Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-28
HOW A LEADING REPUBLICAN VIEWS
General Sherman as the Democratic
Candidate for President.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-Durins Chair.
man Barnums visit to the Capital he had
a conversation with number of prominent
politicians one evening, the subject being
the probable candidates for President on
the Democratic and Republican tickets.
The party was about equally divided polit-
icalIy, among the number being promi
neut Republican whose name figured con.
spcuously in 1850 as possible dark-horse.
The names OF Mcdonald, Morrison, Car
isle, Bsyard, Hewitt, and others had been
pretty fully canvassed, resulting in no gen
eral expression Of confidence in the avail
ability Of any Of them, when the Republi-
can startled the little circle by aoruptly
asking, why don't you Democrats nomi
nate General Sherman The Democrats
lnvoluntarily and somewhat helplessly
rurned to Mr.. Barnum, horePlied: There
/, one good reason for not nominating Sher-
man, and that is he is not Democrat"
Sherman Life Long Democrat.
1t is true that General Sherman has rot
been connected with either party since the
war;" said the Republican, "Dut befo.e the
war he was Democrat and there is moth
ing in his record since the close OF hostili-
ties that jushties CHASING him with the
Republicans. On the other hand, the last
.Cl Of his career as q military commander
in the field was one which Democrats in
dorsed at the time and which betrayed bis
deep seated Democratic convictions. al
lude, Of course, 10 the terms OF surrender
offered to General Johnston"
But what are his views on the public
Questions Of the hour?' asked anJ.her
Democrat present.
IL have no doubt he is thorough be-
lever in the reduction Of the tariff TO
peace basis, and be has repeatedly made
public his adherence of the extravaganza
and ius'ncen'y, the aping OF foreign social
customs and the general decentralization
that hsye followed the departure OF the
Government from the plain and homely
Democracy Of the Fathers"
Would he accept a nomination from
the Democratic convention if rendered
him."
Why He Is Weak with Republicans.
Il think he would. am quite certain,
however, that he is sincere in saying that
be would not accept the Republican nomi-
nation, for the very reason, if he has no
better, that he would be compelled to keep
Up the system of iawdry and tinsel which
IS 80 hateful in his eyes. | doubt il he
could be elected as Republican candidate.
The very thing that would add to his
strength Hs the candidate of the Dsmoc.
rtcy would greatly wesken him as the Re.
publiCsB standard bearer. There is no
man in The country who is a more earnest
Protestant than General Sherman. But
bis wife is Catholic, and there are thou
sands of Republicans who would h1ld
that up sgsinst him, There are very few
Catholic Republicans, the great mass Of
the communicsnts of that faith having
always been Democrats"
But would the South vote for him."
queried smother Of the company, somewhs'
dubiously.
There can be little doubt about that
The Southern people like q game mao, and
a'e eager just now for leader OF pluck a.
well ss humanity. With Sherman as the
Lemocrstic candidate, the blOoiy shirt
would be buried forever, aud what the
South desires more thsn anything else is
Oblivion of the past and complete restora-
ton 10 the confidence and affection of the
people OF the North"
"Could you not beat Sherman with his
brother John or Blaine?'
1T is my firm belief that there is mt 3
man in the Republican party who can beat
General Sherman il nominated by the Dsm-
ocrsts, Just as it is my opinion that he
would be one Of the weakest csndi iates
the Republicans could nominate"