Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-23
BAD FOR Mr.. SHERMAN.
Washington Post.

The methods of Mr.. Riddleberger
in the Senate may not suit the
tastes of the big wigs of that body,
who think its traditions cOnsecra-
ted end every departure from them
an innovation dangerous to human
institutions. The Senator from Vlr-
giuia has sorely vexed bis Repub-
lican colleagues by efforts to break
down the barriers which separate
the Senate from the people, and
to force open the closed doors OF
executive sessions.
Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Hawley, Mr..
Ingalls,, Mr.. Edmunds and other
leaders have repeatedly snubbed
and criticised their associate and
political brother from Virginia,
without much disturbing his
eQuanimity or at all diverting him
FROM the purpose he so persist
emily pursued. He tully exposed
the sham of pretended secrecy
and showed it to be cover for
selfish concealment.
HIS special wOlk, aside from
this main object was TO smash the
extradition treaty with England,
which Mr.. Sherman's Committee on
Foreign Affairs proposed to amend
with condition intended to strike
down the Irish patriots who might
seek refuge, or are now, in the
United States. The original draft
signed by Mr.. Phelps contains no
such provision.
In view of Mr.. Sberman's Pres.
idennal aspirations, it is astOund-
ing after his long experience in
public lite, and his endeavOrs to
conciliate opposing influences, how
he should have committed the IT.
reparable blunder Of a proposition
which certainly provOkeS the hos
tility OF every Irish citizen, with
out regard to party lines. He has
practically condemned himself as a
candidate now and excluded the
possibility of his nomination here.
after by this fatuOus act.
Any attempt to explain it away
will only aggravate the hostility
Mr.. Sherman has excited, and
make more certain the sOlidity of
the Irish vote against him. Pre-.
tended friends in Ohio, who never
had any more heart in his interest
than Garfield did in 1880, when
he was Sherman's Ostensiblespokes-
manin the National Convention, will
find in this matter an excuse for
desertiOn that was always intended
at an OppOrtune moment. And
their example will stir others to
revolt who may have been more
sincere in his support.
A cry like this is one Of the most
dangerous things personal ambi-
ton has to confront, because it APP
peals to race prejudice and becomes
more emphatic the more it is resist
ed. Even in cases where a good
answer might be made, the cry
meets 1t with redoubled charge and
sound, and RACES with the force of
a blizzard.
Mr.. Rddleberger has not been
conspicuous as legislator, and he
has not run in the regulation ruts of
the Senate. In fact, he has shocked
the tender sensibilties of the old Oc-
cupants of the curule chairs, and
utterly dumfOunded the ancient
doOrkeeper, Mr.. Basset, who for
halt century has wOrshipped at
the foot of hOary tradition as his
Gamallel. II the officers of the Sen
ate had as much power as they
have good will, they would proba.
bly, have hung, drawn and quarter.
ed the Senator from Virginia long
ago for daring to insult the dignity
OF the body which pays them
generous salaries for unfolding
that solemn institution, and buries
them impOsingly when they rarely
consent to died.
Mr.. Riddleberger has done what
no other Senator will claim to have
achieved. He has killed off u
prominent candidate for the Presi-
dency. and in this noble work he
had the active cooperation Of Mr..
Sherman, the person most interest
ed in preserving his own political
pretensiOns.