The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-12
OUR SECRETARY OF STATE.
John Sherman's Long and Honorable
Public Record.
Buffalo Courier (Dem.)

Buffalo Courier (Dem.)
The office of secretary OF state, in tradi-
tional dignity and rank. Is the 4rSt OF the
Cabinet positions. though il has sometimes
been surpassed in actual importance by
,,ihlat OF some other head of department.
like the secretary OF the treasury the
secretary of war. There Is no ground for
comparison between the American secre-
tary OF state and the prime minister OF
the British or any similar constitutional
government and to call the former pre-
mier is stretch of Imagination as well
as OF courtesy. In selecting Senator Sher-
man for this important Office President
Mckinley, whatever the ultimate opinion
or the wisdom Of this appointment may be-
mas chosen public man with record OF
official services and party distinctions not
equaled. at this time, h. any other Re-
publican who could have bsei eydrded as
eligible for the office
Mr. sherman has been connected with ma
tional affairs forty-two years without in
terruption, a representative in Congress,
a United States senator. secretary OF the
treasury. and again a United states sena-
tor. He first entered the federal Senate
thirty-siX years ago. when he was elected
in the place OF Senator Chase. who resigned
TO become secretary of the treasury in the
Cabinet Of President Lincoln; Su6se-
Twenty years ago he reinquished Tor the
first time a seat in the Senate to ac-
cept Cabinet portfolio. He was ap-
pointed secretary of the treasu Y by Mr.
Hayes. Up TO that time neither his own
long service in both houses Of Congress nor
his prominence party man had enabled
the futility, at that time. of any personal
ambition in that direction. he himself an
nounced i'm the early part of lni6 that
Rutherford b Hayes who had been OBJ
scure when the senator was conspicuous,
would be Ohio's choice for the Republican
presidential nomination. Mr.. Sherman re-
tirement from the Senate in lSIa was time
ly. If he had remained in that BODY ne
would have been compelled two years
later, to surrender his seat TO Demo-
cratic successor. But the Ohio Repub-
licans. after they had lost Shermans old
seat. two years later secured the place oc-
cupied by Senator Thurman Tor twelve
years. They elected 10 il Representative
Garfield. The latter presented TO the Re-
publican national convention OF 1870 the
name of Secretary Sherman as a candi-
date for the presidential nomination.
Finally General Garfield himself was nomi-
man saw an Ohio Republican whose record
in public affairs had not been as conspicu-
Gus as his own secure the greatest poilt-
ical prize Mr.. Garfield. after MS election
to the presidency, was not willing TO take
Mr.. Sherman into his Cabinet. but as ne
had TO decline the senatorship. 10 whlcn
he had been previously chosen, his infiu-
ence brought about Mr. Shermans cleo
ton 10 the Senate at the close or ms term
as secretary of the treasury Mr.. Sher-
mans second period of tervice IN the SEN
ate therefore. like the first. began with
his election i'm the place OF another man
who had resigned TO accept more impor-
tant office. and il lasted. precisely as the
first, sixteen years. DURING THIS second
period he renewed his attempts TO secure
a presidential nomination, bat after the
nomination of Mr.. Harrison in ISIS he had
TO give up all further efforts I'm that dlrec-
ton and last year he saw. for the third
time, a member OF his party from his own
state with a political career much less us
tingllished than his own obtain the honor
that had been deried to him.
Mr. Shermans present senatorial term
would have expired in 1899, but as ONO mas
biennial legislative elections. the next regu-
lar election of a United State senator from
that State will take place next year Even
If his party sure of success IN ms
wears election of members of the Legisla-
ture. Mr. Sherman would not. In the pres
ent condition of Ohio Politics. nave Dee.
SIre of a reelection. In the nature or
things his retirement from the Senate must
be regarded as final. He is nearly seventy
four years old, and his manaSement or the
State Department is likely 10 be the clos
ing chapter of a long and remarkable pub
lie career.