The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-12

surgMAS,s REcoLLEcTroNs.

The Post-Intelligencer has received from
the publishers a copy of John Sherman's
RecoIlectIons." The book was issued some
months agn. and comments and criticisms
upon much contained In It have already
appeared quite generally throughout the
country The publication of the work was
looked forward to with no little eagerness.
for. aside from Mr.. sherman's prominence
as public man. his long career in congress
ana cabinet could but furnish rich materials
for an entertaining volume OF reminis-
cenees. The public has not been disappoint-
ed. a retrospect OF fifty years over one of
the most exciting periods In the nations
history would naturally cover much OF alb
sorbing interest, and Mr.. Sherman has been
so closely Identified with all the stirring
events OF the past that his story has thar
additional charm which always attaches
10 the recital OF a tale in the events OF
which the story teller has been prominent
figure.
Mr. Sherman first entered congress over
forty years ago. He must early have
developed many OF the strong character
istics which have since distinguished him
in his long career. for although young
man he soon became conspicuous. and dur
ing his third term was the leading Repub-
ncan candidate for speaker. 1t is some
what difficult 10 realize how distinctively
Mr.. Sherman fills the robe OF a link between
the present and the past. The great men
OF the troubled time when he entered pub
lie life have nearly all long since passed
away. At this day one can hardly appre-
ciate that he was an active contemporary
OF William II. Seward. John Z. Hale. VIII
lam Pitt Fessenden. stephen 4. Douglas.
Thaddeus Stevens. Charles Sumner.
Thomas Corwln, Reuben +. Fenton. Will
lam Allen and owen Lovejoy. And yet he
was I'm councils made up Of such men. and
over thlrty-tiye years ago Difference was
shown 10 his opinions and advice He be-
came prominent and leading man early
In life and be has remained one ever since.
Mr. sherman turned his attention 20
study OF governmental finances, and from
the day when. as chairman OF the ways
and means committee Of the house. he
brought in the now ce}ehIated Morrill, tariff
bill. he has justly been regarded as an
Authority on finance Throughout a long
and busy public lie his work has been as
sociatod with the great financial problems
that have arisen Tor settlement. and his
"Recoaectioes' are largely given up 10 a
history OF the financial transactions OF the
United States government for the last quar-
ter OF a century or more. His temperament
and incllnauoBs were such that the work
from the flrst was congenial. ard with tue
exception OF Alexander Hamilton and pos
sibly William Pity Fcssemden there has been
no American who has had a more rational
snd comprehensive grasp or our national
finances than john Sherman.
lie started cut IN BE as a believer IN hon
est money. ana throughout all these years
he has remained firm IN that faith lie In
sisted AT The outset that national greatness
ana prosperity would come only through
The strict maintenance % strong and en-
during pubnc credit and In and ont of sea-
son he has announced his belief that the
nations financial integrity should never bs
questioned ant :hat It's obligations must
always 5e regarded as sacred Through all
tao v!ciss.tudcs occastoned Ay great crl
war ana is appalling cost. ana later dur
jng the settlement ot the ooanrry.s debt and
the solution ~ the currency rr5alems when
r,aee. was restored and the land Undergoing
grea, material expansion. Mr.. sherman
gave his best efforts 20 establishing cur
finances On sound basis. ana invariably
his vision was clear and his Judgment good.
In "a record tg forty yAsrs q, would be In
cret.ole II mistakes were not made NJ
man. however great bis tntclieet. Is .afal-
la,e ia his DECISIONS. and IA times ~ stress
>nd excitement. VIXEN There Is roraa-
taner FOR every Imaginable ansrc.al srt-
ciac io remedy csrrcnt .3s. il Is aot ua-
ua,aral tl3At temporary exptalcnts should
have been triea, compromises made and
experiments tested which later expeg3eeee
has shown 90 be ioa8visa5se. Mr.. satr-
mans financial IDEAS were founded on xoaa.
stroas prsu, plies. ana although his juts-
ment AZ jinsss may have etcn Questioned
o. his financial theories he has never bsaa
Fundamentally wrong.
The personal recerec,ons u men ana
events SO - N>'&~sf ~ A4'--tI ~ .-s>ft Is -ls
one SO closely ia couch with puA,, and
party AFFAIRS during The las, quarter ~ a
century mast uaaye.aaA-y kaae yaach shat
Is worth trll-eg. The Eess@sal and private
.eplulsrs - su.n a ssaa are always wavta
fcaalne anl the LIS ~ Inside history fur
n.sheA ~ sach memoirs are usv4l'y very
salaaais contributions. whtch f-ltue ehr2a-
- -.a sra@-I-Ax avail themselves * a