The sun., 1888-12-04
mn. sLzIsE DID NOR WANT TEE NOM
NATION IN 1854 tt.r.
NE ORerea the Presidency TO Ger. shern,an
and tt was Declined.

and II was Declined.
Fpm ne NORTH krsevicdn Rerfoc.
In the year Of our Lord 1884, there wns to
Sosso SsslP ior iSesids & oaadste @ o no
saIiesl sfsiS selisysa thst wanted i ana
body turned TO him as the man best qualifed 20
SsStS Si@ea at W ssif & sbnesatieS Himself he wrote
to me from Washington this letter:
CONFIDENTIAL ttrSct,y ana db,o'r,e'yso.
wisnIxe7ox D. G., May rs 1884.
NY DrAR GENERAL;
This letter requires After reading II hio 1t
away your secret drawer give to tho facs
At the approaching Convention at Chicaro 1t is moro
than possible II IL indeed improbable. that yon may
be- nominated for tho Iresdcncn ifso you must stand
your hand, accept the responsibility. and assume the
duties OF the place 10 which you will surely be chosen X
n candidate
Sou luuCt not look upon It the work Of tho poii.
ticiane II II comes to you II will come as the ground
sweI OF popular demand and you can moro rnfnse
than you could have refused obey order when you
Lieutenant In the itit comes to you ~ all
will call OF patriotism 1t would IN such an
inlurc fame much TO decline Il Ms 1t
would for you kit Your historic record full ns
Is would be rendered sti glorious by such an Ad
ministraon as would be able to give the country
Do not cay word in advance OF tile Convention no
matter who may ask ion are with your friends
who will jealousy guard your honor and renowh
Your friend. JANIS BLAINE
To which replied:
sic GARRISON AvKSrf. ST. Loris, No. May -, 1885,
Hon. James G. Bidtrss, WashinOto,i d. L.
My DEAR FRIEND: Ihave received your letter OF tho
2sth shall consrue 1t as absolutely confidential nos In
tnatinc even to member OF NV family that have
heard from you; and though yoa may not expect an
answer, | hope you will no. cJusruc one unvar-
rsuted.
have had great many letters from all points OF tho
compass to a similar effect one or of which have
answered frankly. but the great are unanswered
ought to submit myself TO the cheap rdicule Of
declining what Is offered hut is only fair the
many really able who rghtfuly aspire to the high
honor OF being President Of the United states 10 let
them know that am not and must hot be construed as
rival In every mans life occurs an epoch when ho
CT DOSE his and when he may not throw
OF the responsibility tamcy place lis destiny in tho
hands of friends Mine occurred In louisiana when. in
1851 alone In the mids' Of people blinded by sup
posed WRONGS resolved to stand by the Union long
fragment Of it survived on which 10 cling Since
then, through faction. tempest. war and peace, my
has been all my family and friends could ask.
We now In good house OF our choice, with
reasonable provisions old age surrounded by kind
and admirng friends in a community where CHtholi-
csm In held In respect and vencration and where my
children will naturally grow up In contact with
dustrious and frugal people. You have known anu ap
preciated Mrs Sherman from childhood have also
known each and all the members my family and can
understand without an explanation from me how their
thoughts and feelings should and ought influence my
action. But will not even throw OF them the re.
sponsbiiity
will not in any event entertain or accept nomna.
,ion candidate for President by the Chicago ,epub
Ncan Convention any other convention for reasons
personal TO myself claim that the civil war IN which
simply did mans fair share OF work. perfectly ac
complished peace that military men have All absolute
right to rest and to demand thar the who have
been schooed in the arts and Of peace shall
do thoir work equally we'll Any Senator step from
his chair at tho Capitol into the White House and uGl
Otlce of President IND
Grant, Sherman. or Sheridan who were soldiers by
education and nature WHO flied well their Office when
the country was in danger but schooled
practice by which civil communities and should
governed. claim that experience since 1865 dem.
onstrates the truth of this my proposition Therefore
say that patriotism does demand of wha;
strue sacrifice Of Judgment OF inclination, and OF
elf.interes.
have my personal affairs in a state Of absolute
safety and comfort. owe man n cent have ex-
pensve habits envy his wealth or power, no
complications indirect liabilities and would
myself n fool, madman. to embark anew at Is
years Of In n tina; become any
tempesttossed by perady the defacation. the dshon
esty or neglect OF any single one OF hundred thou
sand subordinates utterly unknown the President
the United states not to say the eternal worriment by
vast host of impecunious friends and old military
suborcinates Even It Is by the char
liable appeals OF poor. distressed pensioners, but rs
President these would be multiplied beyond human en-
durance
I remember well the experience OF Gems Jackson
Harrison Taylor Grant, Hayes and Garfield all elected
because OF their military services am warned, not
encouraged. BY their sad experienced
The civilians OF tho United States should and must
buffet with this thankless oce and old soldiers
TO enjoy tho fought for and think earned
With profound respect your friend
W. t. sHEnxAS.
These letters prove absolutely that Mr. Blaine
though qualified. waived TO me personally q
nomination which tho world still believes he
then coveted for himself.
, For copies OF these letters believe have
been inportuned thousand times, but as q
soldier1 claim the privilege Of unmasking my
batteries when please.
In giving to the North American Rrrier 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 q |
matter OF constant inquiry referred to in my
letter OF May 2S. 1884 here record that my |
family are strongly Catholic am |
not and cannot be. That Is all the public |
has IL right to know: nor do 1 wiah to |
be construed as departing from q resolve |
made Iorty years ago never to embark in poll
tics. The brightest and best youth Of our land |
have been drawn into that maelstrom. and |
their wrecked fortunes strew the beach Of the |
ooean OF time. My memory. even In its short |
time. brings up names OF victims by the hun.
dreds, II not thousands. w. L. SHERMAN.