Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-25

North american Rerieio OF December
lsSs:
In the year OF our Lord, 1854, there
was 10 he sharp contcst for the nomi.
nation In Chicago for Presidential
candidat. Of the republican party. The
press aud the people generally believed
that Blaine wanted II, and everybody
turned 10 him M the man beet quali'
fled 10 execute the policy 10 accomplish
The result aimed at. Still, abnegating
himself, no wrote 10 mS from Wash.
lpg,on this letter;
lConddcn,ia', strictly and dbsoluiciyso.l
WAIutNdroS. ~. g..
May ash, 1854.
Nv Dear uonctni:-Thls le,irr requires
no answer. AMER reading u Mo 70 away
ln vonr most score, drawer or give " to
The flames.
Al tho approaching convention NJ
Chicago u ~ moro than possible. n o., IN
decd, not improbable that you may bn
nominated for the Presidency. II Hn, you
must stand your hand, ncccpi tho frspou-
sibiiily. aud assume the duties ~ the
place H. which You Will surely bc chosen
n ucsniidnio.
You must not look upon q Ms the work
~ the politicians. II it r0iuc~ 10 YOU V
will com1 NJ the ground swell of popular
demand, AMI YOU cau no morn refuse
than Nuu could have refused 10 uhoN lu
order whnu yuu were u liUuiUu1ut Va The
army. II Il comes "a YOU NJ all 70 VIII
come W. n call uf pat'iuiisin. IL would Ia
SUCH gu event inlurv your graz tame a.
much To dclinc d ~ it would l1r YOU Z"
6cek u. Audr historic rucrri, Wil ~ u
N. would be- rendered still more Eipripu.
liy such an administration ~ you would
BE- able tn give th0 CHuiiry, 10 uo. uN
word In advance N thoconveuiinn. no
mater who may ask Nuu. You nfr viii
your friends who wall ieulnusly guard
your honor aud rcnOwn.
Your fioud, JAMS q. BtAiHE.
10 when replied;
ai2 GARRisoN AVE, ST.. Louig, Mo-.
May = 1881.
Hon. James q. Blaine, Washington,
j.. C.--My Pear frlund i have r1,oivcd
your letter ~ The 18th; shall construe -
absolutely confidential, rot inumaiing
even 10 any member of my tunily ihM !
have hoard from you; and, though you
may mo- aspect mn answer i hop' you
Will not uon.tfuc Onu rs unWnrfautei.
have q gr-ai many letters FROM all
points ~ tho compass 10 "a similar eco Q,
ono or two ~ which l have answered
randy, but the great mass arc nn,ns-
wsr,l.
orrh, am To anhmlt myself 10 the
cheap rdlculc of declining what is not
offered, uu 81, Ohly iait ~ the many
really able mon who Tlghtfully aspire %
tho hlgh honor OF being President ~ tho
United StMcs, W let thOm know that nni
nutnnd must not DO construed a. rival.
In every mans liir occurs an epoch when
hr mus choose his own carcur, aud when
ho may not throw on the responsibility
or lnmely place his destiny In the lland,
of friends. Mine occurred Ia Louisiana,
when, In lsGl. alone In the midst of u poo
pie blinded by supposed wrongs, | ~
solved 40 stand hv tho Union ~ long ~ u
fragment 81 Il survived ON which Ia cling
sincc then, through faction, tompr.i, war
aud peace, my career has boon all nay
family and ffionds could nsk. We are
now IN good house OF our own choice,
with reasonable provisions for old age,
surrounded by Kind and ndmirlng
friends, I'M community whore Catholic
ism II held In rospact aud voncraiion,
nnd where my children will naturally
grow up In contact with M industrious
aud frugal people. You havo known and
appreciated Mrs. Sherman from child.
Hood, have also known each oihor and
all the moinhcT- Of my family, aud eau
understand without All explanation from
me how their thoughts aud feelings
should and ought 10 influence my action.
Hut will not oven throw oil on thom
the responsibility.
Iwili not m any oycnt entertain or ac-
cept % nomination ns u candidate for
President by tho Chicago republican con-
veniion, or any other convention, for
reasons personal 10 myself. claim that
the clVil war, In which | simply did u
mans fair share OF work, so perfectly ac-
couplished peace that military men haN .
M absolute right 10 rest, aud 10 demand
that the mon who have boon schoolcd In
the arts and practice OF peace shall now
do their work equally well, Any senator
can step from his chair ut the Capitol into
the White House and nilil tho ollloo of
President with moro skill and success
thana Grant, Sherman or sheridan, who
were soldiers by education aud nntufc,
who filled wei thelr Office when tho
country was in danger, but were not
schoolcd In the practice by which olNil
communities arc aud should DO gov
erncl. claim that our exporionco since
lsa5 demonstrates the truth Of this my
proposition. Therefore say that palrl.
otisni does not demand OF me what CON
siruu Us u ,acrifco OF judgment, of In
elina,lon and 81 selfintoro.t
I have nv personal affairs In state OF
absolute safety aud comfort. | owe no
man cont, have no expensive habits,
envy no mnn his wealth or power, no
complications or indirect liabilities, and
would account myself fool, u tnadman,
an nss, to embark anow ut 65 years Of ago
IN n career that may bccomc ~ any
momont tempest tossed by perildy, tho
doihlcs,tlon, the dishonesty, or neglect OF
amy single one of hundred thousand
hubordinates utterly unknown Ia tho
President OF tho United States, not To say
the eternal woTrimont Of a vast host Of
inpecunious friends and old military
suborllnatcs. Even M II Il ] am tortured
by tho charitable appeals Of poor. dis
tros-cd pensioners, but as President those
would DO multiplied beyond human on
durance.
remember woll tho experience OF
Generals jackson, Harrison, Taylor,
Grant, Hayes AMI Garfield, all elected he
cause OF tlicir military services, aud ami
warned, not encouraged, by tholr sad GA
Ieficncos.
Tho civilians OF the unliod States
should and must buffet with this thank
less ofico and leave M old soldiers to GU
Low the peace we fought for and think
We earned. Win profound respect, your
blend. W. I. sllRMAs.