Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-07
General Hancock interviewed.

Cincinnati Con- meroial special.l
The intensity of feeling at Govern
or's Island had somewhat diminished
to day. General Hancock passed the
most of Saturday in the city, and was
away from the Island part OF to .day.
In the afternoon he was found on the
lawn in front of his dwelling, where
he was busily occupied in entertaining
his grandchildren, who have Just come
from Mississippi, He received the
Tribune reporter pleasantly, and soon
the conversation drifted to the general
topic, the attack on the President.
General Hancock said: 1T was the
act Of lunatic, or man driven into
. crazed condition by politics. The
latter is probab ". the true description
OF his conditions 1t is the natural
result Of strong political feeling; in
other words, of political faction.
1t is the out come of the state of affairs
which has been developing in the
country through factional animosity.
There are minds so constituted and
naturally excitable that, when worked
upon by passion and intense feeling
are driven into this condition. This
mau is evidently of that class. II
would be absurd to suppose that he
was at all connected with any one elsa
in other words, that there was a
conspiracy. The man acted on bis
own responsibility. His mind was
unbalanced, and the result was natural
Ia the case of the assassination Of
Lincoln the excitement had been
running high upon the issues of the
war;. and the Southern people were
embittered; yet Booth acted on his
own responsibility, although his act
was an outgrOwth Of the excitement of
the times"
DO you think this act is possibly
phase of Nihilism?"
| know nothing about it. I have
paid no attention to the question. I
do not suppOse>it is anything of the
kind, although I have no opinion
to express upon the matter. Nihilism
arises from peculiar conditions. and
there can hardly be any comparison
In the matter. 1t is simply an unfor-
tunate fact that the President of the
United States has been shot down in
one day"
DO you recall the attempted shoot
ing of Jackson?"
Yes, but only generally. Compar-
lsons Of that kind are not desirable
Even in drawing parallels in the cases
OF Presidents Lincoln and Garfield I
dare say | went too far. In many re-
spects there was marked difference
In the circumstances.
In the case of the Presidents
death, do you think it will have any
bearing with reference to the Southern
people?"
Il cannot say. l do not wish to
discuss it. The Southern people have
nothing to do with this matter more
than the North. Prejudices Of the
war are dying out, and there are
no further occasion for bringing for
ward the subject. In the case Of the
death OF General Garfield | have no
idea Of what General Arthur would
DO. There is no need for speculation.
II is merely a waste of time"
Are you we'll acquainted with the
President.
Only in general way, as men meet
in official life. Not So we'll as with
many Others. That is, in no intimate
sense, of course. A contact running
over twenty years would enable me to
see a good deal of him. We all know
what he is personally, agreeable and
pleasing"
Later General Hapcock said:
u have no knowledge Of politics at
Albany, and keep aloof from them. l
am not a politician. That field be-
longs TO others. The attack upon
President Garfield has no greater
significance than l have Indicated; il
is the act Off man crazed by political
faction"