The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-27
MR.. H0AR.
His "reminiscences In
Scribner's.
FOUR CONVEN TIONS.
Blaine, Garfield, Edmunds
and Sherman.

Hoar's "reminiscences of -Four Nation
al Conventions in Scribrers magazine
for February will convey some notion
of the article to those who are not SO
fortunate as to read it entire:
| was myself member of the judic-
iary committee of the House, to whom
the investigation was committed. The
witnesses were examined by a sub
committee. But they We're almost daily
compelled to report the questions which
arose for decision to the full commit
tee, and the evidence taken by them
was at once printed. i was present at
the examination of most of the wit
nesses, so l was very familiar with
the case as it went en-. 1 expected to
be charged with the duty of preparing
a minority report in case, as was al
most certain to happen, the committee
round the charges sustained l had no
reason, so far as 1 then knew, or now
know, to be prejudiced or biased in the
matter. Mr.. Blaine mad treated me with
courtesy during my service in the
House, as he did everybody. He had
as speaker, never assigned to me any
place on committees which was special
~ agreeable to me, and had put per-
sons, who / thought less entitled to
! such distinction, into the chairman
SHIPS OF the committees of which
was member. But he was undoubt-
edly embarrassed in this matter by the
large number of representatives from
Massachusetts who had been long In
| the service. So had no Just cause
either for gratitude or for COMPLAINT
But | had expected, if he were nomi-
az oil Icr1
made public, to give him my Jealous
and earnest support as a candidate for
| the presidency
| L had, as I have said, occasion to
possess myself thoroughly of the evil
dence against Mr.. Blaine when 1t was
produced. l reviewed it carefully dur
ing the campaign which preceded the
election Of 1884 l have reconsidered it
again more lately. I did not think at
the time, and have never thought since
that Mr.. Blaine WAS guilty either of
actual corruption or of a willingness
to be corrupted. do not think he ever
sold his official influence, or ever re-
ceived for any exercise or his official in
| nuence, or his official power. l think
the spirit and manner in which the
| charges against MIN were pressed and
argued before the people, scarcely, if
at all, less disgraceful than would have
| been Mr.. Blaines own conduct if the
charges had been true.
| l hope that somewhere before I die
may put on record my estimate of
James a. Garfield, when I can say
some things that cannot be dealt with
IN eulogy, and for which there is not
room in this essay. 1t is the fashion.
even among his friends, to speak of
MIN as a person timid if not time
serving, and as easily swayed and
moulded by strong will [ have
heard men who knew him yerv well
say that when he led the House on the
republican side, and had led his party
INTO position which excited sharn
conflict, they never could be sure that
ne would not get wrong at the last mo-
ment, or have some private under
standing with the democrats and leave
his own side in the lurch.
I feel very sure that this is q eraat
mistake. Garfleld's hesitation. want of
certainty in his convictions, liability to
change his position suddenly. We're in
my opinion, the result of intelIectual
hesitation and of a habit of going
down to the roots of his subject before
ne MADE up his mind. He had great
reference for other mems opinions
| When, after he had expressed his
OPINION some strong and positive man
came to him with a confident uttera nee
or different opinion, unless Garfield
mad gone to the bottom of the subject
himself, he was very likely to defer to
hesitate, to think himself mistaken.
But when he had had time and had
thought the thing out and made I'm b;s
mind, nobody and no consideration Of
personal interest or advantage would
SUR MIN an inch 1 suppose his corr
age and genius as a soldier have never
peen Questioned. He performed some
very important military exploits
/ n
into the military conditions in Ten
nessee and Kentucky, and his letter
TO the department Of war accomplishad
a great deal toward putting things in a
better way. He was thorough lover
OF his country. He hesitated long &C
10 the doctrine OF protection, and un-
| douptedly made some inconsistent M
terances before he took the ground
winch he held at last. But he Studied
the financial question, especially tbe
great subject of currency, and the
standard OF value to the very bottom
he stood like a.-rock when Ohio and
| the Whole west seemed going against
MN, and the craftsmanship even of
John sherman was of the willow and
not of the oak '1iid
George E: Edmunds had a high renu-
| tation in the country as an abJa a..
yer and q faithful and independent
senator. he mad unquestionably rem
| dered great public service in the Sen
ate. If elected, 1 believe he wonI6
have administered the presidenc1, -
the principles which large majority of
the people Of Massachusetts held ~
was an excellent debater. He was ,,a-,, |
Iohd OF crltlcislng and objecting to
what was proposed by other mon ~
seemed never so happy as when i,7
opposition to the majority of his assoa;
ates. But he possessed what norso,l,- |
| OF that temper commonly Iaclr &C. :
capacity for constructive statesnleS1
ship. Any measure of5which he w.
lne au.nor would pc likely to accom- |
plish its purpose and to stand fire
David Davis, who was nresida,t
tempore Of the Senate, used to saw n he
could always compel Edmunds to w.
| IN the negative on a question. NV n,Jt
ting the question in the old New Fps.
land fashion. Contrary minded Win
say no, lor Cdmunds was always cor
ltrary-mlnded. once told him. borro,,,
ing saying of an Engllshman tb ,1tW, e
George Edmunds We're the onIy ', go II
in the world. George would Sua n.s,i,
with Edmunds. 4u'irei
We thought Cen Sherman was the
person that we wanted. 1t was l,,os,.'s
that he had written a letter f. ~, II
! Blaine, declining to have his nonic
used, and that a telegram had haa,, ',,l
ceived from him by delegate during
the session Of the convention to tbs
same erect But 1t was thought that
ne We're once nominated he would |
| flnd 1t impossible to decline. and tbat
his previous refusal would be an Gle
ment of strength and not of wealsnesc
in the country. After the Adjournment
which was at 11.45 a. m, on Friday
June g. the day before the balloting
made an arrangement to meet M
| George William Curtis. the chair,'a,,