The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-05
GRESHAM AND SHERIDAN.
Why Neither OF Them should De sacrI.
nced by thsIr Party.

Why Neither OF Them should De sacrI.
nesd by theIr Party.
There are occasional suggestions
hither and yon that Lieutenant-G Cen
eral Sheridan shall be the Republican
candidate for the Presidency. In like
manner the name of Judge Gresham
Is brought forward. Both are widely
distin guished. Sheridan's is the more
illustrious career. Gresham's Is the
broader and more diversified. Sheri-
dan Is essentially . soldier. From the
day he entered West Point as a cadet
his employment has been in the mill
tary service, through all grades of
which he has passed, until now he is
in command of the army. Gresham
was bred rs lawyer. He went from
the bar to the battlefield. and as an
officer Of Indiana volunteers made an
admirable record. Resuming after the
war the practice of his profession. he
was soon appointed to the United
States District Bench for Indiana
Thence he was invited to the Cabinet
of President Arthur, where he served
as Postmaster-General and for short
time as Secsetary of the Treasury.
Like Sheridan, he was = Stalwart.
Arthur embraced the opportunity Of
fered by the retirement of Judge Dram
mond to appoint Gresham United
States Judge fSr the circuit which in
eludes Illinois. Wisconsin and Indiana.
Both Sheridan and Gresham enjoy.
therefore. honorable life em9loyments
in the public service. Neither is rich,
and both may look forward to the
crewning of life of labor with an age
CO ease certain that needfui worldly
provision is made for them. Admins
tratiOns may come and go, but their
tenure, unaffected by political changes.
is not disturbed General Sheridan
will be retired in 1895. Judge Gresham
may continue in undicial harness until
the end of his days, or, if he choose.
may after certain period Of service
retire upon pay from the activities of
his office.
Judge Gresham has the greater
aptitude for political life, but neither
he nor General Sheridan seems inclined
to bpsak from safe and pleasant
moorings to launch upon the troubled
sea of politics. There is an eninently
practical side to the American charac-
ter, and both Sheridan and Gresham
are typical Americans. Both have
seen mach of the Presidency since
LiEeeln's day. Sheridan was an inti-
mate of Grant, a favorite of Hayes,
companion of Arthur. Gresh sm had
two different portfolios under one
Administration and had his orig
inap Judicial appointment from
another. The Sinsel of power
deeeives neither of them. They
know the worry and responsibility of
a post which endurss for eighs years
at best, and then terminates absolute
ly the active career of the inc1mbent.
AS Presidential candidate, General
Sheridan need not resign Es army
commission. Such a sacrifice was not
required from General Hancock.
There is no precedent of judicial Of
fcer becoming the actual nominee of
party for the Executive office; but if
Gresham were a candidate, he would,
probably, feel impelled to- withdraw
from the bench. If elected President,
Sheridan's resignation of his Lieuten-
ant -Generalship would become neces-
sary. He could not bat recall the
fact that General Grant. resigning un-
der such circumstances, was driven
by subsequent needs to seek Congress
sional action, whereby he might be
placed upon the retired list of the army.
and that one of the first acts of the
present Administration under the law,
passed just before its advent, was TO
issue the commission which was a
solace to the Old commander in his de-
clining days.
However great the personal popu-
larity of Sheridan and Gresham,
neither would enter the campaign with
an assurance of success. Either would
be presented as the leader of forlorn
hope against the rational. Common
sense sentiment of the country. Neither
ought to be sacrificed in such q con-
test. Logan, who in his own way pos
sessed no little sagacity, foresaw and
in his last Hines declared that the
chance of a Republican candidate in
1888 would necessarily be slender.
Under the leadership of Blaine Ma
tional Republican ascendency was lost
Whatever perils of personal reputation,
whatever trials of personal temper
or health, whatever sacrifices of per-
sonal fortune are to be made in the at
tempt to regain it ought justly fall
upon Blaine himself The heat and
burden of the next campaign ought to
fal. upon him. Chicago Herald.
SENATOR Hoar." says a Wash
ington correspondent "never knew
John Greenleaf Whittier. till last sum-
mer, when il occurred 10 him that they