The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-20
uAhFlELU WA9 lhUE
HE DID NOT BETRAY JOHN SHERMAN
AT CHICAGO IN 1850.
So Says Editor Eedin, Who Was n
Warm Friend of the sfartyred
President for Many Years.
NO EVIDENCE OF TREACHERY
GARFIELD DID HIS UTMOST TO PRE-
VENT HIS OWN NOMINATION.
1t Was His Eloquence I'm Proposing
Sherman's Name, Mr. MediII Says,
That Drew Attention to Him.
EDITOR M'CULLAGH'S VIEWS
ORIO's SENATOR DESCRIBED AS
MAN OF MANY PREJUDICEs.
Shcrman's Charges Indirectly Sup
ported by Bateman--A Reply to BE
Made by the Garfield Family.
1t Was His Eloquence I'm Proposing
sherman's Name, Mr. MedilI Says,
That Drew Attention to Him.
EDITOR M'CULLAGH'S VIEWS
0RIO'S SENATOR DESCRIBED AS
MAN OF MANY PREJuDICEs.
Shcrman's Charges Indirectly Sup
ported by Bateman-A Reply to BE
Made by the Garfield Family.

question, what do you think of Senator
Sherman's book i'm a general and specific
way?' Hon. Joseph Medill, publisher of the
Tribune. said tonight: 'T could answer
the question more satisfactorily if / had
read the whole volume, but, as far as I
have discovered its contents, regard IL as
a very interesting contribution to tho po-
litical literature of party politics and per-
sonal incidents in regard to high and lead
ing politicians of the last forty years of
American history. The book is very much
such volume should look for from its
author. who is noted for his plainness OF
criticisms and his sharpness of prejudice
His suspicious Of other mems motives are
calculated to cause him often to do injus-
tice to mis- contemporaries and his oppo-
nents.
1.-The portion of his book which will in
vite the severest criticism is that relating
to the course of General Garfield in the
convention whose proceedings wound up
with his own nomination for President,
while he was leading the forces OF Sher-
man. think that Mr.. Sherman's insinua-
tions or inuendoes upon Garfield are very
unjust, and, according to my information
and belief. are very wide of the truth.
speak from a pretty close personal ac-
quaintance with General Garfield, COM
mencing as far back as 1852 1t should be
remembered that Mr. Sherman did not
have the united support of the delegates
from his own State. Nine OF the forty-four
Ohio delegates voted for Blaine on the
thirty-five of the thirty-six ballots cast be-
fore nomination was made, and extend
ing over five days. Mr.. Sherman had thir-
ty-four votes throughout to the thirty-fifth
ballot, and my recollection is that one vote
was steadfastIy cast for Edmunds of Yer
mont. This division of his own forces very
seriously weakened his chances for the
nomination all the way through the con-
test. General Garfield used every possible
effort to induce the Blaine men of the Ohio
delegation, after casting few ballots, to
support Sherman, but all his persuasion
was in vain.
"On the evening Of the last days ballot
ing, but the final one, heard a rumor that
the Wisconsin delegation, which had been
supporting Blaine and washburn for some
thirty ballots, intended to make break to
Garfield on the next morning. That night
/ sought him out at his hotel to inquire
what he knew about this purpose. He said
he knew no more than / did, but that he
totally disavowed all responsibility for it;
that it would not be done with his consent,
and that it would be against his protest;
that it would be construed as an act Of bad
faith against Sherman; that he came TO the
convention TO advocate Slr. Sherman's
claims in good faith; that he had worked
for him all in his power and hoped yet to
see his nomination take place
'"The vote at that time stood 3o6 for
Grant, 275 for Blaine, 80 to 100 for Sherman
and the rest scattering among various
candidates. 1 said to Garfield in reply: 1t
must be manifest to the friends of Mr..
Sherman that it is not possible for him to
receive the nomination after five days OF
balloting and not increasing his strength
for the Ohio delegation to unite solidly on
Blaine? l think ii would result in his nomi-
nation if you give him the forty-four Ohio
votes; that he would get enough from other
States opposed to a third term to secure
his nomination. Mr.. Garfield replied with
he loved James G. Blaine as well as any
public man in the United States, he could
not consent to any such proposition. He
Of the srusee left hm and he did t6s sof
to sherman until the convention, by spon-
taneous movement, next day, gave him
| 100 votes on the thirty-sixth ballot. and,
| amid tremendous cheering. he was declared
| the nominee, while he was standing up
| waving his arms and expostulating against
| what was being done. The convention
| would not listen. No man who was present
| could believe that il was theatrical per-
| formance rehearsed for that occasion. That
| it was real, genuine and spontaneous action
on the part Of nearly all who cast their
votes for him was evident to every intelli-
| gent observer.
s'The absolute fact is that General Gar
| field led the forces against the third term
| with so much ability and power that he
made deep impression on the whole con-
| vention. and the crowd of spectators and
| readers of the proceedings. They discov-
cred that he was a man of frst-class
| ability, and evidently possessed Of talent
| requisite to make a good President him
| self. When he placed Sherman in nomina-
| ton he pronounced ths strongest eulogy
on the Ohio statesman that he ever re-
ceived up to that time or since. AS read
| in cold type il was the most eloquent
and powerfully eulogistic speech made by
any other man in behalf OF any candidate
not even excepting that great effort on
Roscoe Conkling in behalf of General
Grant. Before General Garfield had fin
ished and when he was winding up his
peroration, voices were heard in the gal
lery shouting. Why not nominate Gar
by his eloquent arguments. OF course,
these men were influenced by the two
other great speeches he had made-one
against the unit rule and the other against
the expulsion Of Campbell. Ii may be said
with absolute truth that his elegant arg,i-
ments' gave him the nomination against
| hts own sincere protest, and il is utterly
unfair and cruelty unjust for John Sher-
man, for whom he worked so hard and
| put forth such great efforts, to cast as
| pensions his memory by insinuating
the Sherman forces.
sherman is one of our great men whose
chief ambition in life he has not sue
ceeded in attaining"
MILL uEpTN tn suEuMAw