The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-08-12
GARFIELD vs.. HANCOCK.
Judge Houck, of Tennessee, on
the Candidates.
A Southern Republicans Dis
interested Discourse.
Judge George w. McCrary to the
Fore.
A High Tribute to <sarlleId's Thorough
{ knowledge and Pure Character
Miscellaneous Points &c.

miscellaneous Points &c.
The following is an extract from an elo-
quent speech delivered at a Republican
ratification meeting at Knoxville, Tenn,
by Judge Houck, formerly member of
congress from that district:
But what of the candidates? Who arc
they, comparatively? Who is Garfield
And who is Hancock? I would like to
speak of Arthur and English, but time will
hardly permit me to say that English is
only distinguished by his coppcrhead con-
nection with the knights Of the Golden
Circle during the war, and the wealthy
banker who gave all of 81 to relieve the
sufferers from the great Chicago fire.
But Of Gen. Garfield / scarcely know
what to say first. He is so big, so good.
and so great in every character he has
been called upon to act that am fully con-
matter of his life and public service JUS
tice.
If you know him as I do you would
know that he deserves more than 1 am
capable Of saying for him. 1 speak the
united voice of his congressional associates
when say he is worthy of and fully merits
more than my use of terms will enable me
to Say for him. After sitting by his side
every day for nearly twelve months, can
truthfully say that he is worthy as a man,
finished as a scholar, accomplished as a
gentleman, eloquent as an orator, grand as
a leader, and capable as statesman. He
is a kind, sympathetic, obliging, and pains
taking in doing good. OF long legislative
experience himself he appreciates the in
experience of others, and is ever ready to
give counsel, impart information, and lend
such advice to his juniors as may be useful
to them in the prosecution of their duties.
A hard student himself, he advises it in
others. He is generous to :. fault, and az
Il woman.
His personal character is as pure as his
public character is great. lie is an ex-
ample in morals, and Christian man in
the very best sense of the term.
But who and what is Gen. Garfield as
public man? Let us examine and answer
this double question by instituting COM
parison. About half q century ago two
boys present themselves to our mental WIS.,
ion. One of them is a Pennsylvania; the
other lives up near Lake Erie, in the state
Of Ohio. One IS a few years the senior Of
the other. They are both ambitious. Or
the one we know nothing of his circum-
stances, except the simple fact that his
father belonged to the well-to-do class Of
his day. This one had the good fortune to
find favor with the government. He was
bounty of the government through an edu-
cation at "West Point" The government
thus took him by the hand and let him
through her schools, and gave him an edu-
cation and made him soldier. And in
thus entering the militrry academy Gen.
Hancock plighted his honor when boy
that, in consideration of the bounty of the
government, he would aid in fighting its
battles and mai ntaining the supremacy of
the flag. So when the war Of the rebellion
came, i'll the days of his manhood, he only
fulfilled the obligations imposed by honor
when a youth, and which had then ripened
into legal duty based upon a valuable
pecuniary consideration.
1t is fact admitted by all men that,
whenever and wherever the democrats
have the power, they elect men to Office
because of their service to the cause of the
rebellion. They have practiced it here in
Tennessee, from the highest to the lowest
offices in the state. [Cries of ''That's so:
That's so!'l There is not q district in the
state where the rebel sentiment was in the
majority that it has not been used to put
as to the state at large, as to the legislative
and congressional districts and us to the
county offices. No Union man or Union
soldier has been recognized bv the demo-
crazy in any county, district or state where
the rebel democracy has the power!
And no candid man will or can deny the
fact that if the democracy believed they
had the same chance to elect rebel brig
adler that they believed they had to elect
Hancock, the rebel brigadier would have
been nominated, and Hancock left to use
his uniform as a regular army officer, in
stead of bringing it to the front to ward off
is not democrat in the south Cheeky"
enough to deny but that Hampton, or Har-
ris. or some distinguished rebel would have
been nominated if it had been thought
possible to elect him.
warn you to take warning before it is
too late! Beware before the Phillistines
are upon you! Keep the enemies of the
Union out Of power while you can. Re-
tain the government in loyal hands. lap
Plause.] And, before attempting to do
this bv electing Garfield, permit me to
make a few observations in regard to
military man for president. Now, | have
no objection to the man who has had mill
tary experience becoming president of the
United States, provided he has had the
civil experience of American citizenship
necessary to give him correct conception
of the duties of a civil magistrate. APP
plause.
I am not alarmed about the danger of
military dictator. But this I will say:
There is 4 very great risk to run in taking
a man for president like Gen. Hancock,
whose life has been spent in the tread
milP' duties of issuing and obeying orders
Point education and "a regular army"
experience This risk will not be SO great
because of the danger of military despot-