The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-08-14
Erie Press August II; ,S'2l
JOh N Hancock.

i Fne Press August II; 1871
John Hancock.
John Hancock, it is said, has concluded to
| be candidate for the tenth congressional
district Of course only if acceptable to the
democratic convention; the democratic press,
adds that he is Internationally the only man
| who can beat Davis, this admission OF the de-
mocracy. that they have but one man who can
compete successfully against Davis is great
qualification; it proves that the popularity and
value of an independent candidate and Its &C.
acknowledgement by his political opponents, and
on the part of the democracy the contest IS
entered into with some apprehension.
Now is Hancock really the strong man for
which he is held.
We acknowledge with pleasure that he is a
man of extraordinary abilities, however there
are certain little matters in direct come ctlon
with his past which cannot easily be washed
out and which will in contest like the COM
ing one certainly make their appearance and
clog his steps like weight of lead.
It must not be forgotten that in the fifth dis
trict, composed of the counties Bastrop, Trav-
is, Burnett and Lampasas he was beaten
by a majority of over 5000 votes;
of these counties Bastrop and Travis will GER
| tainly 60 against him; it is doubtful whether
he viii get majority in Burnett, Lampasas
and Williamson-may give him small one.
His strength lies in the counties east OF the
Colorado, while in the western counties he is
only known in Bexar. Davis is at home in
the west and has many personal friends and
acauaintances. What will defeat Hancock in
the west is his position in the tariff question:
he is bitter opponent of protective tariff,
and has barely gotten to the tariff for revenue
only" He cannot depend upon an uncon-
ditional support of the sheepmen and other
industries of the west.
As regards the Germans they have no cause
to be enthusiastic for Hancock. Germans are
no friends of men who change their principles
daily like the weather in August. He was a
Union man during the war, correct; but it
took him long time to leave place when he
couldn't do any more good. and to 60 where
Davis had went long before. He was not
wanting in means. Consequently, as was the
case with many others, poverty was no excuse.
When at last he was compelled for the sake OF
his own personal security he did 60. The
end was near and he did not
even find time to have his colored
regiment mustered into service; that he was
to command in an invasion into Texas, the
democrats have never forgiven him that he
wanted to punish Texas rebels at the head of
a regiment of armed negroes, many Of them
will, if the contest of Davis VS. Hancock
takes place, prefer to vote for Davis as the
man who offered his services to the union at
the beginning of the rebellion and who stood
by it at the head of his brigate to the end.
When Hancock returned to Texas, to the
surprise Of ALL he again joined the democrats
though he was smickering and ogling with
Hamilton for while, but when the latter was
defeated by Davis he receded from the repub
lican party entirely, and became rabid party
leader of the democracy. In 1870 he defeated
Degener in the congressional election and re-
NAMED in congress until 1876, when Wash
Jones lifted him out of the saddle.
AT that time the democracy came to the
conclusion that they had no more use for
Hancock; they discarded him with astonishing
indifference, he had drawn the chestnuts out
of the fire, done his duty, and like "Fiesco's
Moor" could 60. He made several attempts
to get back into position and honors, but each
time he was harshly thrust aside to such an
extent that only few weeks back W hen it was
thought that he could be made useful he said
in ironic bitterness that he hardly considered
himself within the democratic party.
Then came the Galveston convention. The
halt that was held out had its effect the presi-
dency Of the convention was sufficient to bring
him back to the simon pure, only saving fold
of democracy, and now he is the ONLY man
who can defeat Davis, and he takes the bait.
Thus far his political character.
The colored people will recollect that pre-
vious to reconstruction in speech at San
Antonio he used the words that he would as
soon allow a mule to vote as to franchise
the negroes.
The Germans and all those who have their
own ideas about money matters, will recollect
that he was one of the few salary grabbers
who not alone drew the back pay, but kept it.
like his unprincipled friend Giddings.
The union people, and Texans in general
will recollect that he was the man who want
ed to force the state in the Eleventh legisla-
ture to redeem the confederate state bonds,
and thus lay heavy burden upon the state.
Davis will have no trouble to get along