Daily Los Angeles herald., 1880-07-08
B,urrtng she Issues.

Burning she Issues.
The Republican orators and edi'
tors are engaged just now in try
ing to represent Gen. Hancock as
a mere military candidate. 1t is
true that the Democratic nominee
is a soldier and a most gallant one.
1t is true that his body bears the
scars of battle, and that he fell
from his horse, wounded almost to
death, at-thc battle of Gettysburg,
a battle which he planned and
really won. But Gen. Hancock's
chief merits are by no means those
of q soldier. He was one Of those
Americans with statesmanship
enough to see that, the war being
ended, the resentments and bad
blood reminiscent of the conflict
should be buried. We admit the
grave impeachment, however, that
Gen. Hancock fought bravely for
his country. The Republicans can
make the most of this heinous dis
qualification. Washington, jack
sou, Harrison, Taylor, Pierce and
Grant were all men in the same
category, and they were all elected
President Of the United States,
three of them twice in succession.
All parties alike have shared
in this disgrace of electing
to office men who have stood
in the forefront of their coun-
try's battles. The fact that Gen.
Hancock is the hero of thirty fierce
conflicts is not apt to iDjure him
much with the average voter. Still
we put beyond all mere military
achievements that record of our
candidate which drew from Presi-
bent Andrew johnson the follow
ing emphatic tribute, contained in
formal message to Congress:
"Gentlemen of the Senate and OF
the House Of Representatives:
IAN official copy of the order is
sued by Major-Gen. Winfield s..
Hancock, commander of the Fifth
Military District, dated headquar-
ters in New Orleans, Louisiana, on
the goth day Of Novem Der, has
reached me through the regular
channels of the War Department,
and 1 herewith communicate it to
Congress for such action as may
seem to be proper in view of all the
circumsta
ut will be perceived that Gen.
Hancock announces that he will
make the law the rule of his con-
duct; that he will uphold the
courts and other civil authorities in
the performances of their proper du-
ties, and that he will use his mill
tary power only to preserve the
peace ard enforce the law. He de-
clares very explicitly that the sa-
cred right of the trial by jury and
the privilege of the writ of hdbeas
corpus shall not be crushed out or
trodden under foot. He goes fur.
Their, and. in one comprehensive
sentence, asserts that the princi.
PIES of American liberty are still
the Inheritance of this people, and
ever should be.
"Wben q great soldier, with un.
restricted power In his hands to op.
press his fellow men, voluntarily
foregoes the chance of gratifying
his selfish ambition, and deyotes
himself to the duty Of building up
the liberties and strengthening the
laws of his country. he presents an
example Of the highest public vir.
tue that human nature Is capable
of practising. The strongest claim
of Washington to be first in war
first in peace, and first In the
hearts OF his countrymen,' IL
founded on the great fact
that in all his illustrious career he
scrupulously abstained from vic.
lating the legal and constitutional
rights of his fellow citizens. When
he surrendered his comm ission to
Congress, the President of that
body spoke his highest praise In
saying that he had always regard.
ed the rights Of the civil authori-
ties through all dangers and disas.
tters.' Whenever power above the
law courted his acceptance, he
calmly put the temptation aside,
BY such magnanimous acts of for.
bearance he won the universal ad.
mirati0n of mankind, and left q
name which has no rival In. the
history Of the world.
II am far from saying that Gen.
Hancock is the only officer of the
American army who Is Influenced
by the example Of Washington.
Doubtless thousands Of them are
faithfully devoted to the principles
for which the men of the Kevolu-
tior laid down their lives. But the
Distinguished honor belongs to
Thin Of being the Erst officer In
high command south OF the Poto: