Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-03
BLAINE AND SHERMAN.
Now Light ON the Presidential Aspira
tions OF 81.


The North American Review for Dscem-
her contains a rema askaha article by General
W. I. sherman, entitled. Tho Hon. James
e. Blaine, in which among other things,
these two remarkable letters are for the first
time given the public:
In the year of our Lord, 1885,, there was
TO be sharp contest for the nomination In
Chicago for Preside nusl candidate Of the
republican party. The press aud people
general, believed that Blaine wanted IL, and
every body turned To him the man best
qualified To execute the policy to accomplish
the result aimed at sail, abncgaung him
self, he wrote TO me from Washington this
letter
Confidential. strictly aad absolutely 80.
WAsuINGroN, u. c., May 20. 1885,
| MY DE,K GENERAL This letter requires
no answer. After reading il file IL away in
your most secret drawer or give II TO the
flames,
AT the approaching convention at Chca-
go II is more than possible, IL Is indeed not
Improbable that you may be nominated for
the Presidency. II so you must stand your
hand, accept III, responsibility and assume
the duties of the place 10 which you will
surely be chosen II candidate
"iou must not look upon it as the work of
| come as ,h,, ,,r,,,ra III .,s - "
| ami ,ou can no nn,,,, go ~, 80 -,
h.,. ra,rs., -, -, ,' - ~ No"'u
! . n,,.u,, -; r. ff -, - "''s
a, IN i, Iii -, -. - - .o.' W 'vu
wonII in snch an -, ',
f,ms n, mnch IA ,I,clin, !, ~ 80
von IN s..l !, ynnr L,.,ar,, raoorS ,',u ~,
| !, i. wonlI ha r.,,J",.d Iii ,,' .u, ~" 40
! by such All administration as you would be
IN ,dxanc. ,T th,, ,,,,,,,,i,, '',' -,
NAV asl van Won no.. ,.i,h ,a,,s s,t,'I,
who viii i.aIousIy ,p,rJ y,nr honnr a,I .a
nnxn your f,i.rJ L., ~ NJ >,
! n, ,hich / ,a,,Ii.I
uoIJ 4. .u,,.., A,x
"Sr I,r,s Mn Na. os iss,
| U,, L,a,<. ~ mr., lt.I..,.
M, p,,y Ev,,sn r. ',.',.G,.,., ,.,,.
letter of IN. phih .b,lI cnn.,,na !,
solutely conad.ntiaI mot intimat,n,, o., a.,
any member of M, family that Ia, ha.sJ
from Won and thnuyh van MAJ nn, .,n.a,
nm answer hnuc van I'M ma, ,,,,.,,,,, ,,',
as INV ,rrant,d
Il have had A great many letter. from all
point. OF the compass 10 a similar eject an.
or two of which have answered f,anLlv
but the grcat u,a.s ,rc nnan.,,,r.d
81 ought not 10 submit myself In the cbs.,
ridcuIe OF declining what il mt ud,r.d but
il is only fair to the many really NH, men
who rightfully aspire to the hieb honor az
being President OF the United States Ia lot
them know that 1 am not and must not IA.
construed as & rival In every mans life
there is an epoch when he must choos. bis
own career and when he NAV not throw an
the responsibility or tamely place ms de.tin,
ia the hands of Ills friends
Mine occurred IL Louisiana when in 1891.
alone IN the midst of a people blinded by
supposed wrongs. 1 resolved To stand by the
Union ~ lonR as fragment of il survived
ON which to cling Since then through fac-
ton tempest, war aud peace INV career ha,
been all my friends and family could ask.
We are now in a good house Of our orn
choice, with reasonable provisions for old
ave, surrounded by kind and adm,ring
friends in a community where Catholicity il.
held in respect and ycneratiun and whsre m,
children will naturally grow up in contact
with an industrial aud frugal peopI.. You
have known and appreciated Mrs sherman
from childhood, have also known each and
all the members of nv family and can nm
derstand without Au e1planation from me
how their feelings should and onpht In In.
nuencs NV action But will not even th,o.
of on them the respousib,Ity
81 will not In ANY event entertain n, ar
cent nomination as a candidate for pte.i-
dent by the Chicago feuubliran national
convention. or apy other cnnv.n,inn ia,
rea.ons personI Ia ,nv.elf I claim ,hs,
the civil war in which siu,,,Iv did =. ,nan,.
fair share of work az ,erfertIy ,ccou,,iish.d
neac. that military ,ns,, h.ys .n ,b.alr,o
| right of resi-. and I, d.m.nJ ,bs, The mon
xho have hcou .cbo,t..,t l., ~. 80. 81 -.
,ice af ue.ce .baII no,. do ,l.,r - ,,,,,iI,
v,l Anv senate, c,, tn t,o,, ~ ,,Iat,
a, IN. C.ni,oI in,o ,bs Wh,,, tian.. I'D 81
N tho n,iic. ~ p,o.,,,a, .i,h - Lii
,,d ace. ,Ls, a O., sha,,,..' -, 49,,
An xho ve,e .oIdi.,. hx .J,n.,i,, ,a,
n.,,,,o .bo sii.J IN ~ 81. -, A.,
a''',,',,. l., 49,. t',, ,'t, ~
u, ,hs ,.,ac,ic,. tv shi,L ci. '',',,Is
.,d .h,,,id ~, a,r.r,,.I aI.t,a ~,
a,, a,,.,i,,,a - 49, I.,,',.,,'',, tnAs ,n
,,,',I. ~ ~. ,n,' ,',,.,',..t,i,.a ,rn@s VI"
say that patriotism does not demand of me
what con,true a. a sacrifce Of Judgment.
of inclination and of self interest.
II have my personal affair. In n state NJ
ab.olute safety and comfort I owe no man
A cent. have no rIpenslye babits euvv No
man hi. wealth or power, no compBcstion.
or indirect liabilities, and would account