Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1888 — SHERMAN AND BLAINE. [ARTICLE]

SHERMAN AND BLAINE.

Some Interesting Correspondence Between the Two in 1884. The New York Times of Nov. 30th, 7 published the following from advance sheets of the North American Review’s article by General Sherman; “In the year of onr Lord 1884 there was to be a sharp contest for the nomination in Chicago for a presidential candidate of the Republican party. The press and the people generally believed Jthat Blaine wanted it, and everybody turned to him as the best man qualified to execute the policy, to accomplish the result aimed at. Still, abnegating himself, he wrote to me from Washington this letter. \ , u [Confidential, stric’l r/and abaolutdy so ] Washington, D. <ijiay 25, I>B4. My Dear General—This letter requires no answer. After reading it file it away in your most secure drawer or give it to the flames. At the approaching convention at Chicago, it is more than possible, it is, indeed, not improbable that you may be nominated for the Presidency. If so, you ,must stand your hand, accept the. responsibility, and assume the duties of the place to which you 'will surely be chosen if a candidate. You must m>t look upon it as the work of politicians. If it comes to you it/will comes as the ground swell of.popularity. And you can no more refuse than you could refuse to obey an order when you were a Lieutenant. If it comes at all it come at the call of patriotism. Your historic record, full as it is, would be rendered still more glorious by such an administration as you would be able to give the country. Do not say a word in advance of the convention, no matter who may ask you. You are with your friends, who will jealously guard your honor and renown. Your friend,- — — James G. Alaine. To this I replied as follows: St. Louis, Mo., May 28, US i Hon. James G. B'aine Wafhinaton, D. C t My Dear Friend—l have received your letter of the 25th. Shall construe t as absolutely confidential, not intimating its contents even to any member of my family. I have had a great many letters from all points of the compass to a similar effect, one or two of wbich I have answered frankly, but the great mass are unanswered. I ought not tosumit myself to the_ cheap ridicule of declining what is not offered but it is only fair to the many reliable men who rightfully aspire to the high honor of being President of the United States to let them know that I am not and must not be construed as a rival. In every man’s* life occurs an epoch when he must choose his own course and when he may not throw off the responsibility, ortaniely place his destiny in the hands- of fiiends. Mine occured in Louisiana, when in 1861, alone in the midst of the people, blinded by susposed wrongs, I resolved to stand by the Union as long as a fragment of it survived on which to cling. Since then, through faction, tempest, war and peace, my career has been all my family and friends could ask. We are now in a good house of our own choice, with reasonable provisions for old age, surrounded by kind and admiring friends in a community where Catholicism is held respect and veneration, and where my children will natur ally grow up in contact with an industrious and frugal people. You have known and appreciated Mrs. Sherman from childhood, have also known each and all the members of my family, and can understand without an explanation from me how their thoughts and feelings—should and ought to influence my action. BuJ I will not even throw off on. them the responsibility. I will not in any event accept a nomination as a candidate for President by the Chicago Republican » Convention— or any other convention for ~ reasons"” personal to myself... I claim that the civil war, in ’which I simply did a man’s fair part of work, has accomplished peace, and military men have a right to rest, and in the practice of peace shall do their work equally as well. Any Senator can step from his - chair into~tms White House and fill the office of President with more success than a Grant, Sherman or Sheridan, who were soldiers by nature, who filled well their offices when the country was in danger, but were not schooled in the practice by whi< h civil communities are or-ehould be governed. I claim that our experience siuce 1865 demonstrates the truth " of my proposition. Therefore, I say that patriotism does not demand of me what I construe a sacrifice of judgment. I have my personal affairs in a state of absolute safety and comfort, I owe no man a cent, have no expensive habits, envy no man his wqalth or power, and would account myself a fool, a madman, an ass to embark anew at sixty-five years of age in a career that may become at apy moment tempestuous by perfidy, the defalcation, the dishonesty or neglect of any single one of a hundred thousand subordinates utterly unknown to the President of the United States, not to say the eternal worriment by the host of impecunious friends and old military subordinates; even as it is 1 am tured by the appeals of poor distressed pensioners, but as President, these would be multiplied beyond human endurance. I reinember well the experience of Generals Jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Grant, Hayes and Garfield, all elected because of their military services, and am warned, not encouraged,by their experiences. The civilians of the United states should and must buffet with this - than k less office, and leave us old soldiers to enjoy trie’peace we fought for and think we earned. With profound respect, Your friend, W. T. Sherman. The Mind-Read er at Work. Indlanapoli*Letter in Ntw,. York Herald. While General Harrison has not yet begun to write his inaugural address, he has already in his mind many suggestions which it will contain. I have it from one who knows that one of his most important recommendations will be that Congress enact & law providing for the establishment of a permanent board of arbitration to settle all disputes between capital and labor. He will suggesrtbat it be composed of five-mem-bers, and that they be gi-en final jurisdiction in all cases. He will advise in favor of a very different tribunal than that provided for in the bill which was introduced last summer, but failed to become a law. -