The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-19

the mort of New York with much feeilhg.
The correspondence bearing on the contro-
versy never before published, is given III
fun. and Mr.. Sherman's part as secretary
of the treasury is stated in detail At
thur is shown up in an SnenVlabie hSht,
en5 The attitude Of Roscoe Conkling toward
tho president is caustica,ly commented up
on. The formers nomination as vice presl-
dent. Mr. Sherman says, was the wnlfn OF
Conkling TO annoy President hayes'
Throughout the part OF the work reiating
TO President Hayes Mr.. sherman speaks
in the highest praise OF the cher eAecu-
tive.
There Is less of personal narrative IN
the book than might he expected. Mr..
Sherman speaks nodestly OF his boyhood
dsvs. OF his family and OF his first ap-
pearance in public life. Many OF MS I'M
portant public addresses during the sia-
verv agitation and during the political
cannaIens in which he took part are en-
bodied in the book. His account OF. the civil
war and OF hts association with Abraham
Tjneo,n IS full OF interest as narrative
and as a historical record or the stirring
events OF that period. In writing ABOUT
himself Mr.. Sherman is candid to the point
Of self-criticism. For instance, he states
that at the age OF ~ years he got into bad
company and was on several occasions con-
scious of being intoxicated. To MS moth
er's Kindness he attributes his resolution
10 never repeat the condition
The views OF Mr.. Sherman on the imam
cial question are so well known that IL
is not necessary 70 repeat them. II is
suf1cient TO say that he is consistent ALI
nT the legislation on the subject during
the last haif-centurv is carefully rec!ted
and analvzed and the details concerning
the passage Of the act OF 1874 are record
ed. In 1876 Mr.. sherman prepared ana
delivered a speech on the repeal OF the
xx-hA =
the best presentation he has ever been
able TO offer in support Of the financial
policv of the government. and especially
IN support OF the resumption or specie
payments. These extracts from the ad-
dress are quoted, as indicating Mr.. Sher-
mans theory OF money;
"Au Intelligent men agree that every
great commercial nation must have both
metallic currency and paper currency,
the one as the standard of value by which
all things are measured. which daily
measures your bonds and notes az L meas
ures wheat, cotton and land; and also
paper Of credit currency. which. from
it's convenience Of handling or transfer,
must be the medium Of exchange in tho
great body OF business life. / am one o.
those who believe that United States
note issued directly by the government,
convertible on demand into gold coin.
or a government bond equal in value 10
ECAls - the beSI currency we can ADOPT
that IL IS 20 De the currency OF the future.
not only IN the United States. but IN Great
Britain as well. and that such a currency
might properly continue 10 be legal teu-
der, except when coin is specifically stipu-
lated for"
Another extract from the utter2nCes Of
the author defines in a word his position
on the silver question. After relating his
axioms OF sound finance he concludes:
so that for all practical purposes We
may regard gold as the only true stand
aTi. the true money Of the world. by
which the value of all property, Of al
productions. OF all credits and II every
medium % exchange. and especially OF
al paper money. is tested"
Rich In ripe conclusions, full OF inter-
est as a personal narrative. instructive
as a political record and complete as a
financial history OF the country, the work
adds % recent books OF American his
tory one Of general interest and Of value
10 students OF politics and finance.
20 students ard finance.