The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-26
SHERMAN, THE FRIENDLEss.

New York Sun.
John sherman, who has been dis
tinguished figure in the Republican
party and in the public life OF the
United States for about forty years
has been in Wall street this week IN
PRODUCING his book agent. Mr.. Shef-
man is an exceedingly well-to-do per-
son. and he is not really dependent
upon the sale of his autobiography, III
two volumes. for subsistence. Nor IS
he inspired by the desire for literary
fame Whatever else may be sad OF
his book. it is not one OF the literary
or historical monuments OF the age. III
seems to have been written to sat1sIy
the desire of its author for expression
rather than in satisfaction OF any pun
lie demand. Mr.. Sherman has had
continuously successful career; ana
it would seem that he ought 10 be
grateful to the Ohio men who have
kept him in office so long The mann
object of his book, however, appears
TO be complaints. He records the
events of his life, not with the kindly
spirit of the philosopher looking back
with tolerance from the summit OF his
career upon what he has achieved and
what he has failed in, but with the UNI
appeasable rancor of the man who is
not grateful for winning much, be-
cause he has missed the great object
of his hearts desire.
A sore toe in print is not an allur-
ing or a dignified spectacle. Mr.. Sher-
man, having hidden farewell to his
long illusion that he had chance OF
being President, has given himself the
pleasure of informing the world why
he has never been nominated for Pres
ident. In his book and in sundry re-
cent interviews he has relieved himself
of a little of the jaundiced and dlsap-
pointed ambition that has troubled
MIN so long. He accuses certain per-
sons, including the Hon. Thomas Col
lier Platt, of keeping him out OF the
nomination. OF the cutthroat ONO
Republicans of the Garfield and For
aker types, the men who have done
HIM the most dlsservice, he does not
care or dare to speak with the severity
which they deserve.
a4r Sherman has been man of great
ability, although one OF the shiftiest
fnanciers and politicians OF his party.
His appearance as tear-Washed
mourner over his own boom is not I'M
pressive. He might have contented
himself with believing that he was too
forcible and eminent person to be
nominated for President. He might
have classed himself with the great
Americans whose aspirations for the
Presidency failed and that were beaten
by inferior men; with Webster and
Clay and Blaine. He prefers to think
that he missed the mark of his ambi-
ton because he was tricked and 3ulled
by other Republican politicians. He
forgets one very important thing He
never has had warm personal follow
ing. He never has inspired among the
politicians or the people feeling of
enthusiasm or attachment. He may
be an unselfsh person, a person of
kindly and an attractive disposition.
Ii he is. he has been much misjudged
He seems to have been kept III politics
by his talents, not by his friendships.
There has never been q band of Sher-
man men devoted to him as men were
devoted to Mr.. Blaine, and as they now
are to another Ohio character, Major
Mckinley. 1T is not probable that Mr..
Sherman could have been nominated
for President even if he had the impe-
tus help Of a great company OF per
sonal friends. For want OF sucn a
company he has never been really for
midaDIe in q national convention. He
is the kind of man who makes an inn
portant speech, demagogical or 9th
erwise, from time to time: takes no
burning interest in anybody's politi
cal fortunes except his own; and re-
serves his great political exertions for
the years in which he is candidate
for something. 1t is true that the
Ohio Republican politicians, as rule,
are tough lot; but Mr.. Sherman has
only been ADLER, not more unselfish,
than are they.
1t is but justice and due compensa-
ton, after all, that the man who
helped steal the Presidency in 1877
should never be President, and should
never have had ven fair gambling
chance of being nominated,