The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-30
THE PRESIDENCY.
"Superb Hancock on the
Situation.
ASPIRING. YET NON-CoMMITTAL.
'No Man In the Country Can Afford to Ignore
the Gift, Coming from the People,"
BRAINERD, Mimi, Sent,

| BRAINERD, MIMI, Sept %, 1871.
Soldiers rarely make shrewd politicians. That
habit offrankness IN everything inculcated at West
Point, and the practical school OF after expo
Renee In the service, seldom forsake the army on
Ger. POLITICIANS are found In the more quiet arena
OF civil lie, and the soldier, when the prey or
the cool OF the wrepullers to all lntens and pur.
| poses soldier no longer. Grant an instance Of
| this and others who leave the service with their
| fame and military record unmpeached may ind
that, like him, they will conclude late that good
! soldiers nos necessarily asute statesmen. Il
has been my fortune to meet General Winfield s.
| Hancock recently. Rumor says Hancock has
| aspirations. Politicians say Hancock, Ike
his late commander, would willingly ex-
| change the sword for the sceptre. Win q desire
to test how far Is correct made it my busl-
| ness to meet the Old Second corps commander, aud
| learned from his own lips now far the truth had
been consulted in the matter. The General had just
| finished the duties OF the day when l sent In my
card, ana he quickly responded In person, and well
coined Inc very cordially. thlnk he has grown
stouter since the days of '64 When active service
and daily artillery and infantry drills gave but lit
tic opportunity to add to our av0trdupois. The re-
spite from constant anxiety and inccssant toll IN
! the tented field has told with good elect in the
person Of General Hancock, aud to-day he presents
| every evidence OF sound health and contcnted
| l.
content, and soldiers must perIorce, DO cOntented
| whether they Will or not The jaunty goatee and
mustache Of oden days-sightly frosted now-still
adorn that rather heavy face, and he reminds one
more OF the Third Napoeon-minus the French
cunning and dull. treacherous eye-than any man
| OF eminence that can call to IN nd. judge ms
age to DO nity, possibly nfty-two, and his weighs
| above two hundre d. f.n
such, to-day, Is Hancocks physical portrait.
| ho IN hta Iif has abun.
| dainty and most satisfactorily proved.
| We were not long in reaching the topic OF the
! day-the Presiicncy-and / desired statement Of
| his Views on this important question for the
| HERALD. saw, or, rather, felt, nstinc-
| lively, that the SUI ect would be ten.
| der 0ne--he has not been sufficiently as
| sured of his chances politically and 1 was
! not surprised when he replied that his position In
| the army prec!uded him to certain extent from
giving his views on the questions of the day; for,
said he do not caro- to be known politician
| while my connection with the army exists.
| RErCRTER--Y0u are, Of course, aware that your
| name has been freely mentioned rs q candidate 1OY
| the Presidency.
General HANcocK-Yes; am alive to what 10
TRANSPORTING around me; but to be frank 1t does NOS
possess that interest that people probably suppose
| My position IN the army Is assured l can con-
ndeptly look to the future, think, for further
| events my turn Win come. | have been IN the army
thirty years. ana nj my tmo Of life 1t Is little late
| to seek a new field Of action. TO be sure l would
| be cOmplimcnted by any evidence OF partiality on
the part OF Pennsylvania; 1t Is my native state, aud
am glad 10 be honOrcd at her hands, it Is matter
| OF State pride. would deem 1t q compliment
nothing more
RErORrER-Aul wrong, then, in supposing you
have aspirations with regard TO the Presidency
| IA 1 1
man in the country to-day that can afford TO ignore
such gift coming from the people.
REfoRTEn-You have believe, expressed your
| political views on different OCCASIONS
| General HANCooK--Ye Ihave; but not because I
| had any desire to minge IN politics or he thought
| politician. Whatever views may have expressed
| were my sentiments with record to the situatlon;
| was war democrat; am now conservative. 1
was anxious to retain the esteem of the republl.
| cans-radicas--but my course In New Orleans un.
| fortunately, made me lose 1t. was forced into o
| position there in which had to assume course Of
| action thai was bound to make me sacrifice the es.
TEEN OF either party. did not succeed in pleasing
| the radicals. 500
| MISUNDERSTANDING Geary, OF your State, is said
4 to entertain hopes OF a higher position at some
future day In line, tile Presidency Is not above his
| ambition; you have probably heard AS much
| General HANcoCK-Well, 1 do not know much Of
| Governor Geary. Ihave met him In the army ana
| know his history prior to that time. suppose he
| Is ambitious.
| REPoRTER-Have you much OF an acquaintance
| with Pennsylvania poIilicians9
| General HANcoCx-Not an extensive acquaint-
| ance. know Mcclure and some lew others, but
there are some who have the surface OF late
| years or whom know very little.
AS took occasion to say at the head of this letter.
soldiers rarely make snrewd politician. believe
have found who Is not lacking In shrewdness or
policy, knowing fun wei that his political opponent
at the mead OF the government ana willing to
assume the leadership for another term; that Con-
| gress and the administration are against him po-
nlically; and knowing further that his bril-.
liant military record would not save him should
these wircpuers now In power think he promised
danger to their ambitious hopes, he dscrocty Keeps
| silent. Whne his ambitions are doubtless pointing
upward and he admits that "there is no in the
country to-day that can afford 10 ignore such gift,
coming from the people," he Il not IN position 10
come out prominently and positively. Like Geary,
| he can be dragged into prominence. Until he re-
| ceiyes undoubtcd assurances that his election will
| be assured lie will make no sacrifices. And he Is
| wise. Grant had the best position the nation can
ofrer He sacrificed IL for the highest civil Office in
| the land, aud now has the certainty OF retiring to
obscurty when he leaves the White House. Han
COCK believes in holding good thing While he can;
aud whatever hopes he may have OF political pre-
fermen he keeps ''num" until 1t Is tine 70 strike.
Let his friends lie advsed let them not fear that he
| Will turn the golden cbalice from ms lip,.
4
| KNIGHTS TEMPLbR5 IN JERSEY.
There was quite an imposing parade OF knights
| Templars In Paterson yesterday afternoon. The
event was IN honor OF the institution Of ST. Omer
| NJ, a nf pate hut wa ado