The Portland daily press., 1871-05-19
The Qualifications of a Democratic Cam

1t is so unusual thing for us TO find sat-
isiaction in the reading of Democratic news
papers that we feel bound to make anote OF IL
when We discover something good. oie vi
our Contemporaries published a leading arlicie
Wednesday which we find extremely amusing
on account of the childlike frankness OIL us
confessions. 1t finds Gen Sherman tit can
didate for the Presidency, il he desires that
honor, for the following reasons:
First, because of the speech he is reported
to have made at New Orleans, condemning
the Ku-Kux legislation and the policy of the
administration generally. Everybody but our
childlike contemporary lhas found out long
ago that.Gen.Sherman never made that speech
o any like it. But it ma ters not. The fact
that he could be supposed capable of such
declarations is enough to commend him to
his gentle eulosists.
Second, When Sherman was mere child
his father died leaving very large family in
rather Strengthened circumstances. When
Mr. Ewing came to the house to take one of
the children away for adoption, he found the
future Lieutenant-General san unruly boy
who kept the house in an uproar." At that
moment "he was making mud pies in the
street to the great detriment of his Clothes"
Afterwards he distinguished himself at West
Point, and, says our authority, "nothing more
need be said of him except that his services
during the rebellion are held in grateful &C.
acknowledgement by the whole country.n q
yes! very grateful acknowledgements
tally by those Democrats through whose
ranks he cut his way to the sea amid the
maledictions of the whole Democratic press
OF the country. But it should in Justice be
stated that his military career is passed oye1
very lightly and that the fact that he was an
"unruly boy who kept the whole house in an
uproar" is the circumstance chiefly dwelt ND.
on as that which qualities him for the Presi-
dency.
Third. He wrote letter once which has
the true statesmanlike, patriotic ring to it. II
is such a letter as one having the qualities Of
OF worthy successor of Washington, Jeffer
son, Madison and Lincoln might be expectef
to write. Seven years of great events hay,
since passed, to be sure, and Gen. Sherman
has perhaps corrected his political views a
well as his photography. Our contemporar
has published the letter once, it says, but th
epistle seems SO very admirable that il is re
produced. Here is this chaste effusion that
according to the Democratic standard of goo,
taste, entities Gen. Sherman more than any
thing else to the affectionate and respectful
consideration of his countrymen:
SIR-Yours of August 20 is received. Thanl
you for your kind expressions.
Iron is iron and steel is steel, and all tn,
popular ciaTor on earth will not impart t,
one the qualities of the other.
So niger is not white man, and all tn
Psalm singing on earth won't make him 81
1t is strange to me that among a people Mort
and South, who have so much common sense
that you can't say Niger till both parte
make fools OF themselves, and it is hard I
say which are the worst. When we settl
this little fight on hand the great "nieger
question will be found settled also.
Gen. Sherman is brave, good man, AM
the whole country is profoundly grateful t.
him for his services in subduing the Demo
cratic rebellion, but not at all grateful for tn
Ku-Klux speech which his Rebel admirer
have put in his mouth without his knowledg
or consent, for being an "unruly boy or 70
writing the infinitely silly letter which W
give above. But the qualifications for sue
cessiul career as Democratic politician ar
different from those of an honest man.
Sherman had ever been prize-fighter or ken
a gambling house, like Morissey. been
backleg, like Fernando Wood, drunkard
like salisbury, or the tool of corrupt ring
like Gov. Hoffman, his nomination by til,
Democratic convention would be sure. As i
is we doubt if the mythical Ku-klux speecl
or the bright traditions of his boyhood are
sufficient to ensure him success where he
neither expects nor desires it. The letter O
1854 might do, but the General now spell
negro with single "g," and so loses the bene