The San Francisco call., 1895-11-03

hOIS 1hISICoOlAiS tbdli tAS NAoSuooiOu VI
these abstruse topics are the Senators
few comments on the distinguished men
whom he has known IN the course of his
long political career. While still young
man on one of his visits to Boston, Mr..
Sherman received an invitation to attend
a grand Plymouth Rock banquet at which
Webster was to be present. After describ-
ing the general appearance of the banquet
hall and naming many of the distinguished
persons who were present the Senator con-
tinues his story thus:
"Much to my surprise, when the time
came for the oratory to commence. Mr..
Lawrence acted as toastmaster. We had
stories, songs, poetry and oratory, gener-
ally good and appropriate, but not from
Webster. And so the evening waned.
Webster had been talking freely with those
about him. He displayed none of the
loftiness associated with his name. He
drank freely. That was manifest to every
one. His favorite bottle was one labeled
Brandy We heard of it being more
than a hundred years DID, 1t did
not travel down to US. Webster was
plainly hilarious. AT this time the con-
ductor appeared at q side door and an
nounced that in fifteen minutes the cars
would start for Boston. Then Webster arose
with difficulty-he rested his hands
firmly on the table and with an effort as
sumed an erect position. Every voice was
hushed. He said that in fifteen minutes
we would separate, nevermore to meet
again, and then with glowing force and
eloquence he contrasted the brevity and
vanity of human life with the Immortality
IS ho ~ obr ;ol,
century after century would be celebrated
by your children and your children's chill
dren to the last generation.
81 cannot recall the words of his short but
eloquent speech, but it made an impress
on my mind. If his body was affected by
the liquor his head was clear and his utter
ance perfect. [ met Mr.. Webster after
ward on the cars and in Washington. I
admired him for his great intellectual quail
tiles, but do not wonder that the people
of the United States did not choose him for
President
While an earnest abolitionist and a reso-
Lutte opponent of slavery, Senator Sherman
had no sympathy with John Browns raid
into Virginia nor any admiration for the
man. He speaks of the raid as "a foolish
and criminal invasion, the work of a
fanatic" 1t is also 10 be noted that he
attributes to the excitement caused in Con-
gress by the raid the fact that he was de-
feated in his candidacy for the speaker
ship. When the contest was going on
Thaddeus Stevens promised Sherman he
would vote for him until the crack of
doom.' When reminded of this promise
afterward he said he thought he "heard it
cracking"
Very little is said in the book about the
Southern leaders or the conduct of the
war. Reviewing his six years as mem
Der of the House the Senator says: 81 can
see and will freely admit that my chief
fault was my intense partisanship. This
grew out of a conscientious feeling that
the repeal of the Missouri compromise was
an act of dishonor committed by domi-
mating party controlled by Shareholders" :"
He adds furthermore: "It was unfortu-
nate that the South at this time was
largely represented in Congress by men of
the most violent opinions" He also con-
demns the feebleness OF the Buchanan
administration, which did much to delude
the South into the belief that secession
would not be followed by war.
In the controversy between President
Johnson and Congress Sherman for long
time tried to act as q peacemaker. He
holds, however, that Johnson, by reason
OF his obstinate and pugnacious disposi-
tion, was to blame in the controversy, and
says: 81 believe that all the acts and
proclamations of President johnson be-
fore the meeting of Congress were wise
and eXpedient, and that there would have
been no difficulty between Congress and
the President but for his personal conduct,
and especially his treatment of Congress
and leading Congressmen."
Of Grants administration the curious
statement is made: sit can hardly be
said that we had a strictly Republican ad-
ministration during his two terms. While
Republicans were selected to fill the lead
ing offices, the policy adopted and the
controlling influence around him were
purely personal" The Senator then goes
on to say of Grant:
"He consulted but few of the Senators or
members, and they were known as his
personal friends. Mr.. Conkling, by his
imperious will, soon gained strong in
1uence over the President, and from this
came feuds, iealousies and enmities, that
greatly weakened the Republican party
anu threatened lIS aSC6nQeUcy. In1S was
period of bitter accusations, extending
from the President to almost every one in
public life. During the entire period
of Grants administration 1 was
chairman of the Committee on Finance
OF the Senate, and had to act upon
all questions of taxation, debt, bank
ing or finance, and had occasion to
talk with the President upon such meas
ures, but he rarely expressed an opinion or
took any interest in them. His veto OF
the bill to increase the amount of United
States notes, on the 22d of April, 1874, was
an exception, but on this he changed his
mind, as he had expressed his approval of
the bill when pending. He was charged
with being in whisky ring and with other
offensive imputations, all of which were
without the slightest foundation. General
Grant was, in every sense of the word, an
honest man. He was so honest that he did
not suspect others, and no doubt confded
in and was friendly with those who abused
his confidence. 1t was period of slander
and scandal.
Sherman does not give much space to