The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-10-21
[Cincinnati Gazette.l
GEN. GRANT ON HANCOCK.
A Highly Important Interview with the
EX-President,

Ex-President.
Letter from Rev. C. II. Fowler, D. d.
GALENA, Ill, Sept ell have just
returned from a protracted call upon
Gen. Grant. | went with Brother
Cramb, Grants pastor. When we
were introduced into his library we
found him at his desk writing. He
rose, and calling my name said, Il
have not seen you since we met at
Chautauqua Sunday School Assem-
bly," He was very free and full Of
talk. He talked about the political
situation, canvassing the country and
the men with great freedom. When
[ said to him, Il suppose everybody
tells you that he wanted to see you on
the track he said, "Yes, many, but
not everybody. Ii everybody had
wanted to see me on the track would
have been there" I said, II am sorry
for the country that you are not there;
not for your comfort or fame, but for
the country" He said Not for my
comfort, I am glad to bereleased from
the care. There were three reasons
why would have accepted the nomi-
nation:
'First-On account Of the charac-
ter Of the men who urged it. | es-
TEEN their respect and confidence more
than the nomination.
"Second-I believe / could have
broken up the solid South. Many life
long Democrats in the South had Civ
en- the strongest assurances of their
cordial support, believing that [ could
deliver them from the evils Of Il solid
South. Florida is Republican State
if they had a fair chance The Re
publicans are so distributed that they
can secure a fair count, except in the
northwest corner of the State, where
the negroes are chiefly centered, and
where the society is like Georgia-is
really a part of Georgia. While |
would have received probably but 200
or 800 more votes from the State than
Garfield will receive, those few are so
located as to secure fair count in
that northwest corner. These are the
substantial reasons.
''Third-There is another partial
reason. | believe that [ could have
induced, from my knowledge Of our
consulates, the enactment Of certain
laws touching our commerce that
would have given us control of much
desirable commerce-for instance, in
Mexico-instead Of dealing with peo-
pie who use only slave labor, and re-
ceive little or nothing but sterling in
exchange"
He next discussed Hancock with
great minuteness He said: Il have
known him for forty years. He is a
weak, vain man. He is the most sell
fish man | know. He could never en-
dure to have anyone else receive any
credit. Though he received all the
mention from his superiors he deserv-
ed. and often more, he was always dis
pleased that he was not praised more,
and that anyone else was mentioned
at ALL He is the most selfish man |
know. He was a very good corps
commander. He was ambitious, and
had courage and fine presence; but
he is vain, selfish, weak, and easily
hattered. He can not bear to hear
anyone else praised, but can take any
amount of fattery.
Down to 1864, he seemed like a
man ambitious to do his duty as an
officer. But in 1864, when Mcclellan
was nominated, Hancock received one
vote, and that greatly excited and
changed him. He was so delighted
that he smiled all over. You could
not even sit behind him without see
ing him smile. He smiled all over
It crazed him. Before that we got on
well. After that he would hardly
speak to me- | was working to en-
force the laws of Congress, and he
was working for the Presidency. Per-
haps he thought did not praise him
enough, but any way he hardly spoke
to me. 1t was ON my nomination that
he was made Brigadier General il
the regular army. When | was made
J General, Stanton told me it was
compliment to me, and that | cOulC
name the men to fill the vancancie
in Lieutenant Generalship and Maio
Generalship caused by my promotion
I nominated him for the vacant Maio
e Generalship in the regular army. Ii
:, acknowledged itmanfully, He was
very fair corps commander, but wa
never thought of for any great place