears. He handed me dispatch
from General Meade, Just received. opened and
tried to read II but could not | saw enough to
feel that we were saved, And soon the good news
became universal Then all hearts exploded
with Joy over the deliverance, II was wonder.
full sight, that sudden change from grief to graft.
tude. Some shed tears, some shouted In 10y, old
foes became friends, and even nfdels Joined In
the spontaneous prayers Of the preachers. Rob.
ert Brownings thrilling poem describing the man
who carried the ''ROJd news to Ghentp which
broke the siege and filed the souls OF the Flemish
with deep thanksgiving to God, might have been
paraphrased In honor Of the messenger who
brought such happiness to oppressed and terrified
and despairing Philadelphia.
Who won that great battle? Who saved Phila.
delphia from fire and spoil Who drove back the
enemy and saved us from a fate Of which the
burning Of ChambersbuTg and Carlisle and the
forced contributions upon York were intended TO
be grim preparationsY brave army OF patriotic
Citiz9ns led by three Pennsylvania generals
George Gordon Meade, Of Philadelphia John Full
ton Reynolds, OF Lancaster and Winfield Scott
Hancock, Of Montgomery Meade died on the
6th OF November 1872, In the house presented to
his wife by the people Of Philadelphia, aflerwSrd
supplemented by contribution Of 100000 from
the same source, Reynolds was killed In battle
on the "a Of July, and Is buried In Lancaster
Hancock is to-day the Democratic candidate for
President Of the United States,
do not stop to debate the other considerations
that enter into this vital issue the grave consd
erations that demand the release OF my dear ma
tive State from the desperate men who In the last
ten years have coldly crushed out the price Of our
people, aud placed under the iron heel Of brutal |
inferiority the hopes OF our youth aud manhood, |
making OF this fair Commonwealth vast pOlit |
cal Golgotha, and Of our proud city Of Philadel |
phia an offensive roOst for the most desperate and
vulgar mercenaries since the black dates Of |
Tweed and Tammany In New York. do not |
stop to debate these considerations now II is not
the time But this Is the time to open to the COM
mon mind our pledged word to the last Of the |
great soldiers who placed us under an obligation |
that we hastened TO avow, and repeated over and |
over again. My own pledge binds me as my note |
Of hand, In law fit had been signed 10 the prom |
se to pay money debt could be held by Il, and |
my estate II failed to pay It, In morals II is az
solemn aB II had gone before magistrate and /
sworn to abide by IT, And what is true OF myself |
Is equally binding upon others What my fixed |
saved the Ameri an Republic, l have not con.
cealed. II iBa passion that grows stronger the |
more see the value OF what has been saved TO /
ourselves and to all mankind feel II as the res.
cue Of human freedom for the ages TO come. |
prize IT, this overthrow OF the Rebellion, as the |
best blessing to the South which made that Re.
bellion, cherish II because the more ponder |
the priceless value Of the enormous destiny 30
that they must aid to perpetuate 1t,
am only one OF the army OF Republicans who
VIII vote for General Hancock for these reasons
only one Of the many Of the Oldest Republicans
In this city, who call upon me to say that they
would be ashamed ofthemselves II, after all their
words o. praise and thanksgiving for the saliva
ton Of Philadelphia from fire and rebel contribu-
lions In 1868 they should now vote against the
man who did the most OF the work. General Gar.
field Is a good man, but we owe him nothing
compared to Hancock. When told that to vote
for Hancock Is to vote for a Democrat | reply
that the partition between the two parties is very
thin. me only point on which we may be said
strong one when Hancock comes from the great
tariff county OF Montgomery, Pennsylvania and
Gil his iriends are open advocates Of protection,
while Garfield was elected member OF the Cob.
den Club In London, the great free. trade head
quarters In England, because OF his rather bold
iympathies with the Western enemies Of Pennsyl-
vania intere ests,
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