New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-09-22
For the Review by O. P. Champlin.
MORE POLITICAL NOTES.


Respecting the personal character of
General Hancock we have conceded
too much in admitting his character to
be above reproach. The evidence &C.
cumnlates that he was both brutal
and profdne in his treatment of the
''boys,' or let me say, m,s7, who fought
under him. I grieve that this is so as
I fear We must admit it is. Garfield
may be brutal, but he is not profane;
and there is no evidence of his brutal
ity so far as am aware. Choosing
between these two on the point of per-
sonal character Garfield would be tax.
en- and Hancock left if the choice fell
upon the better man. Still, waving all
this and for the sake of the argument,
we will admit one to be as good a man
and soldier as the other, let us carry
the. comparison still further as between
them personally.
3. Gen. Hancock cannot be said to
be a civilian. He is not versed in civil
law. His knowledge of it must be,
quite naturally, superficial. He is not
a statesma1a; and never has had any
experience that would qualify him to
govern skillfully. Of the art of gov.
eminent he is ignorant. In the dis
charge Of civil functions he is untried.
He has spent his whole life simply as
a soldier. These are very simple state
ments; but every one of them is signi.
ficant. They ought not to be passed
by without due consideration. If it is
not best to have president educated
and experienced in civil matters; prac.
ticed in making and executing laws
then it is just as we'll for Gen. Han.
cock in the pending canvass. Mr.. Gar.
field, unlike his opponent, is civilian.
He has had education and practice in
the art of government. He is states
man, legislator who has a record.
Gen. Hancock has no record of a SINH
lar nature. He is a negative man,
without record to show what his
views are on the great practical qnes-
tions of the day. 1t is possible he has
we'll matured views but we do not
know it. Even in his letter of accept.
ance there is nothing to relieve our ig.
norance. On the contrary Mr.. Gar
field not only has convictions but we
know what they are. He has declared
his views; and they are before the peo-
pie. lie thinks, he studies, he delibe-
rates, he acts; and whether good or
bad the people know the nature of his
thought, his study, his action. He is
not afraid Of himself, his ideas do not
scare him. He is not afraid his ideas
will harm his character OF reputation.
Possibly Gen. Hancock isn't; but, in
truth, we do not know it. 1t does seem
as though his party passed by it's states.
men, we've Of great ability and charac.
ter, men educated and experienced in
civil affairs for this man of no civil
record, Of no education and experience
in civil affairs; but having military
training and fame in order that it
would be free from the burden of de-
Tense man like the Tildens, or Bay
ards would impose upon it in the can.
vass. But that is nothing to Hancock.
Only in choosing between the two men,
the civilian, the statesman, the man of
civil education and practice, of positive
convictions and record should be pre-
ferred to the man wholly destitute Of
these qualifications. 70 choose the
other way is folly. We have need Of
statesmen. We suffer because we have
80 few. Never in the history of our
country have we been in so sore need
excepting the time at the close of the
Rebellion. The land mourns to-day be-
cause we have not had statesmen to adj
minister civil law. 1t is an lmperti-
hence to ask the people of this country
to place over the Republic a man whose
whole life has been military and lead
ing away from the contemplation of
the problems of civil government. The
nature of our government demands
men trained and experienced in State
matters to carry it successfully on. Re-
construction shows what novices and
bunglers may do. Wholly independent
of party considerations, decided on the
ground of qualification, of fitness, Mr..
Garfield should be the choice of every
man. 1t is unfortunate for General
Hancock that he should be a novice in
civil matters though his party may not
think so. Even if he were the better
man personally, which we fear he is
not, Mr.. Garfield Oil the ground Of his
| sunpriOr fitness shOn1d hn nrefnrrpd IN