The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-10-25
senator Shcrmun's Book.

example set by Benton, Blaine an'
Cox in giving to the world the fruit
of his statcsmanlikc experience in
book, Forty Years in the House, Sen
ate and Cabinet. Mr.. Sherman ha
been in continuous public life Iongc
than either of his great predecessor
who turned writer's Of political history
he has been actively identitiedswith al
the momentous events of the era thai
has been greatest in human annals, he
has. with all his shortcomings. rem
dcred his country some high service
during these memorable times, and
! his book has the advantage of the
others in including period. Il dozen
years later than theirs down to the
present time. While he lacks some
what of the intensely interesting style,
and the chivalric poisc of judgment of
Blaine, or of the generous liberal ism
and kindly candor of Cox. his work is
necessary supplement to theirs Tto
understand the intrigues, the jealous.
les and the infidelitics Of the last half
century of American politics as well!as
the great movements of history.
The fear that the venerable Senator
would reveal secrets long kept from the
public has been to an extent realized.
Grant Garfield. Blaine. Arthur. Ilar
rison and other Republican leaders.
are spoken of with unstinted praise
for their high personal worth or states
manship, but each is. in guarded and
covert language, shown ini7the less
commendable light of,Isa scheming
politician. The criticism is almost
inval iably implied rather than direct.
but it stands ont clearly in the work
as Il whole. He in effect charges Gar
field with treachcry To him in the con
vention of 1880, especially in a para
graph about the convention Of 1892,
when he was satisfied that Harrison
could not be elected if nominated Eand
therefore preferred Mckinley, but the
latter had" committedh imself toHarris-
On, and, according to my code of honor,
could not accept nomination, even if
rendered him. This is Of course
nonsense and exhibits twist of mind
that with all his great abilities. has
always been characteristic of the Sen
ltor. He does not show that Garfield
Jailed in any respect Of duty to him or
weaken at all the impression that the
alters nomination was the result. Of
| sudden and irresistible combina /
ion. in which case Gartield's accept /
nice was entirely justifiabc. He also
Exhibits some soreness that Garfield !
lid not reappoint him secretary of the
reasury and lays ii to Blaine.
As to the convention of 1855. he SAYS
t wac carried by Il corrupt bargain
With Platt. consummated between Sat
lrday night when the nomination
eemed certain to 60 to Sherman and
'ionday morning, when the tide turned
n favor of Harrison. But he gives
Harrison the credit of not being re
ponsible for the trade and of refusing
o fulfil its terms, the turning over of
he New York patronage to Platt
He tells the story fully and interest
ngly about the fight to remove Arthur
rom the collcctorship at New York.
living much of the correspondence
hat has never before been made pub
c. and he says that Arthur's nom ,
nation in 1850 for vice president Mas
whim of Conkling to annoy Hayes.
that part of the work in ;
act he gives unstintcd praise to
Iaycs His account Of the civil war {
nd of his association with Abraham
lincoln is full of interest as nara
We and as a historical record. Per .
APPS his Characterization of Andrew
ackson is as apt as anything in the I
ook I. slave to his passions and re- {
,ntments. foolish and stubborn {
IAN. doing even right things in /
rong way, and in position where I
lc evil that he does is immensely in \
'eased by his manner of doing it" :
The book is naturally devoted large t
to financial questions, in the hand {
NJ Of which Senator Sherman has y
on his largest fame. He rcitcratcs t
is arguments of 1876 and 1881 in favor {
the grcenback. saving: t
am one of those who believe that i
United States note. issued directly t
!. the government and convertible on =
,mand into gold coin. or a govern +
cnt bond equal in value to gold. is :,
e best currency we can adopt: that
is to be the currency OF the future.
IT only in the United States. but in
reat Britain as well: and that such e.
currency might properly continue to !;
legal tender. except when coin is
ecially stipulated for. " The Ii
nited States note. To the extent that q
is willingly taken by the people. 4,
1T can, beyond question, be main !
med al par in coin. is the least bur -
nsomc form of debt. The loss of in o
rest in maintaining the resumption O
nd. and the cost OF printing and en- :.
aving the present amount of United
ates notes is less than une-half the IL
terest on an equal sum of per cent Y
nds. The public thus saves over q
600, coo Of annual interest. and Sc II
res a safe and convenient medium e
exchange. IL
The Corbett Fitsimmons prizc fight
5 been declared of 1t has really eI
on driven nI1t LIZ l.i.h tnnn1.. n,1hin. l..