The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-09-02
VENERABLE JOHN SHERMAN OF OHIO
The Defeat of Horace Greelev
For the Presidency.
BLAINE DESERTED BY REPUBLICANS
His Friend, Charles Foster, is a
Broken Hearted Man.

Broken Hearted Man.
John Sherman, statesman and we'll
minded man, is nearing the end OF a
long and busy life. Here on the banks
OF the Mofican, says the Cincinnati En-
quirer, where he began his political ca
reer, he is slowly passing to a shore
where party strife and hearts bowed
down are only memories. The story OF
John Sherman's later years supplies a
text for a sermon on the cruelty OF pol
itics. More hearts have been broken in
the race for political honor than in the
sentimental struggle for love OF woman.
Here is this noble, venerable man dy-
ing with broken heart because he
could not achieve the one great ambi-
ton OF his lilc-thc presidency OF the
United States.
A victim of circumstances, OF convcn-
ton stampedcs, OF cabals and combina-
tions, a statesman worthy the highest
trust OF his party, was crowded out as
term after term went by. AS il that
were not enough, the iron heel OF
Hanna crushed the aged man in his de-
clining years, cast him out OF the SEN
ate, then out OF the cabinet, and then
John Sherman, weary Of heart and en-
feebled in body, came home to die.
If there is sentiment left in the COM
mercial politics Of to-day it should re-
volt at the brutal cffaccmcnt OF Sherman
after half century OF dignifcd public
service. Some day, perhaps when Shcr-
man is dead, the republicans of Ohio
will remember the savage treatment OF
him by the new proprictors OF the re-
publican party, and there will be all
evening up-a retrbution which will be
swift, severe and just.
John Sherman is not the only man
whose heart has been broken by pol
itics. When Kate Chase Spraguc died
few days ago her death was re-
minder to old time politicians that the
father she adorcd died before his time,
a victim Of disappointed ambition. He
could not understand how he, the pol
ished, cultured, educated statesman,
should be put aside by the American
people, that the rugged, uncoutl, jok-
ing, storytelling Lincoln might become
president. Nor could he understand
why Grant, driving wood wagon when
the war began, should become the
greatest hero OF the age.
Year after year OF disappointment,
subscrvicncy to mediocre men whom
he secretly dcspiscd, laccratcd the
tissues OF the proud Chase heart, and he
died when yet Of an age to be of great
service to his country.
Poor Horace Greeley lived less than
a month after his defeat for the prcsi-
dcncy in 1872. The slurs and stings
and insults of the campaign hcapcd
upon him by men who grew to great
ness with his editorial help crushed
him worse than the actual defeat.
Once. when he was campaigning
through northern Ohio, some scoundrel
threw stone through car win
dow. 1t went near the venerable white
head, and with tears in his eyes he said
to those around:
"Wl1at have ever done to these pco-
pie that they should seek to stone mc?'
Incidents like these, added to the de-
feat OF a great ambition, made Horace
Greeley lay down the burden OF life at
an age when most men bear it best
James G. Blaine should be living to-
day. Had he survived there would have
been no Mark Hanna in American poll
tics. Blainc's heart was broken, not
by the defeat OF 1884 SO much as by the
subsequent ingratitudc OF those who had
been helped to fame by his magnani-
nous spirit and political generosity.
When, bclittlcd and sighted, sup
planted by the intriguing professional
diplomat, Foster, the great Blaine found
that the Republican party did not stand
by him, his soul was frcttcd, and physi-
cal decay followed upon his broken
spirit. Blaine forcsaw the great COM
mercial spirit that was soon to domi-
nate American politics. He got a
glimpse OF the new era OF the dollar
mark, and Hanna stamp which was be-
ginning to fasten itself on the Repub-
lican party. Long years OF study and
craftsmanship were to count for nauglt
against the modern car Of Juggernaut.
Blaine's friend, Charles Foster OF
Ohio, yet lives, broken-hearted man.
Who cares now for Foster? He gave