Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-11-29
VOICE FROM THE GRAVE.

The Sherman book still continues n
attract attention aud create a stir in
political circles. Those to whom tba
veteran senator and politician referred
in his memoirs IN an uncomplimentarv
manner are coming to the front with
replies and explanations. One of the
most notable Of these answers is that
from General Alger of Michigan, whom
Sherman accused Of having purchased
delegates from the south in the national
convention of 1888 to secure his (Alger's)
nomination az q candidate for the presi.
dency. This Alger naturally denies,
and after stating that Senator Sherman
made the same accusation after the ad.
Journment of the convention in question,
he brings the grsvs into the controversy
and quotes q letter from that grim old
w. L. Sherman upon the subject. With.
out questioning the taste Of General
Alger in making this letter public, it 10
a matter Of regret to the admirers of the
great general that it has seen the light
of day. The text of the document CLEARLY
indicates that it was not intended for
publication, but was written as a balm
to the wounded feelings Of the mar to
whom it was addressed. There was
nothing of the politician in the makeup
Of William Tecumseh Sherman, his pa.
triotism was beyond question, and this
was made apparent when he wrote
Alger: III anything ever shook my
faith in you it was that you stopped to
the level of a politician. A soldier of re.
pute, a gentleman, and one who
has such a family and business
as General Alger ought to hold himself
above that level" Had General Sher.
man stopped with this sentence it would
have accorded with the high idea, Of
honor that has ever been accredited to
him, but unfortunately he did not. 10
the epistle he continued: "But th.s is
e%minently a free country and you had as
good a right to enter the race as had
John Sherman. You made a good show
of votes, and if you bought some, &C.
cording to universal usage, surely |
don't blame YOU" What a declaration
and what an admission, coming from
General Sherman. If you bought votes
in the convention to secure n nomi.
nation for the presidency, | don't
blame you. 1t is the universal Gus.
TOM Words of praise from the honor
able soldier to the echeming politician
justifying the purchase of vote. TIE
times we're then and are now out Of
joint. The highest Office in the world
made a subject of barter and sale. and
one of the greatest captains of his epoch
indorsing instead Of decrying the unholy
deal. General AIger has not added to
his W reputation by publishing the
letter, and he has certainly detTacted
from that of General Sherman. 1t Bs
sad commentary on our system when
such letters are writer. by such men 70
such men, and it is sadder stu when
they are made public. If Their be 10
honesty in high places, how can the
average man be expected to be honest
If the millionaire. to crafty an uahoIy
ambition, will purchase votes, under
what rule can we find fault with the
pOOr mar for selling them Tbs letter
Of Sherman emphasizes the fact tlsI
the time has come when the Glasses Ede1
reforming far more than the masses, Il
there were no buyers there wo9id be 90
sellers of votes.