you think this would be a _safe_ country in Mr. Garfield's hands?
--What a question! Isn't he a "Jimmy"?
You mean a "tool" in the hands of the 'Pubs?
--You've hit it.
And they are going to make him President?
--Yes; President of the Salt River Navigation and Improvement Company,
unlimited.
I thought they were going to make him President of the United States?
--I think they might if there wasn't some one else in the way.
Who's that?
--Hancock.
The man that signed the Declaration?
--Yes; the Declaration of Gettysburg.
What is he?
--A real gentleman.
What else?
--A great soldier.
Anything more?
--A true citizen.
He must be a _singular_ man?
--He is; there are not _two_ like him in the country.
I should like to see him.
--Nothing easier. He's big enough. Just _walk_ over to Governor's
Island.
How can you prove he's a gentleman?
--He's an officer of the United States army.
Quite sufficient. Tell me why he's a great soldier.
--He saved the Union in battle.
I thought Grant did that?
--Grant did first-rate fighting; but if Hancock hadn't won at
Gettysburg, Grant and his army might as well have sat down where
they were and gone into the "Tanner" business.
Did he take a part in any other great battles?
--Yes; in nearly every battle fought by the army of the Potomac until
he was carried off the field at Gettysburg.
What did the country think of him?
--Everything that could be thought of a brave, noble nature.
What did Congress do?
--Passed a special vote of thanks to him for his conspicuous part
in the battle that saved the country.
Of course they passed a vote of thanks to Garfield, too?
--Yes; a _silent_ vote.
How do you prove that Hancock is a true citizen?
--Because he has profound respect for the laws and constitution of
his country.
When did he show this?
--He has shown it all his life.
But more particularly?
--When the war was over he put up his sword. Grant, Garfield & Co.
insisted he should rule with it. He refused. He told the trembling
Southern people they had the same rights _in peace_ as all other
American citizens, and that he would make his army protect those
rights.
What are those rights?
--Trial by jury, _habeas corpus_, free speech and free press.
Did he put that down in writing?
--I should think he did. He wrote a letter to old Pease, the governor
of Texas, that must have flashed into him like lightning
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