Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-12-20
CRAWLING MICHIGAN THURSDAY. DECEMBER 20, 1885,
HOW BLAINE STOOD.
HIS CORREsPONDENCE WITH sHER-
MAM>MADE PUBLIC.

He Urges the Latter TO Allow His Name
20 Go Before the Chicago Convention,
but sherman Insists Otherwise-Chica-
go's Great Catastrophe.
tGen sh erman, In North American Review.1
In the year Of our Lord 1884 there was to
be sharp contest for the nomination In
Chicago for a Presidential candidate OF the
Republican party. The press and people
generally believed that Blaine wanted 1t.
and everybody turned to him as the man
best qualified to execute the policy to ac-
compllsh the result aimed at. Still. abne-
eating himself. he wrote to me from WASH
ington this letter:
[Conhdential strictly and absolutely SOL
WAsHINGroN, ID. c., May 70, 1884.
YDkAh uENE Ihis a., ieIter !. rs9I,ss =, o,,p no
most secret drawer or give 1t to the flames
At the approaching convention at Chicago It
is more than possible Il Is indeed not imprIhDe Inn th
Presidency. IL so, you must stand your hand,
accept the responsibility and assume the duties
Of the place to which you will surely be chosen
You must not look upon it as the work OF the
politicians. II 1t comes TO you IL will come as
the ground swell Of popular demand, and you
can no more refuse than you could have refused
TO obey order when you were Lieutenant in
the army. II It comes to you at all II viii come
as call OF patriotism. IL would In such an
event injuro your great fame as much to declin,
it as It would for you to seek 1t. Your historic
record, full as 1t is, would be rendered still
more glorious by such an administration rs you
would be able to give the country. Do not say
q word In advance of the convention, no matter
who may ask you. You are with your friends,
who viii jealously guard your honor and renown-
JAMES q. BLAINE.
To which replied:
-9l2 GARR1soN AVENUE, ST. LOUIS NO.,
May %, 1884.
Hon James @. Blaine Washington ID. c.:
MY DEAR FRIEND-I have received your letter
of the 25th, shall construe 1t absolutely con-
hdential, not intimating even TO any member of
my family that have heard from you, and
though you may not expect an answer hope
you will not construe one as unwarranted.
have had a great many letters from all points
OF the compass to similar effect, one or two OF
which l have answered frankly, but the great
mass are unanswered.
ought not to submit myself to the cheap
ridicule Of declining what is not offered, but it
is only fair to tho many really able men who
rightfully aspire to the high honor Of being Pres
ident OF the United States, to let them know
that am not and must not be construed as a
rival. In every mans life occurs an epoch when
he must choose his own career and when he
place his destiny in the hands Of friends Mine
occurred In louisiana, when, IN Iool, alone IN
the midst Of a people blinded by supposed
wrongs, 1 resolved to stand by tne d Union as as
which to cling. Since then, through faction,
tempest, war and peace, my career has been all
my family and friends could ask We are now
In good house OF our own choice. with reason
able provisions for old age, surrounded by kind
and admiring friends, in a community where
Catholicism is he'd In respect and veneratton,
and where my children will naturally grow up
In contact with an industrious and frugal peo-
ple You have known and appreciated Mrs.
Sherman from childhood, have also known each
and all the members Of my family, and can under
stand without an explanation from me how
their thoughts and feelings should and ought
to influence my action. But / will not even
throw of ON them the responsibility.
win not in any event entertain or accept q
nomination as a candidate for President by the
Chicago Republican Convention, or any other
convention, for reasons personal to myself. 1
claim that the civil war, In which simply did
mans fair share OF worS, so perfectly accom-
lutte right to rest and TO demand that the men
. who have been schooled in the arts and practice
Of peace shall now do their work equally well.
Any Senator can step from his chair at the Capt
toll into the Whits House and fu NIL the office
of President with moe skill and success than
Grant. Sherman or Sheridan who were soldiers
by education and nature, who filled well their
ofice when the country was in danger, but were
not schooled in the practice by which civil COM
munities are and should be- be governed; ! claim .Sa
truth OF this my proposition. Therefore l say
that patriotism does not demand Of me what
construe as sacrifice of judgment, OF inclina-
have my personal affairs In a state Of abso-
lutte safety and comfort. lowe no man cent,
have no EXPENSIVE habits, envy no man his
wealth or power, no complications or indirect
liabilities. and would account myself fool, a
mailman, an ass, to embark anew at sixty-fve
years OF age In q career that may become at any
moment tempest sed by perhdy, the defalca-
tion the dishonesty or neglect OF any single one
OF hundred thousand subordinates utterly un-
known to the President OF the United States,
not to say the eternat worriment by a vast host
Of impecunious friends and old military subor-
dinates. Even rs IL is am tortured by the
charitable appeals of poor, distressed pension,
ers, but as President these would be multiplied
beyond human endurance.
remember well the experience OF Generals
Jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Grant. Hayes, ana
&arfield all elected because of their military
services, and am warned, not encouraged, by
their sad experiences.
The civilians OF the United States should and
must buffet with this thankless office, and leave
us old soldiers to enjoy the peace we fought for,
your friend, w. T. SHERMAN.
These letters prove absolutely that Mr..
Blaine, though qualified. waived to me per-
sonally a nomination which the world still
believes he coveted for himself.
In giving to the North american ReDieto
at this late day these letters. which thus far
have remained hidden In my private files.
commit no breach OF confidence, and to put
at rest n matter OF constant in
quiry referred to In my letter OF
May %, 1884. 1 here record that my
immediate family are strongly Catholic. L
am not and cannot be. That is all the
public has right to know: nor do l wish
to be construed as departing from a resolve
made forty years ago never to embark In
politics. The brightest and best youth OF
our land have been drawn into that mael-
strom, and their wrecked fortunes strew
ory even I'm its short time brings up names
- ,,fo&t.,.o hu tha m drada ~ not fhnuQanda