The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-07

The Veteran Statexman's Triple
Talks Of the War.
ChlcaSo Tribune.

Chicago Tribune,
Il suppose people have formed the idea
that l am standing with one foot N the
grave and the ether close 10 it, said ex-
Secretary Of State John Sherman at the
Victoria yesterday afternoon after conilns
IN from a long drive. The truth Is L
never felt better in my life. People have
been made 10 believe l was losing my
mental powers and tina. I was dangerous
" III. Why. / haveni been sick n Two
years excepting when / suffered for six
days from cold. l think | am pretty
lively for man = years Old
Mr.. Sherman declared he had no intsn-
ton OF running for congress, and that he
had put stop to the political scheme
which had been Matched in his congress
sional district 70 help him get even FOR
aleged ..I-treatment
y was approached by my friends and
asked K ! would run, but / wouldn't listen
10 Il. and haven't the slightest intention
OF allowing my name TO be used" ne said.
MIR. Sherman was not at all retiCent
about discussing the war and IN affirming
his stand regarding it and Hawaiian an
nexation and other public questions. but
he refused tc offer any criticism as TO the
conduct OF the war
Il haven't any criticism to make, either
of the strategy board or of the admins
traitor" he said. II was opposed 10 the
war. but. as far as I can see. il is being
\. L
forced congress into il. Ii was an IRE
sistible impulse, should say.
wv hen l left the cabinet there wasn't
any war policy. and there is no means Of
telling when the war will end. / did not
expect. at the start, that IL would last rs
long as Il has.
IF the Cubans are let alone when peace
is declared l feel sure they viii form a
stable government. So many Americans
have interests there it will make great
difference. We do not want Cuba, and |
am opposed TO anything looking 10 our
holding the Philippines.
L have always contended that the
United States should keep its possessions
as compact as possible. The acquisition
OF territory on the other side OF the earth
would be only a weakness. 1t Is different
III the case Of Hawaii, where there are
such large American interests. But l have
always opposed Hawaiian annexation
Also
Mr.. Sherman was emphatic when he
started TO talk Of an English alliance.
Il dent believe public sentiment is In
favor OF such an alliance" he declared.
Great Britain Is the most unpopular ma
ton ON the globe, and she knows that she
has enemies. An offensive and defensive
alliance, such as has been talked OF. would
not oyerawe other nations, as some be-
lieve. and 1t would make us vastly I'M
bOpusAls We Nudiu IltI sam any (liilS nS
it. We have ali the alliances we need at
present.
The United States has more treaties
than any other nation. We are not iso-
lated by any means. Every treaty with
another nation is an alliance. 1t has been
the policy of the United States. with one
exception, to avoid every complication of
the kind. We had such an alliance with
France. but it was never attempted with
any other country. I do not believe there
viii be any complications with any other
nation on account of the Spanish war
Ex-Secretary and Mrs. Sherman will re-
main at the Victoria until tomorrow. when
they viii leave for The West and Alaska.
Mr.. Sherman said his sole desire in max
ing a trip TO that far away country was TO
get an idea OF what it was like. He had
been in every state ana territory but
Alaska al least twice, he said. and the
present trip had been planned several
years.