New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-21
GENERAL SHERIDANS DECLINAUON.

General Sheridan is to be congratulated upon
having the good sense TO take his name out OF
The swirl of gossip about the Presidency. He
is ccars GIFTED enough to see that his present
position and his hold on the hearts of his coun-
trymcn are not things to be lightly undcrestl-
mated His rank as in actual command OF tho
United States Army, and his record as, next
TO Sherman, the most successful and brilliant
soldier of the War for the Union now surviv-
ing. might well satisfy the ambition OF any
man. lie has reached the very summit OF
soldiers fame To become candidate now
for civil Office after nearly forty years devotion
to a military career would be not only hazard
Gus experiment, but great sacrifice his
fame is secure and the time has arrived when
inen of all parties can take pride in IT. 10 run
for the Presidency, he would need to expose
himself to a merccss scrutiny, and invite
attack upon every phase of his life and every
side of his character. Once elected, his
troubles would only have begun. IMMERSED in
civil affairs and schooled to military ideas pit
falls would surround him. and bis Administla-
ton would be succession of bloody swcats.
There is nothing either in the rewards OF In the
opportunities for usefulness of the Presidency
position for the wear and tear of reputation.
the strife, the bitterness. the disappointment
the alterations. the scandals. which would 60
to make up the price he would have to pay Tor 1t.
The wonder is that he should have been able
TO see this 1t is true that the talk connecting
his name with the nomination has not been so
widespread as to make his selection seem AT all
probable, even since Mr.. Blaincs letter. But
there has been enough to excite
the mistaken ambition OF cooler men
than General Sheridan has been commonly
supposed to be- 1t is a curious fact that the
popular passion for putting military heroes INTO
Office usually has its counterpart in the willing
ness of successful military men to turn their
backs upon the profession in which they have
won distinction and are sure OF themselves.
and to embark upon a career for which they
have had no training and may have little or no
aptitude. and in which the wisest Of men fail.
General Grant with even his glory as the leader
OF the largest army and victor in the greatest
war the world had ever seen, could not resist
the temptation Of the Presidency. His Admin
istration will be remembered for many cour-
ageous and admirable actions but his lack OF
civil experience carried him into many Serious
errors. The futufc historian VIII prVoduiJ
conclude that his fame would have been more
symmetrical if he had remained to the end. as
he was born and as be hved-a soldier. lie
never saw his popularity at so low an ebo as that
other great soldier who found that the trade
of war was one thing and the trade Of govern
mont another. and who lived to hear himself
Kissed in The streets of London tho Duke OF
Wellington; but during considerable period
of his life General Grant must often have
looked back with regret to the days when he
was everybody's hero.
1t is not unnatural for man who has made
craftsmanship an occupation to think Of the
Presidency. Considering the unexpectedncss
of our politics, it would be strange if he didn't
and no one can find any fault with an honorable
ambition of this sort But the army is not the
best school for the Office, and the Supreme
Court is not the proper stepping-stOne to it.
General Sheridan has now taken his place with
General Sherman and Chief Justice Waite,
representing widely different circumstances
under which aspirations to the Presidency arc
declared to be out Of place. He is in good
company.