New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-03

was constrained TO admit that all the reasoning
and truth in the world would not convince
Southern man that the Republicans were not
Abolit!onists.
John Sherman, meanwhile, had lost the Speak
ership, and had been forced to take the chair
manship of the Ways and Means Committee.
thanklcss. aborious position. to which ne did not
consider himself adapted. He assured his brother
that he did not need to be cautioned against ex-
treme views and his exposition of the conserva-
tive tendencies Of Republicansm was luminous
II not altogether convincing. His letter. written
a few weeks after the election Of President LIN
con n stud!ously moderate statement OF
Republican sentiment. He rejoiced over the re-
suit because he was confident that Lincolns Adj
mlnistration would do much to dissipate the
feeling in the South against the North by show
ing what were the real purposes Of the Republic
can party He considered that the chief virtue
OF Republican success was it's condemnation Of
the narrow sectionalism Of Buchanan's Admin
istration and of the corruption by which II was
sustained If the Disunionists did their worst IT
would be Mexican Republic over again. with
fiercer race OF men to fight with each other.
Secession is revolution. They seem bent upon at
tempting it. If so. shall the Government resist?
II So then comes civil war. a fearful subject for
Americans TO think of" General Sherman. in
his reply 10 this etter asserted that all attempts
at reconciliation would inevitably fail and that
a war Of immense proportions was impending.
"My notion is" he wrote, that this war will
ruin all politicians and that military leaders will
direct the events
Up to this time Sherman the soldier, while
entertaining strong military prejudice against
politicians and lawyers. had invariably taken
great pride in his brothers marked talents for
public life. and had regarded his achievements
and fame as honors riGhfully won. When the
war opened their relations were reversed. Then
it was Sherman the statesman who was con-
WINGED OF the military genius OF his brother and
who anticipated with confidence his rise TO dis
tinction He was anxious to bring the soldier
prematurely into prominence at once. He OBJ
tanned for him the offer OF the chief clerkshp of
the War Department. with the prospec; Of pro-
motion to an assistant secretaryshp, and strove
to stimulate ambition by recording this predic
ton: Whatever you my think Of the times.
the Government will rise from this strife greater.
stronger and more prosperous than ever. II
will display energy and military power. The
men who have confidence in II and do their fun
duty by ii may reap whatever there Is Of honor
and profit in public life. while those who look
on merely spectators in the storm will fall
to discharge the highest duty Of n citizen and
suffer accordingly in public estimation" The
soldier, while deprecatng his brothers ilattering
loyalty to him. preferred active service 10 office
work distrusted the earliest preparations Of III"
Administration inadequate and unscientliic.
and waited until his professional knowledge
could be appreciated. The opportunity came
when he was placed in command Of a brigade Of
NJ hoff ,ba frgf "a NJ
Run. Subsequently he was transferred to the
West where he was 10 achieve distinction az
one Of the few great commanders Of the war.
II was not until the surrender OF Vicksburg
that General sherman's military qualities were
adequately appre ciated. or that he came 70 have
any measure of popularity prestige. His VOL
luminous correspondence with his brother reveals
the causes of his previous unpopularty. He was
controversial, intolerant OF criticism. markedly
hostile to newspaper correspondents. lenient in
his treatment OF prisoners and rebel sympathiz-
ers and profoundly disturbed by the ignorance
displayed by the North in mscaculat!ng the re
sources and preparations Of the South. H.
knew the Southern people well and understood
the magnitude Of the struggle upon which the
North had entered and he was exaspcrated and
impatient because officials at Washington, gen
erals in the field and politicians and journalists
persisted in undertaking the difficulties ~ the
work 10 be done When two years had passed
and the North had learned by painful experience
what he knew a the outset by lniuliion there
marked improvement in his temper WITH
an increase Of tolerance and deeper faith In the
virtues OF popular government While he was In
chronic state Of irritability. anxiety and rest
lessness. the calm. judicous and hopeful letters
which he constantly received from his brother
the best possible antdote 10 the inhrmities
Of his own disposition. The time came after
Vicksburg when he realized that the North was
as much in earnest as he had been himself. and
when he could say: The resources Of the land
in money, in men, in provisions. in forage and
In intelligence have surprised us all and We
have had az much success az could be hoped
for" Not even then could he regard the Ameri-
can press as anything but "a shame and
proach to a civilized people,; and after the
march TO the sea. when In place Of lack Of APP
probation he was the hero Of the North. ne
could not overcome his prejudice against news
papers What pleased him more than any trib-
utes in prin. was 10 hear his soldiers say when
he rode by: There goes the old man. AIS
right" Not a waver uoubt or hesitation when
/ order" he could write with honest pride. land
men march to certain death without a murmur
II call on theln because thcy hho" NdIu" thelr
lives my own"
Obstinate as General Sherman was in the re-
tention Of prcjuCices and free and outspOken In
the expression Of opinions. he one Of the
most magnanimous and chivalrous ~ soldiers
Policies he condemned. but he was always gener-
Gus and Just in his estimates of MD. For Grant
Thomas, Mcclellan and other comrades in arms
he had only words Of appreciation and praise 1t
not In his nature to hate any one to cher
ish resentments. Deeply wounded as he by
the War Departments dsapprova Of the terms
Of General Johnstons surrender. and by the sup
preston Of information which would have modi-
fled unfavorable public judgment Of himself when
he had believed that he carrying out Lin
coins instructions. he had litte that bitter
to say about Halleck and Stanton Painful as
was his controversy with Secretary Belknap. and
IL. In. 81 q