, 1880-10-17

not increase his very limited reputation for
sagacity or tirmness. From the Democratic
point Of view it must be considered . de-
plorable blunder. For it is, above all else,
confession that the Democratic party is under
suspicion-or, more literally, under convic-
tion-of heresy on the Tariff question. and 1t Is
a plump and unauthorized Reputation Of tina
Democratic National platform itself. The
policy of it is indefensible. Suppose 1t
were true, which Is not the fact,
that the Republicans carried Indiana
on the Tariff issue alone, how can Gen. dan"
cocks abandonment Of the Cincinnati plat
form help his party? It Is equivalent to a
formal surrender Of Indiana to the Repub-
licans. The Democratic campaign was
fought out there till the end In defense OF
the "Tarif for revenue only" doctrine OF
the Cincinnati platform. BY advancing q
contrary doctrine Gen. Hancock merely
throws the chief principle OF his own party
overheard, and offers his opponents nothing
that they do not possess already.
II the letter is, as seems probable, Intended
for effect In New Jersey; Connecticut and
Pennsylvania, 1t will utterly fail Of its pur-
pose. Gen. Hancock can, it he chooses. spit
upon and cast off the platform OF the party
which nominated him; but he cannot alter
the record or character OF the party itself.
nor blot out from its declaration Of prlncl-
pies the last clause OF the third resolution:
"a tariff for revenue only" Humiliating as
the concession is which AEr. Hancock offers
to the Protecuonist wing Of his party,
he still offers far less than
his opponents. The Democratic party
as whole, spite Of anything Gen. Hancock
may say to the contrary, is pledged to ia
tariff for revenue onIy"; while the Repub-
lican party "af1irms the belief that the duties
levied for the purpose Of revenue should SO
discriminate as to favor American labor"
With the issue thus distinctly made, the
manufacturers and mechanics OF the East
cannot for moment hesitate between the
two parties, while the Free-Traders Of In
diana and Illinois, finding Themselves
deserted by their own chosen leader, may
we'll refuse to follow hfs standard in another
fight.
But the letter Of Gen. Hancock Is some
thing more than blunder. It Is cowardly
anu insincere. The desperation OF so ex-
traordinary a manifesto. repudiatlng the
party platform scarcely two weeks before
the election, will be apparent to the dullest
mind. The Democratic candidate says, in
effect: "Certain Republican citizens in In
diana object to my principles; very well,
abandon those principles" It would appear
that the voters Of Indiana. casti&ated not
merely 1Ir. Hancock's ambition, but
also his conscience, and nearly killed
both. II any opinions Of lis or his
party stand in the way OF his elevation
to the Presidency he will most cheerfully
sacrifice them. He will rip the Cincinnati
platform to pieces and make kindllng-wood
of the fragments, If that will help to make
him President. He will believe or disbelieve,
avow or disayow, affirm or deny anything
which will help TO bolster up his doomed and
faiItug cause. y
In the short space OF three months Han
cock has assumed three distinct and irrecon-
cilable positions on the Tariff question. In
his letter Of acceptance he averred that he
cordially subscribed to the principles Of the
Cincinnati platform. among which was In
cluded that OF tariff for revenue only.
j uSL 0eI0re LQ6 OEt0DeT Elect1Ou Lie SulQ.
in letter to the editor Of the Paterson
N.J.) Guardian. that be regarded the Tariff
as "a local ISSUE" in this, too, initiating poor
Horace Greeley, who proposed d to relegateit
to the Congressional distriets~" Now Mr.
Hancock comes out sQuaroly as believer in
Protection. All Of these opinions cannot be
genuine, OF else Hancock is incapable OF
thinking connectedly on an economic sub
ject..
And this is the man who, twas said, had the
courage and the wisdom to control his own
party II 1t should be put in pos
session Of the Government! He was
to be the sole bulwark between
the Public Treasury and the Solid South. To
him we were confidently to look for de-
tense Of the results Of the War and the credit
Of the Government against the assaults OF
the disloyal and dishonest men in his own
party. The people have double reason to be
grateful, since this special revelation Of Mr..
Hancock's weakness and want OF principle,
that the admin istration Of the Government
for the next four years is not to be intrusted