The Portland daily press., 1884-12-20

John Sherman's Views on Politics.
John Sherman was interviewed in Pnils-
delpha lately by correspondent of the Bos-
ton Herald.
~ have been reading a new book giving
4he history OF the passage of the reform bill
in England" said the Senator, land am
persuaded that we are about nearing in this
country something of such crisis as Eng
land met in those days. We have many of
the same questions to settle. The labor prob
lem is yet before us, and others of equal i'm
portance. In fact, we are disturbed with va
rious elements of opposition inside of both
the old parties. Each must consider and
deal with the conflict between capital and la
Dor. Both are divided on the tariff question,
and both are now called upon to face new
conditions and to settle new questions.
The sectional issues are decided SO far as
they can be; do not say altogether wisely,
but, nevertheless, they are disposed of for
the present at least, and every live question
before us is practically new one. 1mpor
tant commercial treaties, upon which both
parties will divide, are pressing for settle
ment. Which ever shall deal with them so
as to meet the favor of the country will be
most successful. do not believe that we
are going to have new parties, but perhaps
re-casting of the old ones, upon fresh and
broader lines. In such an emergency as this
small things may turn the current of events
in any direction. | assume that if Mr..
Cleveland carries out the Dolicy that many
people assume that he will, he will disap
point some elements of his party. But be
will doubtless draw to himself large fac
tion. 1t he follows out civil service reform
ideas, take it for granted he will disappoint
his Southern constituents. They will do
much, il / am not mistaken, to embarrase
his administration in this direction. If they
should, it is possible that four years from
new the South may be divided as to the pres
idential succession. This 10 a consumma-
tion devoutly to be wished / do not desire
to see revival of any of the old sectional
animosiies, yet it would be very easy to re-
establish them. If the South should be un-
ruly and grow discontented because it did
not get all the Offices or make an assault up
on the well-founded theories of government,
it would be very easy for Mr.. Cleveland
or any other representative of the Democrat
ic party TO lose the very slender hold they
have secured upon the few Northern State y,
that have seemed simply to be willing to
give them trial. The country is very SEN
sitive upon the subject,of sectional divisions,
and it would be very easy to re-estabish a
politically solid North against solid South
Bot it is certainly my wish that the future
shall see parties divided upon new and great
questions, instead of by an imaginary line
drawn through the country below the Mid
die States. The disposition of the revenue,
the ratification or rejection of commercial
treaties, and the settlement of economic, in
dustrial and social questions will, hope, be
the light of our future political life for long
time to come"
'sDo you imagine that Mr.. Cleveland is
likely to have any trouble with the Senate
about the confirmation of his appoint
ments?"
81 do not. Very soon after the election 1
said that | believed the Senate would treat
Mr. Cleveland with perfect fairness, and con-
firm his appointments made in pursuance of
law and custom. Since have been in Wash
ington have taken occasion to test the tenn
per of our side, aud find that there is every
disposition to do SO. | spoke with two or
three Senators, only day or two since, who
/ thought might possibly hold different
view from myself upon this subject. All of
them expires sed the same opinion that the
next Executive should have a fair chance.
You see that twO-thirdS of the Offices within
the presidential gift are vacated during the
first sixteen months of Mr.. Cleveland's ad-
minstration, and he will thus have ample
opportunity of exercising the power of ap-
pointment without straiDiDg the law, or of
disappointing the country upon the question
of civil-service reform. | do not assume
that If the President should make objection
able appointments in violation of the law, or
proceed to wholesale removal in defiance of
civil service regulations, he might not find
opposition in the Senate but if he shall pur-
sue the wise and conservative course that his
friends claim he will, then there will be no
trouble, and the parties will proceed to the
settlement of the important questions have
spoken of, rather than be divided by petty
differences over the Government patronage.
One thing is observable, and argues well for
both parties. Every one seems to be in most
admirable temper this year. The Senate
committees have been organized without the
usual objection, and the business is moving
along as though both parties recognized the
tact that the country had put them both up
on their good behavior"