New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-09
CEN. SHERMAN SPEAKS.


The desperate politicians who have been try
ing TO use Gen. Sberman's name to sustain
their own dishonest and uncandid account OF
affairs in the South, and the reckless journal
lists who have been proposing him for ule
Presidency have received at once most I'M
mistakable rebuff. He has fallen in with some
copies of Northern newspapers while sklrting
"the Texas frontier" and loses no time III
writing to repudiate the speech attributed 10
him which contained the INDIGENOUS anu mac
curate references to current politics 10 when
we have formerly alluded. His letter, which
we print in another column, is one OF whose
authenticity there can be no doubt. There Is
no one in Texas who could produce an imita-
ton SO exact of the spirit and form of the
gallant Generals utterances. 1t seems to have
been written with the point Of his sword, and
emphasized until the words cry aloud on the
page. He hates politics, and will not discuss
them, which is a conclusion full of discretion
and propriety. Whatever he says at dinner,
outside of the presumed sphere of the reporter,
is nobody's business, which is a doctrine
preached by THE TRIBUNE, in season and out.
The men who unsupported his speech and
the Democratic papers of the North who gave
so absurd a prominence to this forged express
sion of opinion are equally liable to his indig-
nation and contempt But it is an Incl
dent not likely to occur very soon again
after the Generals most explicit and energetic
letter He has learned the value OF reticence
as a soldicrly quality, and knows very well
that this is not people which looks to the
army for lis watch-word in civil affairs. He
is so well satisfied with his present position,
and with this understanding of his RESPONSE
bilities that he serves now and finally general
notice upon the whole class of partisan trainers,
that his name is to be omitted from all future
lists of candidates. The manner in which this
determination is stated certainly leaves nothing
10 be desired in clcarncss and emphasis. IL
confirms most fully the prediction which we
made at the time of his presumed New
Orleans speech, to the effect that il the Tam
many managers once succeeded in capturing
him he would prove the lvelest Tartar known
to history. He would smash ofl-hand any plat
form they pretended to place him on, and
would be in all respects as uncomfortable a
guest as an Andalusian bull in the porcelain
works of Sevres.
The fact which is brought into evidence by
such incidents AZ this, is the utter bankruptcy
of the Democratic party in the element of
character and prestige. Nearly every man in
public life who has done anything worth re-
cording, and whose political opinion is worth
listening to, has been in favor of the means
adopted by the Republican party to preserve
the government, and to restore the national
authority throughout the country. The Oppo-
stion control few State legislatures, few
rich corporations they manage with the ease
which results from the nature of their material
vast masses of ignorance and prejudice. They
make houriShing business of politics.
Their leaders gain money and power.
But they do not gain that self-respect which
they would feel, if larger proportion of the
known virtue and patriotism of the country
were with them. James Fisk jr., has more
money and more political material than Gen.
Sherman, and yet, for the honest name OF this
patriotic fighting man, how gladly they would
throw away their Erie ally. with all his votes
and his diamonds. Their anxiety to capture
this splendid figure-hcad Overcomes their com
mon sense. They forge a speech for him,
which undoubtedly has certain air of
genuineness, for. with all his honor
and his patriotism, Gen. Sherman has not
been always the most ulBCIeeC Oh nen. lHc
Democratic press, in one widespread chorus,
accept this spurious harangue as the most
damaging statement yet made against the Adj
ministration. With effusiOn of praise to the
General, which was in great part just, they
use his personal renown to give weight to an
Indictment against the civil conduct of his old
friend and compartment n-arms, which he had
not made. and which would have been the
hight of ndiscretOn to make. Now that he
has distinctly and positively refused to throw
his sword into their rising scale, it will be
curious to see what they will do with those
eulogies of his sagacity, his patriotism, and
his political insight of which they were 80 lavish
few days ago. 1t is with genuine pleasure that
we see this prompt and sOldierly reputation
by Gen. Sherman of the false position into
which these trcksters have been striving to
force him. If he had seriously joined their
party, he could not have remained in harmony
for month with an organization so corrupt
and so time-serving But it would have been
a national loss if he had furnished his laurels
by even a mOmentary association with men
whose political existence means nothing but
hostility to the cause in which he gained
fame which is national possession.
-