The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-03-07
SHERMAN AND GRANT.
Some interesting Historical Corre-
spondence.
How Gen. Sherman Refused tho Presi-
dental Nomination in 1s84-Gen.
Grants Opinion of sherman
Sherman on Grant. 80

In 1883 Gen. Sherman wrote an article
OF great interest for the North American
Review. We quote it in full:
"In tho year of our Lord, 1884, there
was to be sharp contest for the nomi-
nation in Chicago for presidential can
didate of the Republican party. The
press and the people believed that Blaine
wanted It, and everybody turned to him
as the man best qualified to execute the
policy, to accomplish the result aimed
at. Still, abnegating himself, he wrote
TO me from Washington this letter:
CONFIDENTIAL, strictly and absolutely SOL
wAsHINGToN D. G., May o5, 1884.
MY DEAR GENERAI-This letter requires no
answer. After reading II file IL away in your
most secret drawer or give IL to the flames.
At the approaching convention at Chicago IL
is more than possible, 1t is, indeed not improb.
able that you may be nominated to the presi.
dency. If 50, you must stand your hand, accept
tho responsibility, and assume the duties OF the
place to which you will surely be chosen II
candidate.
You must not look upon IT as tho work of the
politicians. II IL comes to you II will come as
the ground swell Of popular demand, and you
can no more refuse than you could have refused
TO obey an order when you were lieutenant in
the army. If it comes to you at all II will come
as call OF patriotism. IT would in such an
event lnjure your great fame as much to de-
cline It as it would for you to seek 1t. Your
historic record full as it is, would be rendered
still more glorious by such an administration as
you would be able to give to the country Do
not say word in advance of the convention no
matter who may ask you. You are with your
friends who will j,alously guard your honor and
renown Your friend
JAMES G. BLAINE.
'To which I replied:
el2 GARRISON AVE, ST, LOUIS, Mo,
Hon james G. Blaine, Washington, D. G.:
MY DEAR FRIEND-I have received your
letter of the 25th; shall construe 1t as abso-
iutely confidential, not intimatng even to any
member of my family that have heard from
you; and, though YOU may not expect an an
swer hope you will not construe this as un'
warranted.
nave great many letters from all points of
the compass to similar effect. one or two OF
which / have answered frankly but the great
mass are unanswered.
! ought not to submit myself to the cheap
Tdicule Of declining what is not offered, but 1T
IS only fair TO the many really able men who
rightfully aspire to the high honor of being
President of the United States, to let them
know that I am not and must not be construed
as rival In every mans life occurs an epoch
when he must choose his own career and when
he may not throw off the responsibility or
tamely place his destiny in the hands
of friends. Mine occurred in Louisiana,
when in 1851, alone in tho midst OF
people blinded by supposed wrongs, l
fragment Of it survived on Which to cling.
Since then, through faction, tempest war and
peace, my career has been all my friends and
Family could ask. We are now in good house
of our own cholce with reasonable provisions
for old age surrounded by kind and admirlng
ArlenuS, IN q community Wnere CaJnOnClStn Is
held in respect and veneration, and where my
children will naturally grow up in contact with
an Industrious and frugal people You have
known and appreciated Mrs. Sherman from
childhood, have also known each and all the
members of my family, and can understand
without an explanation from me how their
thoughts and feelings should and ought to in
huence my action. But will not even throw
of on them the responsibility
] will not in any event entertain or accept
nomination as n candidate for president by the
Chicago republican convention or any other
convention, for reasons personal to myself.
claim that the civil war, in which simply did q
mans fair share Of work, so perfectly accom-
plished peace that military men have an abso
lutte right to rest, and to demand that the men
who have been schooled in the arts and prac
tice of peace shall now do their work equally
we'll. ANY senator can step from his chair at
the capital into the white house and fulfil the
ONCE Of president with more skill and success
than Grant, Sherman or Sheridan, who were
soldiers by education and nature, who filed
well the office when the country was in danger,
but were not schooed in the practice by which
civil communities are and should be governed.
claim that our experience since 1873 demon
strates the truth of this nv proposition. There
fore say that patriotism does not demand Of
me what l construe as a sacrifice OF judgment,
of inclination, and Of self-interest.
leave my personal affairs in state ofrabso
lutte safety and comfort owe no man cent
have no expensive habits, envy no man his
wealth or power, complications or indirect
liabilities and would account myself fool. q
madrnan, an ass to embark anew at sixty-tive
years of age in career that may become at any
cation, the dishonesty, or neglect of any single
one of a hundred thous nd subordinates utterly
unknown to the President OF the United States
not to say the eternal worriment of q vast host
of impecunious friends ana old military subor'
dinates. Even as it is L am tortured by the
charitable appeals of poor, distressed pension
ers, but as president those would be multiplied
beyond human endurance.
I remember well the experiences Of Gems
Jackson. Harrison, Taylor, Grant Hayes and
Garfield, all elected because of their military
services, and am warned not encouraged, by
their sad experiences.
The civilians of the United States should and
must buffet with this thankless office and leave
us old soldiers to enjoy the peace we fought for
Soa th1 9Rd we earned With R9ossPa + FssPso
''These letters prove absolutely that
Mr.. Blaine, though qualified, waived to
me personally a nomination which the
world still believes he then coveted for
himself
For copies of these letters believe l
have been importuned thousand times,
but as a soldier claim the privilege of
unmasking by batteries when please.
SIN giving to the North American Re-
view at this late day these letters, which
thus far have remained hidden in my
private files, commit no breach of con-
hdence. and to put at rest matter of
constant inquiry referred to in my letter
of MAY %, 1884. here record that my
immediate family are strongly Catholic.
am not and can not be. That is all the
public has a right to know; nor do wish
to be construed as departing from a re-
solve made forty years ago never to
embark in politics. The brightest and
best youth of our land have been drawn
into that maelstorm, and their wrecked
fortunes strew the beach of the ocean
of time. My memory, even in its short
time, brings up names of victims by the
hundreds, if not thousands.
w. Il. SHERMAN"
The famous letters which passed be-
tween Grant and Sherman more than
twenty-five years ago read as follows
Private
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 4, 1854,
DEAR SHERMAN-The bill revivlng the grade
'of lieutenant general IN the army mas become
law, and my name has been sent to the Senate
for the place.
now receive orders to report at Washington
Immediately, in person, which sindioates elthel
a confirmation or a likelihood OF confirmation
/ start IN the morning TO comply with the order
but / shall say very distinctly on my arriva
there that shall accept no appointment tina,
Will require me to make that city my headquar
ters. This, however, is not what started ou
to write about.
this war in at least gaining the confidence o
the public no one feels more than how mucf
of this success is due to the energy, skill. ant
the harmonious putting forth OF that energ!
and skill, of those whom 1t has been my goot
fortune TO have occupying subordinate positions
under me.
There are many officers to whom these re
marks are applicable TO greter or less degree
proportionate to their ability as soldiers; bu
what want Is to express my thanks to yol
and NInI 10 thp MAJ n NJhn QhOVA