St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-27
JOHN sHERMAN's REVENGE.

Senator SHERMAN has succeeded in
stirring up a hornets nest by the intro
duetion of his antitrust bill, and he will
perhaps have a picnic with it before be
gets through. 1t was no stranger to the
ancient Israelites to find SAUL among
the prophets than it is to the people Of
this country to see JOHN SHERMAN
posing as an antimonopoliSt; e0nse-
quently everybody is at sea in relation
TO the real purposes of his bill. AS
matter Of course, the miliionaircs and
corporation attorneys in the senate are
indignant at what they suppose to be
Senator SHERMAN'S treachery to their
cause. lii ali the past, if, there was one
senator more than another who could
be relied upon to stand by the monop-
oily interests. that man was JOHN SiIER-
MAN. In season and out of season he
has stayed by the monopolieS when
others were deserving or lodging meas
ures that were framed for their eXclu-
sive benefit. 1t had come to pass that
he was looked upon as the high priest
officiating in the temple of monopoly,
so long and SO faithful had been his
service at the altar; and now to see him
turn around and attempt to lead the OPP
position is q sight that arOuSes the in
dignation of the mammon W0rShipers.
1t is likewise Senator SHERMAN's mis-
fortune in this crisis of his public career
to be looked upon with distrust and sus-
pieion by those with whom he suddenly
finds himself associated. The opponents
of monopoly are so accustomed to seeing
him leading the cohorts Of monopoly
that they really cannot reconcile them
selves to the belief that he is now sim
cere Ill his professions of hostility to the
trusts. They suspect him of beng
Greek bearing gifts. consequently his
bill will not receive as cordial and en-
thusiastic support from them as if it had
originated with some one who was known
to be the true and tried friend of the
people.
Yet we will do Mr.. SHERMAN the
justice to say that we believe him to be
both sincere and honest in his oppoSi-
ton to the trusts. and that his real in
tention is to crush out the hydra-headed
monsters. He was never more earnest
in his life than he is in the accomplish
ment of this purpose. Still, in all candor,
we must also say that we believe him to
be actuated less by principle than by a
spirit of revenge. 1t is not in the nature
of things that a man whose whole life
has been an exemplification of sordid
selfishness should do anything from a
generous impulse or with the single de-
sire of promoting the public welfare
Although JOHN SHERMAN stood by the
monopolies when they needed a friend,
they never stood by him when he
wanted their aid. Four times in sue
cession they permitted him to be sacri-
feed on the altar of his presidential
ambition when their influence could
have given him the nomination.
Conscious of their ingratitude and
realizing that he has reached the
period in life when 1.-THE book OF
political honoIs is closed forever to
him, he has undertaken to play the
SAMSON. and pull down the pillars of
the monopoly temple. 1t is possible
that, in the blindness of revengeful
anger, he overestiInates his strength;
yet he is determined to make the
effort.
Therefore it is perfectly safe for the
Democrats in the senate to stand by
Senator SHERMAN in this, the greatest
fight of his lite. They may not respect
his motives, yet they cannot fail to ap-
plaud his endeavors. He may yet prove
to be the BLUoHER that the Democrats
have been looking for so anXiously in
their great battle against monopoly, and
his timely arrival on the field may be
the reinforcement that will turn the
tide in what promises to be the Water
loo of the trusts.