The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-07
why Grant Assails Hancock.

GEN. Grant has resorted to underhAnded
means to injure Gen. Hancock. and as
Grant is prospective candidate Tor the
presidency. and has suddenly become very
earnest in support of Garfield, the object
of the attack is evident-it is to work
injury to Hancock, destroy the spontaneity
of the enthusiasm for him, and leave the
impression with the people that General
Hancock, instead of being the spontaneous
choice OF the people, and not an othoe
seeker. is really the.enIorced choice; that
he, (Hancock,) has been secretly working
to secure the nomination for the presiden-
cy since 1864. Grant does this in order to
pave the way for this own nomination IN
1884, knowing that, If Hancock is elected
his (Grant's) nomination in 1884 will be
but an empty honor; thatthe Republican
party in the event of Hanceck's election
will be practically defunct; that 10 .order
to save the Republican party aud his own
nomination he must weaken Hancock with
the people. Grants letters would appear
much more impartial were it not for the
closing sentences. in which he takes to
himself the" assumption that he alone, of
all others in the country, can successfully
administer the government IN 2 manner
beneficial to the people. The well known
egotism ofGrant and his inordinste am bition
crop out so prominently. that the animus
of the charges can be easily traced.
Grant has been toadied and petted SO
nuch-has been treated with SO much
adulation By the hungry Office seekers of
the Republican party. that he actually
believes that he is alone capable Of being
the president of the United States. Gen,
Grant is an aspirsnt for reelection
to Office. He must, however, rest his
claims on the two administrations from
1868 to 1876, when he was chief executive
of the country, and, measured by the
results, he falls far short of an idea
people of the-country do not wish to repeat.
The last tour years of Grants admins
tration are marked with infamy. The
most outrageous frauds on the revenue
were committed under his eye, and it is
charged, taCitly at least, by his consent
The revenue department under Grant was
a gigantic ring of plunderers. Under his
administration millions of dollars were
stolen, cabinet officers were clothed with
iriamy; confidential clerks were detected
in thieveries- heads of departments were
proven to he in league with scoundrels-
in fact the whole administration was per-
meated with fraud and corruption and
became stencil in the Dostrils of the
people. In 1874, the first opportunity the
people had to express themselves after the
exuosQre .of these corruptions, they re-
verstd the Republican majority in the
lower house OF congress, and set the seal
of condemnation on the Republican party
so thoroughly that it never recovered. To
1876 the people spoke again, and in DO
uncertain manner declared for Demo-
cratic president, electing Samuel j. TiIden
chief executive of the United States. but
were deprived of their choice through
Republican infamy. In 1880, Gen. Grant
sought the nomination of the Republican
party for president but was defeat |
ed IN convention, and sulked from that |
time until few weeks ago
when he suddenly became interested in |
GaTfeld's election. simultaneously with |
Grant, Conkling experienced a change of
heart, and now the whole stalwart brigade |
with Grant at the head are aiding to elect |
Garfield, in order to retain the spoils, and |
pave the way for Grants nomination in |
1884, There has been q consultation of |
the Leaders, sort of council of the chiefs. |
and the Grant wing has been promised a
share in the spoils and active support for |
Grant in 1884 if Garfield is elected, SO |
Grant comes to the front making an I'M
demanded attack on Hancock, But like |
all others, this last attack on the Demo |
cratic nominee is likely to prove boomer
ang. Now comes Col, BIanton Duncan to |
the front, in which letters from Hancock |
to him are produced showing that Ham
cock not only did not seek the nomination
but twas positively adverse TO being
mixed IN politics. He shows
the same1 clear headed Judgment