The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-05-20

JUhN / IoN JohN SfERnAN VIII hct ne accorded as CONSPICUOUS
SHERMAN / - place in history as many other distinguished Ameri-
cans. He has been a factor; has enjoyed long service in the United States
senate, aud his name permanently connected with most Of the more Impor-
tant economic and political measure. since the war, but he is not endowed
with the higher quaIues-te clements which enter into the character and
make up If a great statesman. The following Characterization which We
take from the editorial columns Of The Memphis Commercial Appeal Of the
18th Inst. while a IttIe unfair to Sherman with that exception is pretty
true:
The Hon. John Sherman, secretary Of state has just reached his 7ith
birthday, and some people re inclined to render him conspicuous honor.
inst why, we ar at floss to know.
What has John Sherman ever done to entite him 10 he especial homage
Inf ms countryiucn2 Viewing him above the ramparts u party passion, and
purely as an American, what service has he ever rendered his country for
which his country should be grateful When the American Of the year OF
1897 takes a retroactive look, a It were, at American politics, there are
many names which occur to him as worthy of honor. He may not agree
with Clay regarding the "Amcriran system or with Webster in his rHa-
ton to slavery, or with Calhoun On the subject Of states rights. but he re-
spects their great abilities, and he is proud Of thcmai as great Americans
With regard to John Sherman, nobody has ever contended that he wasa
great orator. He has neither the orators temperament nor the orators
magnetism. Surely as ,tatcaman there is nothing that can rebound to his
credit, but some persons contend that he ha great fnaucicr. Let us cx
anime this claim. The ardent free silver men contend that Sherman was at
the bottom Of vast international conspiracy to dcmoraIze silver and bring
about Interpretation Of gJd~nd tfthis were true it Isccrtany no evidence
Of his ability rs a 0oancier, but rather a proof Of his innmy as man. We
are rec TO say That we have our doubts upon this point. There is notlinS
In the career Of John Sherman to show that he has ever had any firm and
fixed convictions on any great economic, or indeed, any other question.
From the utteranccs of John sherman can be had some Of the very
strongest expressions against the characterization Of silver, as well As some
Of til" most positive Arguments for the single gold standard. The very act
that bore hls name, an act regarded as the next best thing to free silver,
was subsequently repudjated by his own party, he himself being prominent
In the sacrifice Of his own offspring His positions on the financial question
are too numerous to mention, And his attitude toward the currency + sol "A Il
with his attitude Oh nearly all other subjects. lie has blown warm
the South and cold in The north. lie has been all things to all men, He
has been in favor # conservative tarin at one Time, and an extreme tariff
another. He has talked fraternity between the sections ON day, and
hostility the next, But amidst the wreck of matter aud the crash of worlds,
tmidSt the ylcissiiudeS Of politics and the ever varying panorama Of nation.
II affair, he has invariably succeeded in putting money in his purse.
Before, then, we yield homage to this man, we are justified in asking
hat his admirers point to a single act which heralds his greatness, n single
that poclaims his craftsmanship u single speech or paper which proves
nan is myth. Twenty years ago he was a perhaps ten years ago a where
., today al II, and ten years hence a never was