The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-09
General sherman the Ku Klux Qucs-
fion-What Did General sherman Says

General sherman ON the Ku Klux Qucs-
tion-What Did General Sherman says
In widely circulated report of speech
made by General Sherman, at recent recep-
ton given him in New Orleans by the Ameri-
can Union Club of that city, he is represented
as thus expressing himself on the Ku Klux
question -
probably have as good means OF Information as
NEST persons In regard to what IL called the Ku
greatly over. estimated; and II the Ku Klux 6ills
We're kept out OF Congress and the army kept at
rae N All nsrs are enough good ana
klux or other bands OF marauders
And now we have a statement on this matter
from Mr.. Thomas W. Conway, Secretary Of
the Union League Club of New Orleans, in
which he says that on the 22d of April last
said Club gave complimentary dinner to
General Sherman that about one hundred
persons were present, some of whom were
colored men; that Mr.. Conway was not pre-
sent at the reception given the General by
the American Union Club, SO that he (Mr.
Conway cannot speak of what the General
said on that occasion. "But," says Mr.. Con-
way, 81 made careful report Of what he did
say on the occasion of the reception given by
the Club, to which l belong, and have my
original notes now with me-" and this is what
General Sherman said -
Mr.. President-I am not much OF a speaker my
forte is action, not speechmaking. l do not wish
my remarks this evening to be reported IN the news
papers, for see that ,chdt said on the occasion
or another reception eytended to me s.nce mn
arrival has been entirely DttSrepresented ana am
CREDITED ,omh cords did nor utter az al. there
hara M "a q
pleasant interview Is they served the other to which
l nave alluded.
country keeps me employed In military matters. and
by that employment may be enabled to assist the
o S be ahs pooan srve as
well as can to DO what my oflcial duty compels.
and In doing that find myself amply employed.
DO not seek any ctuM position fChdteue7, ana do not
aCtsh to De suspected OF doing so. Indeed, should
positively decline any oner ora csc or political po-
future to the study OF the military art not with the
view OF destroying but as means OF promoting the
good OF all, even the lowest classes OF our citizens
Here, then, touching the speech of General
Sherman at the American Union Club dinner,
the question recurs, what did General Sher-
man say? In New Orleans letter on the
subject to the New York Standard the writer
gives, substantially, Mr.. Conway's report of
the Generals speech at the Union League
Club dinner, and says that Sin conversation
he certainly talked savagely enough against
lawlessness in some parts of the South; and,
instead of being blind to the fact that nearly
every Southern democrat is member of the
Ku Klux, he seemed to be we'll aware of
the fact and thoroughly alive to its impor-
tance." 1t further appears from this report
that the General had no objection to the pre-
sence of American citize of African descent
at the dinner table Of the Union League, and
that before the dinner was finished che paid
some high compliments to the colored men
who were present, having found from what
they said and from their manner that they
were men of culture and refinement" But,
admitting all this to be true as to what Gene
raj Sherman said at the Union League Club
dinner, the question still remains to be an
sered, what did he say at the reception of that
other club, composed wholly Of white men
officers Of the army and navy?
| The quotation we have given above as from
his remarks on that OCCASION and which has
electrified the democracy all over the country
as Indicating their man of all men for 1872,
has not been disclaimed by General Sherman
over his own signature. We are, then,
strongly inclined to the impression that this
is the Generals position-that he did make
substantially the remarks at the American
Union Club reception attributed to him in the
widely published report of that speech, but
that he did not imagine that that speech would
get into print, but would be treated as pri-
vate confidential conversation. Seco ndly,
that in the face Of his protest at the
second reception against newspaper reporters,
he did not suppose his remarks. intended
as purely social and confidential, would
ever get into the newspaper He hoped
that there were no reporters present. There
was no response, and so he was satisfied that
none were present, and he went ahead.
Thirdly, we think it probable that the Ku Klux
remarks of the General having got into the
newspapers, and having raised him to the
clouds as the right man for the democracy in
1872, he was pleased with the great sensation
and disposed to let it take its course, and so
has remained silent on the subject. Why not?
But this statement Of Mr.. Conway places
General Sherman between two fires, and 80 he
is called upon to define his position. 1t is not
enough that he does not seek, does not want
and will not accept any political position.
That is the old story. 1t must be evident to
him now that he has only to say the word in
order to become the leader Of the democratic
party on a new departure. There is weak
point with the General, however, in his dread
of newspaper reporters. 1t was developed
early In the war, aud it sticks to him yet
This popularity in the General we cannot
comprehend. He is good speaker and a
ready speaker, and he likes to make speeches,
but he has no fancy for newspaper reporters.
They are, no doubt, too apt to put down what
he does sav off-hand as the Thought strikes