Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-02-01

he DOES NOT wANTlr.

he DOES NOT WANT IT.
General Sherman Depicts the Woes of
Presidents ana Says he Wants None of
them Himself.
"When Gen. Sherman was here the
other day getting over the head, which
the Glover club put on him in Philadel.
phia." says Ramsdell in the Philadelphia
Press, II heard him talk very freely on
the subject of the great Office. l will not
attempt to give his words, for any report
would do him injustice, and cannot
attempt to describe his manner, which,
in forcible earnestness and decision is
beyond all description, will merely try
to give some of his ideas. He spoke of
his quiet home in st. Louis, his love of
ease and leisure, with time to do what he
wanted to do without thinking that he
was neglecting something important; his
easy circumstances in worldly sense,
his active, sacrificing life, his hard knocks
in the world, his sixty-four years of age.
the few years of health that would
naturally remain to him, the good name
he held in the country, and his honora-
BILE place in history. "What," said he,
would the presidency be worth to me
in the face of these things? l would not
asked me. What does it entail? Look
back and see If I could afford to take it,
even were it offered to me-and on this
point think my friends have an exag-
gerated idea, for do not believe the
country is very much concerned about
it.
II will not" he continued u only try
to give his ideas, not his words) "speak
OF Pierce or Buchanan. We will begin
with Lincoln-a great and noble man.
Well, what was his fate? No man ever
went through four years of such suffer
ing. His anxiety nearly drove him mad
His early suffefings, his struggle with
fortune-they were as nothing. Finally.
when it seemed that little peace and
quiet was coming to him, he died with o
bullet through his brain. OF course, he
made name that will be immortal. But
is that compensation for all his sufferings
and troubles and an eseassin's bnllet
through the head.
| "Then came Andrew johnson. Where
was his peace Of mind and where is his
fame? Mind you, I am not selfieh
enough to say that mans comfort and
ease ought to be considered when he
can be Of service to his country. did not
act on that principle at the beginning Of
the war, but we'll know that could
not make better president than ter
thousand other men. Well, Mr.. johnson
was impeached, and came very pea,
being convicted of high crimes and mis-
demeapors. For myself, I believe he
was an honest man. He left the white
house poor man, and died in obscurity
in little village Of Tennessee. Tell me
where was his compensation.
soldier, Gen. Grant. Every man, woman
and child in the country revered hi
! name. He was foremost among the col
o diers of the world. He never lost bat
a tie. He had an honored position in life
= greater, as think, than the presidency
The salary made him independent. NJ
9 taint has ever rested on his name. Ell
3 was cheered and hattered wherever b.
Z went-undoubtedly the most popula
man in the country. Well, what was tn
result? He became president and servet
q term of eight years of misery in th
b white house. He left it poor man, an,
a many people (most unjustly, believe me,
! lost confidence in him. Where is b.
now? Instead of enjoying the fruits O
: his great services to the country, insteat
t OF being the general OF the army, instea,
/. Of being the foremost man in the country
!. he is lighting the bulls and bears on Wal
/. street. Surel ! that ought not to be-"
The next president was MIR. Hayes
The reader will excuse me, but can
help laughing when think that such
q man was ever president. don't eve
remember what Gen. Sherman sal
about Hayes, and 90 I will fill in by RI
}, marking that Mr.. Hayes was nothing I
9 start with, and that to-day, after fou
a years in the white house, he is more oil
:. scure than ever.
"The next president" continued Gel
: Sherman, twas Garfeld-a great, hi,
d noble hearted fellow, who could have O,
d cupied high position in the public Sc
8 vice and in popular regard for twent
! years. In an evil hour he become pres
9 dent. His domestic relations were d,
q etroyed by the official anxiety that cam
a to him. He had no time for domestic il
tercourse. He VAS worried almost [
- death. He was in Office scarcely fol-
ls months when be, like Lincoln, was sh,
It by an assassin. Whence comes his cor
;s pensation? The country leveres
name auu MS picture lS III every nous
i but where is the life that is cut short
in Where is the poor widow? Where o
le the little sorrowing children that |
=. loved to play with and help IN their lie
:. sons?
d "In the case of Mr.. Arthur conse
le vative, careful man-he is yet to go o.
30 of Office. He has friends right and lei
in but his bed is not one Of roses. The
are thorns even there. He is bother,
y all the time by small things that new
ar ought to reach the president, and is
Or from happy. When bis term is out
u. will go into dignified retirement.
:. snow, why should want the prei
~ dency. I cannot serve the country,
ut cannot do anything that other men nj
Ii. not do. At the end of four years, we
ID president, should be hated by b,
the country. though I might have tri
- my best to be good and faithful offic
IL There is nothing in it, my friend, a,
e. nothing could induce me to take it."
as AMERICAN MEATS.