The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-22
Declares He Did Not Buy Negro
Delegates in 1888.
FEELS HURT BY SHERMAN BOOK
The Michigan Man Publishes Queer
Letter From Gen. sherman.
The General Says; ''If You Bought
Votes. According to General Usage.
Don't Blame Nou"-AlGer Con-
demns the Whole shermann Book
"a Tl-Adyised.

Detroit. Nov. 2.-Gen. n. A. Alger has
Tribune IN reply 10 Senator John Sher-
mans Charses against the generals
friends. as contained in the second volume
cf Sherman's recolleCtions. The writer
ouotes senator Shermans language. in
which. referring 10 the circumstances att
tending the contest in the Republican ma
tionaI convention or 1SSS. he wrote: ~ be-
heve. and had. as l thought conclusive
proof that the friends OF Gen. Alger sub
stantially purchased the votes of many
of the delegates from the Southern states
who had been instructed by their conven-
fions 10 vote fer mo" He also quotes
Senator Sherman's assertion 10 the effect
that. although he had learned with COM
platSanCe OF the explanations of the wav-
ering or the Ohio and New York delega-
tions from his tSherman's) support, the
only feeling of resentment ! entertained
was in regard 20 the action Of the friends
OF Gen. Alger in tempting with money
poor negroes TO violate the instructions
OF their constituents
In reply 10 these quotations, Gen. Alger
saws that he should not have intruded this
matter upon the public, were Il not for the
fact that Il appeared that Senator Sher~
man had gone out OF his way 20 insult
What ne writes" saws Gen. Alser.
would be less Objectionable were 1T nos
that the second word in the first para
graph is written in the present tense
Gen. Alger says that when Senator Sher-
mans charges were first made, immedi-
atclv after the convention. he was espe-
Ciallv distressed, because OF the warm
friendship existing between himself and
family and Gen. W. +. sherman and fami-
". IN view OF this he wrote Gen Sher-
man. assuring him that there was no
foundation FOR the charges, and that no
had not replied to them on account. first.
of the age OF the senator. second, Of his
great name. and third. because Of the IN
jury such talk would do the party. Gen.
Sherman in reply wrote: II assure you
that / entertain for YOU the sentiment OF
respect and affection as always. III any
thing ever shook my faith in YOU. 1t was
that YOU stopped TO the level OF the poll
tician. a soldier Of repute. gentleman.
and one who has such family and busi-
ness as Gen. Alger. ought to hold himself
above that level. But this Is emineniiy
a free country. and you had as good a
right 10 enter the race as had john Sher-
man. You made a good show of votes,
and ~ you bought some. according 10 uni
versal usage. surely ! don't blame you.
l laughed at John for trying 10 throw
off on anybody. lie WAS fairly beaten at
the convention. and ! congratulated him
on his escape. I frankly answer your In
quiry by saying that my friendship 20 YOU
has not been shaken IN the least that |
wish YOU all honor and happiness, and
that during my short remainder We may
often meet here and on the Pacific. VITA
great respect. etc. W r. sherman.
.P. S.-Best love to the family"
Continuing, Gen Alger says that dur
INK the excitement Of 1855 he paid little
attention to the report in question, noth-
-
name. bur that now the case il different
He then gives an analysis Of the Southern
vote received hy sherman apd himself At
the Chicago convention. According 10
this showing Senator sherman on the nftn
ballot. the ono IN which Alger received
the highest number Of votes. received ld3
votes from Southern states. against Algers
g. not including. however y votes from
Arkansas and Missouri. which came vol
unfairly pledged 20 Alger under the leader
ship respectively Of Gen. Powell clayton
and Chauncey /. Filley. or the other 20
Gen. Alger writes that more than oue-haf
OF them had served either IN the Union
or Southern armies during the war, and u
was not unnatural that they should prefer
a soldier 70 civilian. Many Oh these pep
pie / knew personally.
Tho general mentions a list of soldiers
and other friends of his among these dete-
oates who he concludes, naturally used
delegates in hi4 behalf. and adds: No
deIegate or friend who went 20 Chicago IN
NV behalf. or voted for me az the con-
ventlon ever asked for or received SIN
gle pledge from me FOR money or any Of
fee" Cen. Aiger relates instances or the
friendship between himself and the senator
az late wears. aud of assurances given him
nv sherman that. while his disappointmenr
has been great. ne did not believe that Al
Ger had acted unfairly IN the scramble Tor
yotes etc. III lsSS Aigcr also quotes an
au+f,grsph tstter written him by sherman
in lsq2 in which the senator reassertA; II
cherish no prejudice or uukndneAs Tor the
incidents Of the national convention OK
ISIS" -,
"Tn conclusion" writes Cen. Alger. II
wiu only adj that X Senator sherman is
willing 10 leave "a record made up largely
81 adverse criticisms of tho public men of
bIs Say many of whom have passed from
earth he - welcome Ia the task afn
sure he stands alone among our puohs
men VINO would be willing. by his own ACT.
- blight the honorable record or ths Nv
Ing and the dead"
4 letter from James Lewis, coiofed' OK
%eg orleans. s. appended, stating that the
v,r,,er voted for AIgsr ia the isss coaytn.
flro as second choice 30 Sherman, and
senvinr that negro delegates we're IN the
bsatf ~ selling their votes