Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-03
Political History.
Interesting Letters from Way
Back in 1884.
GEN. SHERMAN ONION. ]. G. BLAINE.

The Statesman Offers the Warrior the Exc
cutive Nomination, but He Won't Have
It-His Reasons for Declination-Re-
Elections on the Eminent Editor. =.
Clarkson strikes a new Lead In Explana-
tions-A Republican Majority in Con-
gress Conceded.
NEW York, Dec. 3-The North American
Review for December contains remarkable
article by Gen W. T. Sherman entitled "The
Hon. James G. Blaine" in which, among
other things, these two remarkable letters
are for the first time given to the public
The article says:
ain the year of our Lord, 1884, there was
to be sharp contest for the nomination in
Chicago for presidential candidate Of the
Republican party The press and people
generally believed that Blaine wanted it, and
everybody turned to him as the best qualified
to execute the policy to accomplish the result
aimed at. Still, abnegating himself he
wrote TO me from Washington this letter"
THE letter is dated "Washington, d. c.,
May 2a," ard marked confidential, strictly
and ahs0lutely"l
My Dear General-This letter requires no an
swer. After reading 1t file it away in your most
secret drawer or give it to the flames At the
| approaching convention at Chicago il is more
than possible-it is indeed not improbable
| you may be no mated for the presidency If
so you m ust stand your hand accept the respou-
| sibility, and assume the duties of the place to
| which you will surely be chosen, if a candidate.
You must not look upon it as the work OF politi-
| clans. If it comes to you it will come as
| a ground swell of the popular demand,
| and you can more refuse than YOU
! could have refused to obey an order when YOU
! were lieutenant in the army If it comes 10
you at all it will come at the call of patriotism.
| Ii would, in such an event, injure your great
fame TO decline ii as it would for you TO seek it.
| Your historic record, full as it is would be rem
dered still more gloriou; by such an administra.
ton as you would be able to give the country
| Do not say a word in advance of the convention,
no matter who may ask you. You are with YOU
friends who will jealousy guard your honor and
renown. Your friend, JAMES G. BLAINE
Gen Sherman replied at considerable
length to the above, but che pith of the let
! ter is given in the following extracts:
ought not to submit myself TO the cheap ridi
cule Of declining what is not offered but il is only
fair to many really able men, who rightly aspire
TO the high honor of being president of the United
States. to let them know that am not and mus
occurs an epoch when he must hoose his owl
career, and when he may not throw off the re
| spousibility. Mine occurred in Louisiana, wher,
| in 1861, in the midst Of people blinded by
| supposed wrongs. l resolved TO stand by
the union as long as a fragment Of il
survived on which TO cling. Since then
| through faction. tempest. war, and peace my Ca
reer has been all my family and friends could
ask will not in any event entertain OF
accept a nomination candidate for president
by the Cnicgo republican convention or an,
other convention for reasons personal 10 myself
claim that the civil war, in which simply did .
mans fair share of the work, so perfectly &c.
1 complished peace that military men have an abso
Lutte right to rest and demand that men who hav,
been schooIed IN the arts and practice OF peace
shall now do their work equally well.
The general a i'd: "Tnese letters prove alb.
soutely that Mr.. Blaine, though qualified
waived to me personally the nomination,
which the world still believes he then GOV
eted for himself For copies OF these letters
l believe have been importuned one thous
and times but a soldier, / claim the priv
ilege of unmaskng my batteries when
please
Referring to the habit of the press to crit
icise prominent men, in connection with Mr.
Blaine case, Gen. Sherman continues a!
follows:
The press Of onr country supposes that it con
trols public opinion and public events. Wherea
in fact prudent men conceal their most importan
thoughts. uring the civil war the northern
press was not friendly to the generals who sue
ceeded but lavished fiattery without limit on tn,
failures" and on our distinguished opponents
In peace. also, the press is generally hos
tile TO whomSoever is prominent and positive L..
any man rise above the common level, and III
cry goes forth, cruelty him! cruelty him -th
same old story!