The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-07
JOHN SHERMAN FOR ALASKA.
The Veteran statesman's TRIPLE
Talks of the War.

Chicago Tribune.
Il suppose people have formed the idea
thar / am standing with one foot IN the
grave and the other close 10 IL" said ex-
Secretary OF State John Sherman At the
Victoria yesterday afternoon after coming
IN from long drive. The truth is /
never felt better in my life. People have
been made 10 believe I was losing my
mental powers, and that was dangerous
~ Ill. Why, / haven't been sick n TWO
years excepting when I suffered for six
days from a cold. l think l am pretty
lively sor man - years old
Mr.. sherman declared he had no inter-
ton OF running for congress. and that he
had put a stop 10 the political scheme
which had been Matched in his congress
Sional district 10 help him get even for
alleged ;l-treatment.
i was approached by my friends and
asked Il ! would run. bat I wouldn't Listen
10 Il. and haven't the slightest intention
OF allowing my name 10 be used, ne said.
MIR. Sherman was not at all reticent
about discussing the war and IN affirming
his stand regarding II and Hawaiian an
nexation and other public questions, but
he refused ID offer any criticism as 10 the
conduct OF the war.
Il haven't any criticism 70 make. either
OF the strategy board or OF the admins
tration.'' he said. II was opposed to the
war. but. as far as L can see, 1t is being
conducted all right. Public sentiment
forced congress into IL. Ii was an ire
sistble impulse, L should say.
When / 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 l. would last as
long as Il has.
III the Cubans are let alone when peace
is declared / feel sure they NIL form a
stable government. SO many Americans
have interests there it Will make great
difference. We 40 not want Cuba, and I
am opposed TO anything looking 10 cur
holding the Philippines.
Il 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. II Is differen,
IN the case of Hawaii, where there are
such large American interests. But I have
always opposed Hawaiian annexation
also"
Mr.. Sherman was emphatic when he
started to talk of an English alliance.
Il don't 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 overawe other nations, as some be-
lieve, and 1t would make us vastly I'M
bbpuldI. We WOdlQ NOT gain any tNlES py
1t. We have all 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 1t was never attempted with
any other country. l do not believe there
will he any complications with any other
nation on account of the Spanish war"
EX-Secretary and Mrs. Sherman viii re-
main at the Victoria until tomorrow, when
they will leave for the West and Alaska.
Mr.. Sherman said his sole desire in max
ing trip to that far away country was 10
set an idea OF what IL 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.