New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-02
Confidential. strictly and absolutely SO.
Washington. d. c.. May %, 1854.



Ny Dear General
This letter requires no answer. Ahor feinine II
nlc It away your most secret drawer or give 4" 70 W
flames. -
A. ,be annroachiDc convention at Chicago II l. more
than possible It il indeed improbable that you ray
be nominated the Presidency II so you must STAND
your hand accept the responsibility ana assume INC uu'
Of The Mace TO which you will surely be chosen II can
didate. ,,.,,.-
You mus, not look upon It as the WORK Of the pocaS
II IT comes 10 you it viii As the eroun1sweH OF
nopuar demand you more refuse thh you cou
have refused TO obey an order when you were Lieutenant
in the army II it you at all II VIII come a
cali nj patriotism 1t would In such event niure your
rrcot fame a. much decline Il As It would fof you 10
seek IT, Your historic record full as 10 Is "oul1 DC rem
de,c4 sia more glorious by such administration as you
would be able 10 give the country. DO not say worn
n advance Of the convention, matter who may ask you
Won sre with your friends who will jealousy guard your
hO''' JAMES G. BLAINE
To which I replied:
912 Garrison.avc., ST. Louis No, May - 1907
Ho, James g. Blaine Washington. d. c.
My Friend 1 have received your e''e' u ~, ~
o5h shall eonstrue II as absolutely cohhleh'''' NV "
tmating even TO any member OF my family thse NV
heard from YOU and though you may not expect an an
bope YOU will not construc one as unwarranted
have had great many letters from all points OF the
compass to a similar effect one or two oil "hch nav
answered frankly the great mass are unSnsWe'e1
I ought no, submit myse to the cheap r'ulcu'c oi
doc,rinc what is not offered II IS only fair to the
many really able men who rghuuiiy aspire TO me Rh
honor Of being President of the United state> 20 e' e
know that am not and must not be eonsiue1 u I'"
In every mans life epoch when ne must
.hooso his own career and when he may not throw
of the responsibility tamey place MS ucs''n'
In the hands OF friends Mine ocouio- AZ
Louisiana, when. in 1861 alone IN the must u
people blinded by supposed wrongs resolNeu 10 '
nv the Union US long as fragment OF II survived Oh
which 10 cling. Since then through iactol t"p''
war and peace my career has been all my FAMILY ana
friends could ask. We are are no" III Roou mouse ."
our own choice reasonable provisions Tor Oh age
urroundci bv Kind and admirlng friends, In community
where Catholicism IS he'll in respect ah1 Veneraoh ann
where my children viii naturally gro" up IN contact WIN
an industrious and frugal people You have Known ana
appreciatcd Mrs. Sherman from chil1hoon nave also
NOV, each and all the members OF family, and can
understand without an explanation from me how their
thoughts and feelings should ana ought to hnucnce nv
action But L will not even throw on on them the re-
sponsbility.
will not in any event entertain or accept a nomna-
tim A. candidate for President by the Chicago Repub
can Convention other convention Tor reasons OCT
soma TO myself. claim that the civil war III "hloh
smpy dld mans fair share Of work, so perfectly &C
complished peace military have an absolute
right 10 rest demand that the men who nave been
schooed and practice OF peace shsl no" 90
their work equally well Any senator can s''p IRON MS
chair al the Capitol the White House ana rum the
on,ce Of President with more skill and success than
Grant Sherman Sheridan, VINO were soldier. oy eau
cation and nature who Allied well their once "heh he
country IN danger. but were NOT schoo''u III t'o
nracitce By which civil communities are and should De
governed calm thai our experience since 1868 demon
,,rates the truth OF this my proposition Therefore
,ay that patriotism does demand Of me what con
strue AZ a sacrifice Of Judgment Of inclination and OF
seif-interest
how, my pr.onsl Affairs N state Ct absolute safety
and comfort ! owe no cent have no expensive
hablts envy no his wealth or power, no compi
,tlon. or indirect liabilities and would account my
A fool a madUan, asa 10 embark ane" a. SAN-h'e
fh.ff harm al mon
otsi tossed By pcrndy, dofacson, the dishonesty
or NEGLECT Of any Of hundred thousand sub