The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-03-24

Hancock.
DALLAS, March %, 1877.
To the Editor of The Herald /
In The HERALD of the Dist observe
the following editorial paragraph:
ut is said John Hancock has fully
affiliated with the Republican party.
That may be so-is 50, perhaps--and the
id papers probably caused it, John
could hardly remain sincerely attached
to any party with which Coke acts"
Believing that in the above paragraph
you have, possibly through inadver.
tence, fallen into an error, avail my
self of your courtesy in endeavoring to
correct it. .
\ John Hancock lis not Republican
nor has he affiliated with Republicans
save in that exchange of courtesies
common to all gentleman, whatever
may be their political faith, and he is
to-day as sincerely attached" to the
Democratic party as is that distin-
guished gentleman who, in 1873, was in
Quoted into the gubernatorial chair Of
this State by a majority OF l03, 600 votes
This will undertake briefly to dem.
onstrate to you. The portfolio Of posts
master general of the United States
was placed at the disposal of Judge
Hancock He was requested to accept
it--as Democrat Of the straitest sect.
He was not called upon to bee )me an
apostate, or to darken his reputation
with the charge of being Il recreant to
his faith. He was invited as South
erner and II Democrat to administer
the affairs and bestow the patronage Of
one Of the most important departments
OF the Federal Government, Helsought
the advice of the Texas Senator'S and
iDongressmen, and was invited to be
present at their conference The dele
CATION met at the rooms Of Judge Rca.
gan, and consisted of Senators Coke and
MaXey and Congressman Mills Schlei-
cher, Reagan, Culbertson aud Throck--
morton will not undertake to out
line the discussion that ensued, nor to-
give the views expressed by the gentle
men present, but it will suffice for me
to say that the delegation was dis
posed to let Judge Hancock exercised
his own Judgment, which was in effect
Ito decline to advise himas to the course
lhe should pursue
When this fact was communicated to
Judge Hancock, the tender of the port
folio was declined. am perfectly fa-
miliar with the motives which prompted
that gentleman to declinet this great trust
and the exercise of its tremendous
power, for the honor of that position is
tremendous. Judge Hancock and his
colleagues (save Mr. Mlls) had sup
ported the electoral bill, and in doing
so had been charged with selling
out to the Republicans, In
other words, it was avowed that
in consideration of the bestowal
of certain important offices upon South
ern men; that no disturbance should
be created, and that the determination
of the electoral commission should be
accepted and entorcedl -----y-.'
Judge Hancock thought that should
he accept this Office. coloring would be
given to this most unjust and ungener-
Gus charge, and with that exalted spirit
of self abnegation that has more of gran.
deurs in it than aught have witnessed
in political life, he put aside power and
place and honor and emoluments for
the sake of these, his associates and
friends.
Mr.. Editor, permit me- in all truth, to
say that this was n rare exhibition oil
matchless generosity, and does merit,
at the hands of all Texans, unreserved
praise. Hancock could have been of
Unreasonable benefit to Texas and to
the South. He felt this, but his peer
less sense of honor forbade him to place
his former associates in the position OF
apologsts for their action and his, or to
have the faintest suspicion of uniaith-
fulness visited upon them by their con-
stituents. Senator Coke was swift to
appreciate this most manly act, and in
discussing this matter subsequently, with
him, he warmly expressed the highest
admiration for Judge Hancock, and de-
clared that he felt a higher regard for
that gentleman than he had ever before
experienced.
Need say, Mr.. Editor, that the Texas
delegation respect Judge Hancock ior
this act, and that it is cruelty unjust to
charge him with being a recreant to his
trust and an apostate to his party, =
flames h. SIMPSON,