The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-22


The mental condition Of the Hon John
Sherman. Secretary of state. is the sub
/ ject Of anxiety to people of his home state
as well as to those Of the rest of the coun-
| try. It is, as q matter of fact, nothing
new for him to be upon all sides Of about
| every public question which comes up For
years he has been noted as particularly
shifty politician trimming his sails 70
meet the favorable breezes. The things
which cause uneaslness, however. are the
manifestations Of mental weakness which
have occurred since he became premier Of
the Mckinley cabinet. 1t was said
when he resigned his seat In the Sen.
ate 10 make room for Mark Hanna 1t was
well known to the republican leaders that
his memory was gone and that his judg-
ment was very faulty. but it was thought
rnar NJ s0u71 10 set UP IN Ute department.
as a dgurehoad possessing a name to con-
jure with, and that bright and competent
man could be installed as assistant secre-
tary and would do all of the work.
President Mckinley quickly Installed
JudsS Day of his own town, in the state
department. presumably to keep things
straight. But he is not doing It, Mr..
Sherman apparently objects to becoming
merely a fgurehead He wishes TO have
a say-so with regard to the business of the
office, whether he is competent TO do So or
not. Thus IL falls out that when the Jap
anese minister calied q the state depart
ment the other day TO inquire with regard
10 the report that an annexation treaty
with Hawaii was about to be sent to the
Senate, he was rather brusquely informed
by Secretary Sherman that no such treaty
would be sent in; that none was being ne
gotiated. At that very moment the treaty
was not only in existence, but had been
signed by Secretary Sherman himself!
And not only that, but Secretary Sherman
himself had informed other diplomatists
with regard to it! Was that honorable
diplomacy? It is more charitable to think
that it was manifestation of a very
treacherous memory.
Following this incident Secretary sher-
man said that he favored annexation in
this case although opposed to annexation
on general principles, "on account of the
claim of Japan to these islands" The
Japanese minister had directly and forci-
bly, impressed upon the secretary the fact
that Japan had no claim whatever upon
the islands, except in so far as it was de-
sired that the treaty between Japan and
Hawaii should be lived up to. He had
stated that his government had not the
remotest idea Of annexing the islands; il
did not desire them His words had all
the force of an official utterance. Never
theless the secretary gave as his reason for
favoring the treaty the fear that Japan
would do what her minister declared she
had no intention of doing. Is that states
manship, or even good politics? It is
easier to believe that it was the crotchet
of failing mentality.
It is reported that the other day Score
tary Sherman sitting in his Office listened
in listless manner and with vacant ex-
preston to long account Of the govern
ment's diplomatic Citations, and when the
recital had been concluded. frightened up
and asked glibly how many offices there
were in the treasury department that could
be filled without the interference of the
civil service commission!
Mr.. Sherman has had long public ca
reer. He might now retire upon the honors
he has won. To remain longer in office.
and jeopardize the interests, if not the
peace, Of the country, would not add to
the glory Of his achievements.