The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-24
\ TELLECTUAL
DECAY Of SHERMAN
The Second Childhood of The
Great Statesman.
------------
"a CABINET FlGUREHEAD
MR. OSBORNEsS PECULIAR EN-
PERIENCE WITH HIM.
HOW THE PRESIDENT WAS DECEIVED
Changes in Sherman's Disposition Within Last
Two Years No Longer Reticen', Cold,
Unsympathetic. One fine
kblest Of Statesmen.
Ablest Of Statesmen.
Chicago Record.)

ttlnlcagO ltefOfd.J
Washington. March u Since he left
the Cabinet Mr. Sherman has been en-
joying the very best of health. appeared
to be in excelhnt spirits and started
upon the excursion 10 the West Indies
with as much eagerness as boy 10
years old might have shown. He was
the guest OF Colgate Hoyt of New
York. whose wife was a daughter of his
brother. the late Charles Sherman. who
lived in Cleveland and was also the
father OF the wife of General Miles and
wife of Don Cameron.
Mr.. Shermans moods and disposition
appear to have undergone radical
change within the last year or so. lie
was formerly noted for his reticence. his
coldneSs of temperament and his lack
of sympathy with others. Recently he
has become garrtllous, genial and inter-
ested I'M everybody. He WAS considered
selfish and narrow, and George Butler
once said that If Il knife We're plunged
into his heart it would come ont covered
with frost. This disposition did not in
terferc with his success as politician,
although it probably prevented his nom-
nation for the Presidency. His force
Of character, his comprehensive abili-
ties. his power Of statement and his
skill in the management Of political
affairs were sufficient to accomplish all
his ambitions, except the Presidency.
without the aid of the genial and sun
shiny disposition Mr.. Blaine possessed.
For years Mr. Sherman has been con-
sidered the ablest of American states
men. He probably accomplished more
a4prs
cnee upon the politics and the policy of
this country and upon public events than
any otlnsr man Of his time. II is Il pity
that his carer should have ended as it
did in a failure 10 grasp the affairs Of
the State Department, but the President
was not aware OF the extent Of his men
tal weakness. and il was Il long time
before others of the Cabinet realized
how infirm Mr.. Sherman's intellect had
become His forgetfnlness, his qlterul
BUSINESS and his almost chilisit simplicity
were not apparent lit all times. There
would be days wherein his mental vig0r
re-appeared in manner that was phe-
nomenal: then. without warning. he
would lapse into scnile disability that
was Iitifu
The president-eIect gent his cousin.
William Mckinley Osborne. now Consul
General at London. 10 Washington 60
ascertain whether Mr.. Sherman might
be induced 10 consider a proposition 70
transfer his sphera Of usefulness from
the Senate to the Department of State.
He arrived ut 6 o'clock one afternoon
in January, 1897. took room at the
Arlington hotel. got his dinner. and
then called Mt Mr. ShermaIl's house. Tbs
laI -. a.
ting people Some of his oldest friends
\ were never surprised If he did not recog-
nize them One day when he found
Justice McSenna. one Of his Cabinet
colleagues, sitting in the Presidents
room he went up to him. shook hands
cordially and asked him if he was not
d member of Congress. As Mr.. Me
Kenna had been sitting beside Mr.. Sher-
man Mt the Cabinet table twice week
for several months he was quite SUR
prised at the question
Mr.. Sherman had met Mr.. Osborne
many times, but did not remember him.
When his identity was fully established
Mr.. Osborne explained. as delicately as
possibe that the President was consid
ering his Cabinet and desired TO know
whether Mr.. Sherman might be regarded
as possible choice In case matters
shaped themselves SO that his appoint
ment was advisable He explained ex-
plicifly that he was not authorized to
tender him a position: that the Pres-
dent had not yet reached a point where
he could invite any one into his official
family. but he would like TO know II
Mr.. Sherman, under any circumstances,
would consider an invitation il it were
rendered him. Mr. Sherman thanked
Mr.. Osborne for the honor of being
mentioned in connection with so high
an office and asked for little time 10
consider. The subject was discussed III
length the entire evening. and when Mf.
Osborne left the house ii was understood
that he should have an answer the next
morning in time To take the 10 @ clock
train for Canton. At $50 promptly nc
appeared at the Sherman mansion. and
10 his utter amazement he was compelled
TO again Introduce himself and explain
10 Mr.. Sherman who he was and what
he had come for. The venerable states
man did not remember anything about
the conversation held only twelve hours
previous. The whole subject was gone
over again, however. and Mr.. Sherman
again asked time TO consider
When Mr.. Osborne arrived in Canton
the President-elect was ut luncheon and
greeted him with the inquiry: well,
what did Uncle John have to say
Look here, William exclaimed Os-
borne, ''the next time you send me TO
see a man about going into your Cabinet
| hope you will select one who will re-
member me over night
us he so bad as thatY" inquired the
President elect.
Yes" replied Osborne, and he related
his experience.
If that is the situation, remarked the
President-eleet, III Uncle John is as bad