The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-06
GEN. HANCOCK INTERVIEWED
RELATIVE 70 GRANTS
CHARGES.
He Will Formulate a Reply.
Interesting Correspondence Between Col
Elartcn Duncan ana Gen. Hancock.

NEW YORK. Oct. ga Teleordn re-
porter to day interviewed Gen. Hancock
in reference to the recent opinions xpress
ed by Gen. Grant. He said: Nv knowl.
edge of what Gen. Grant has actually said
is confined to what may be called hearsay
evidence. | have read what has been
attributed to him as his utterances in the
newspapers. Now, shall take pains tc
| ascertain from an authoritative source
just what Gen. Grant has said about me-
Will you apply to him personally for
information?
That would be the best course to pursue
suppose. l mean to get at the truth.
If you find the ex-president has really
| made assertions derogatory to your char
aeter. will you make a reply?
les, it necessary.
Then / am to understand if Gen. Grant
has assailed your character as reported,
you will make Eenerel denial,
will certainly deny everything untrue.
After have sifted the matter to the bot
tom and decided to reply, will prepare a
careful and comprehensive statement for
publication.
How long will be required for you TO
hear personally from Gen. Grant in this
matter?
cannot say, but I shall lose no more
time than can help in getting at the bot
tom of the matter.
What reason have you for doubling? :?
Gen. Grant has attacked your character.
In the first place he lacked good grounds
upon which to attack me. and in the sec
ond place he is an old soldier and a grad
uate of West Point, AS such he could
not, it seems to me, so far oYerstep the
IL g
priety as to attempt to ininre me, even IN
private conversation.
GEN. HANCOCK TO COL. BI.ANroN DUNCAN.
New YORK. Oct. Cool Blanton
Duncan furnishes the Herald two letters
from Gen. Hancock which he says were
never shown anybody or published. The
first letter is dated Oct. 29th. 1879, aud is
as follows:
My DEAR CoLoNEL:-I received to-day
your favor of 25th and was much interest
ed in your resume of working of political
cauldron l have always been Of the
opinion, and am so still. that until the
Democratic party has disposed of the
question as 10 whether they would nomi-
nate Tilden as sequence of past events,
it was folly inside that organization to
advance other candidates, IL their
availability for the future was
question OF Importance or in-
terest. / have DO part in any pro-
gramme looking 10 the future. My name
com es up through friends, and foes posi-
bly,, yet / know of no machinery in the in
terest of my nomination. L seem IN public
opinion TO be put forth as the exponent OF
certain political available possibilities, and
[ would be better pleased if permitted to
pursue the even tenor OF my way, IN
touched By political excitement. | do not
wish to be considered chronic candidate.
for know what that means when the end
comes. So my true friends had better let
the matter rest, or if not, let it drift. The
next election is to be a momentous one.
What may come out of it. good or bad, !
do not know. but am certain | cannot
assist in leading to q good result more
certainly than by following the quiet
course / have always endeavored TO pur-
sue. If | come in question in politics
it will have to be from the States
and the people. and not from me.
: am very truly yours,
(Siened1 WINFIELD S. HANCOCK.
Very singulariy, writes Col Duncan,
there came to me .about the same day,
letter from one of the most prominent
Greenbackers whose name and that OF
others concerned | will not mention. They
are sspuorters of Weaver il the plan TO
aid in the election of Garfield, The letter
was marked confidential aud vas as
follows: - -
October 28ih, 1879.
Col. BLANTON DUNCAN.-My Dear 81
For some time past Blsnk and myselt
have been talking over pan to elect Gen.
Hancock President Of ;he u. , Our plan
is that you write to Gcneral hanc0cE'
and if he responds with Elght views on
financial and labor questions. that we then
decide to cali the national convention hFst,
nominate Hancock for President and some
Confederate for Vice President, aDd it
will force the Democrats to meet and
nominate the same ticket. I our plan OF
calling both the Democratic and National
conventions the sam day will not work and
will give a large amount OF our party an
excuse to say it was political trade, while
nv plan is oDe that large majority OF our
marty will endorse. | hope you will agree
on the plan and have a conference with
Gen, Hancock on the subject.
The above was received FROM praml-
nept Greepbacker, aud by Col. duncan
forvarded with recommendation TO zen.
Hancock not to make any reply to 1t: He'
however, wrote me as follows, conuden'
tial." November 1879:
My DEAR LOLONEL:-1 Jul no'0
beer received, do not occupy the position
Of political candidate to express any
opinions. ] am a soldier in the iederal
service, and my usefulness as such ano as
commander would be impaired u shouiI
80 omen grounds In favor OF
the nnIitical views of any party:
r. am ever candidate OF
p.rtv for civil Office, it will be on the
record I have made. I should never
mste ,os any bid for such Office. Ii l were
nominated BY party would be governed e
nv its platform. or would not accept the
nomination, Therefore. | shall pufepe
the even tenor of my way uniistur1eo Oy
ambitions which pursue SOME people
am, very truly yours,
(Signed, WINFIELD s. HANCOCK
CUEA.