Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-26
SHERMAN,s PUTTY.

It is very evident from the testimony be-
fore the Potter committee that Sherman's
character was fully understood by one per-
son, at least, previous to the beginning Of
the last session of Congress. One of his
letters was accidentally found in package
of documents submitted by Major Burke
This writer, who is at present anonymous,
expressed his opinion of the pirate very
bluntly, and his letter shows that he under
stood the policy he would pursue thorough
ly. He says:
The country will condemn a bargain. 1t
will damn the man who made it, especially if
they get Federal Offices of any kind for them
selves. Taking Key instead of Joe Johnston
shows they want putty" and that their
Southern policy is a sham. Sherman will play
bluff with us, bride and bully. intend to
stand clear and assume the offensive
at the opening of Congress. They
have no idea of unfolding Packard,
none in the world, but they will try to make
some of our uninitiated believe they will do So
so as to build on their fears. / repeat that
they will bully and bride, threaten some with
Packard, and bride others with Offices, and they
will touch no man from the South with brains
and power-real independent men. Hayes
would like to do so, but Sherman will prevent.
But they will never get Hayes to recognize
Packard nor use the troops against US.
This proved to be the policy carried out.
To bully some and threaten others is John
Sherman's method-his conception of states
manship. To influence men by moral sua-
sion never appears to enter his mind Per-
haps the fact that his cause has nothing to
commend it to the honest or intelligent
mind has something to do with his adoption
of the tactics of the bully and
the briber. Certain it is that
the author of the letter above quoted
hit tie nail squarely on the head in his out
line of Sherman's policy. 1t was the policy
pursued by him in Louisiana; it was the
policy pursued at his dictation in Florida.
He had purpese to accom-
plish-the inauguration of Hayes and his
own consequent elevation to the highest
post of honor in the gift of the executive.
He knew that he could influence the incom-
ing President and compel him to carry out
the contracts he made, and the knowledge
made him bold. With that power he die
tated the formation of the cabinet. He
wanted putty, and Hayes gave it to him in
the shape of our present postmaster general.
Putty is easily handled, and another piece
was placed in the cabinet in the person of
the attorney general. More putty was
wanted for Sherman to work, and the pres
emit secretary of war and the present secre-
tary of the navy were appointed. A con
cession was made to the non-pliable ele nent
by the appointment of Evarts and Schurz-
men of individuality but full of crotchets
and therefore comparatively harm
less. But putty composed the
| majority of the cabinet, and it was placed in
the hands of John Sherman to mould as he
saw fit. The biggest lump of putty in the
whole lot occupied the Presidential chair
Sherman bullied some people into obeying
his commands, and he bribed others. He
manipulated the big lump of putty in the
White House so as to secure the payment of
the brides he had offered, and then worked
the little Jumps of putty in the cabinet to
abide by the contracts. The man who has
dictated the policy of the administration is
the pirate Sherman. The other nominal
heads of departments have been merely
Jumps of putty. 1t is not, therefore, strange
that the Hayes administration has been q
failure 1t has been managed by man
thoroughly dishonest in his every thought
and by means the most disreputable. Had
it been a success it would have been the
eighth wonder of the world.