The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-19
Each Praised for His Personal Worth
and Statesmanship, but Covertly
Scored for Political Acts.
GARFIELD HIT THE HARDEST
STRONG HINTS OF TREACHERY
THROWN OUT BY THE SENATOR.
"reminiscences Of Himself and Others
First Experience with Strong
Drink-His Financial Views.


jealousies and the traitors knife thrusts of
the last half century of American state
craft are revealed in the fierce
light of stern criticism in John
Shermans Recollections of Forty
Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet"
just published in this city The fear that
the venerable Senator would reveal secrets
long kept from the public in his forthcom-
ing work has been, to an extent. realized.
Grant. Garfield, Blaine. Arthur, Harrison
ard other Republican leaders are spoken of
with unstnted praise for their high per-
sonal worth of statesmanship, but each is,
In guarded and covert language, shown In
the less commendable light of scheming
politician. The criticism is almost invariably
implied rather than direct. but it stands
out clearly In the work as whole.
Owing to the expectation that the work
would be, in measure, sensational and
the anxiety felt in diplomatic circles over
its forthcoming, frequent effort has been
made to gain Information regarding its con-
tents, but the Associated Press is enabled
10 present to-day, for the first time, re-
sumo of Mr.. Sherman's autobiography. AS
anticipated, the feature Of the book is it's
extreme frankness, the style in which Mr.
Sherman has expressed himself showing the
statesman rather than the professional
bookmaker. The work is marked by clear
cut sentences and blunt expressions Of opin-
ion. and but little attempt at literary grace
is made. The book is very evidently intended
by the author as an exposition of the finan-
cial policy of the Republican party, which,
to great extent, is his own. and about the
extensive and elaborate history of American
finances is woven anecdote and personal
"reminiscences replete with interest TO every
student of politics.
Owing to the close association of Mr.
Sherman and James A. Garfield, the criti-
cism of the nomination of the latter for
President of the United States is, perhaps,
one of the most striking features OF the
book. The author, while carefully avoiding
direct charge of treachery the part of
the ex-President, very significantly makes
1t plain that Mr.. Garfield was nominated at
convention to which he had gone as the
trusted leader of the Sherman forces. After
showing, by the publication of private let
ters, covering period of years of close po-
litical and personal association. that Mr..
Garfield was in reality, his political protege.
Mr.. Sherman gives in detail the history of
the national convention of 1880. Following
the account of his own struggle for the
NOMINATION, he says. III time DecdInc
thoroughly advised of what occurred at the
Chicago convention and had become entire
ly reconciled to the result, though frequent
ly afterwards heard incidents and details
which occasioned me great pain and which
seemed to establish the want OF sincerity
on the part of some of the delegates, and
tended to show that, for some time before
the meeting of the convention, the nomina-
ton Of Garfield had been agreed upon"
PREFERRED MKENLEY TO HARRISON.
The sting felt by Garfield's detection in
| 1880 is shown by a sentiment expressed
during the discussion of the national con-
vention of 1892, where the Senator remarks:
| From later developments became satis-
| fed that Harrison could not be elected, that
] Plat and a powerful New York influence
| would defeat him Il nominated. !, there
| fore, preferred the nomination of a new
man, such as William Mckinley. but he
! had committed himself to Harrison, and,
according to my code of humor, could not
| accept nomination even IL rendered him"
| When 1t is remembered that Blaine was
! also a candidate for the presidency before
| the convention that nominated Garfield. the
| significance OF the following explanation on
| the part of Senator Sherman, of why he
was not reappointed by President Garfield
| as Secretary of the Treasury is readily un-
| derstood:
"In the latter part of November, 1880,
| General Garfield came to Washington and
called on Mr.. Blaine, who. it vas under
| stood, was to be Secretary of State. Gar
| field came to my house shortly from
| Blaine's and informed me that he had ten
| dered that Office TO Blaine and that 1t was
accepted. He said that Blaine thought that
1t would not be polite to continue me as
Secretary of the Treasury, as it would De
regarded as an unfriendly discrimination by
other members of the Hayes Cabinet. I
| promptly replied that I agreed with the
opinion cf Blaine and was a candidate for
! the Senate
Again the author reverts to the Chicago
| convention in discussing :he character of
President Garfield. or his personality and
eloquence he speaks in the highest terms.
His will power, he says, was not up 70 his
personal magnetism. He adds that his
opinion changed easily. In this connection,
he says: when proposed 20 him 10 be a
delegate at large to the Chicago convention
| he no doubt meant In good faith, TO sup
| port my nomination"
Something OF the political scheming that
again resulted in the defeat OF the Chic
/ statesman in the national convention of
| 1883 and brought about the nomination OF
| ex-President Harrison, can easily be read
| between the lines in tnat part of the work
devoted to this struggle. In discussing the
! result. Mr.. Sherman says that re became
satisfied that one delegate from New York
| controlled the entire delegation Of that
State. and between Saturday night, when
! the nomination seemed certain to go to
Sherman. and Monday morning. vasn the
! tide turned in favor of Harrison, a corrupt
bargain was made I'm the interests of the
latter. which secured him the support OF
| New York and gave him the nomination.