Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-02
How "Old Tecump" Refused
a Kingly Crown.
HE WOULDN'T BE PRESIDENT
Mrs. Sherman's Funeral Senator
Sherman FavorS Canadian
Annexation.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.


first time given to the public. Mr.. Sher
man says:
In the year of our Lord 1884, there
was to be sharp contest for the nomi
nation in Chicago of the Presidential
candidate of the Republican party. The
press and people generally believed thai
Mr.. Blaine wanted it, and everybody
turned to him as the man best qualified
to execute the policy and to accomplish
the result aimed at. Still abnegating
himself he wrote to me from Washing
ton this letter:
BLAINK's LETTER.
Confidential, strictly and absolutely so.
WASHINGTON, May 25, 1884.
My DEAR GENERAL-This letter re-
quests no answer. After reading it file
it away in your most secret drawer or
give it to the flames. At the approach
ing convention at Chicago it is more than
possible-it is indeed not improbable
that you may be nominated for the
Presidency. If so you must stand
your ground, accept the RESPONSE
bility and assume the duties of
the place to which you will surely
be chosen if candidate. You must not
look upon it as the work of politicians; if
it comes to you it will come as a grand
swell of popular demand, and you can no
more refuse than you could have refused
to obey orders when you were lieuten-
ant in the army. If it comes to YOU at
all, it will come as a call of patriot
ism. 1t would in such an event
injure your great fame as much to de-
cline it as it would for you to seek it.
Your historic record, full as it is, would
be rendered still more glorious by such
an administration as you would be able
to give the country. Do not say a word
in advance of the convention, no matter
who may ask you. You are with your
friends, who will jealousy guard your
honor and renown. Your friend,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
sHERhAN's ANSWER.
10 this letter replied as follows:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May %, 1884.
Hon. James G. Blaine, Washington DC:
My DEAR FRIEND-I have received
your letter of the 25th and shall construe
it as absolutely confidential, not intimat-
ing even to any member of my family
that have heard from you,
and though you did not expect an
answer hope you will not construe
one as unwarranted. have had great
many letters from all points of the com
pass to a similar effect, one or two of
which have answered frankly, but the
great r1ass are unanswered. | ought
not to submit myself to the cheap ridi-
cule of declining what is not offered me,
but it is only fair to many able men who
rightfully aspire to the high honor of be-
ing President of the United States to
let them know that am not and must
not be construed as rival. In every
mans life occurs an epoch when he must
choose his own career, and when he may
not throw Oft his responsibility. Mine
occurred in Louisiana when, in 1861.
alone in the midst of people blinded by
supposed wrong, l resolved to
stand by the Union as long as
a fragment of it survived on
which to cling. Since then, through
faction, tempest, wsr and peace, my
career has been all my family and friends
could ask. We are now in good house
OF our own choice, with reasonable pro-
Visions Tor old age, surrounded by kind
and admiring friends, in community
where Catholicism is held in respect and
veneration, and where my children will
naturally grow up in contact with in
dustrious and frugal people. You have
known and appreciated Mrs. Sherman
from childhood, have always known
each and all members Of my family and
can understand without explanation from
me how their thoughts and feelings
should and ought to influence my action.
Will not in any event entertain
or accept the nomination as candidate
for President by the Chicago Republican
Convention, or any other convention for
reasons personal to myself.
l claim that the Civil war, in which /
simply did mans fair share of work.
80 perfectly accomplished peace, that
military men have sn absolute right to
rest and demand that men who have
been schooled in the arts and
practices of peace shall now do
their work unusually we'll. Any Senator
can step from his chair at the capitol
into the White House and fulfill the Office
of President with more skill and success
than Grant, Sherman or Sheridan, who
were soldiers by education and nature.
who filled we'll their office when the
country was in danger, but were not
schooled in the practice by which
the civil authorities are, and should
be governed. I claim that our expert
ence since 1865 demonstrates the truth of
this, my proposition. Therefore l saw
that patriotism does not demand of me
what l construe as sacrifice of judg.
ment, OF inclination and of self-interest.
nave my personal affairs
IN state OF absolute safety and comfort.
owe no man a cent; have no expensive
habits; envy no man his wealth or pow
er; have no complications or indirect
liabilities, and would account myself a
fool, a mailman, an ass to embark anew
at 65 years of age, in a career
that may become at any moment
the limpest tassel, by the perfidy.
defalcatlon, dishonesty and neglect Of
any single one of hundred thousand
subordinates, utterly unknown to the
President of the United States, not to say
anything of the eternal worriment by a
vast host of impecunious friends and old
military subordinates. Even as it is am
tortured by charitable appeals of the poor,
distressed pensioners, but as President
these would be multiplied beyond a
mans endurance. / remember we'll the
experience of Generals Jackson. Harri-
son, Taylor, Grant, Hayes and Garfield.
All were elected because of their mill
tary services, and 1 am warned,
not encouraged by their 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, and which we