The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-04-15
Secretary Sherman as a Candidate.

The candidacy of John Sherman
grows very logically out of his bril-
liant substantial success, as secretary
of the treasury, in refunding the pub
lie debt and in resuming specie pay
ments. This success is highly honor
ed by all intelligent people in this
country, and would be doubly honor
ed if accomplished in any European
country, because the difficulty of
strengthening national credit when
once deprecated, and Of returning
to specie values after being once cut
adrift, is much better understood there
than here. There is such thing as a
science of national finance in Europe.
In this country the treasury was un-
der the control of experimenters dur
ing the long interval between McCul-
loch and Sherman. Fortunately, Mr..
Sherman had outlived his weaknesses
on the subject of the currency and the
debt, and had come into the post of
finance minister with clear and cor
rect idea of what was to be done to
get affairs upon settled and honest
basis, together with a firm will to
carry out his purposes. Backed by a
president fully in accord with his
views, he was able to triumph over
opposition in Congress, and to go
straight forward towards the goal of
lower interest and gold payments.
After such achievements it was newt
able that he should be looked upon by
a large element in the republican par
ty as the best man to nominate for the
presidency. He is type Of solvency,
prudence, and firmness in financial
and business affairs. People who ap-
preciate best the inestimable value to
the country of the changes he has
wrought in its finances look with
most favor upon his candidacy,-that
is to say, bankers, manufacturers,
and substantial mer-
chants and farmers. Of political
strength he possesses far less than
Mr.. Blaine. His own State of Ohio
is the only one which can be said to
be originally in favor Of his candidacy.
In other States his followers are ra' e y
in possession of much practical intiu-
ence of the sort that controls conven-
and selects delegates. 1t is probable,
however, that the sense of the special
fitness of his candidacy, his popularity
among the business classes, and the
knowledge all politicians possess of
the character, temper, and opinions
he would bring to the chief magis-
tracy will give him great deal of
in the Chicago convention
which cannot now be measured and To-
Gated. Then, Mr. Sherman is himself an
exceedingly able practical politician.
With no faculty for winning friends
by simply mingling with men and
shaking hands, and no gift of oratory
beyond the ability to express his ideas
connectedly and clearly, he has held
positions ever since he en-
tered politics as a young man, never
dropping out of Office for a day, and
mounting from post to post
until within one step Of the White
House. His success has been due to two
things: first, he has always been able
to convince the public of his intellect
and moral fitness for the place he
and, second, he has known
how to 90 to work TO secure nomina-
tions and carry elections. III ese two
things will operate in his favor now
as heretofore. As to his lack of per-
sonal magnetism, of which we'hear so
much, that is doubtless a misfortune
for public man; but it has not kept
him from getting on in life, and will
not be obstacle enough of itself to
keep him out of the presidency. He
makes up for this defect by close
knowledge of human nature (witness,
for example, the efficiency of the rev.
enue and customs departments under
his administration of the treasury,
and their freedom from scandals), and
a full comprehension of the fact that
in politics an exchange of services and
benefits goes further than personal
friendship. His chief weakness as a
lies in the fact that he is an
Ohio man. 1t will be hard to per-
suade the convention to take another
president from that much-favored
State. Mr.. Sherman represents
moderate phase Of opinion on the
Southern question. He is less con-
ciliatory than President Hayes, and
Less aggressive than Senator Blaine.
His republicanism is of very stubborn,
ingrained sort, but sees the import
ance of other questions than those
left over as the debris of the war and
reconstruction periods April Allan
tic.