The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-12
VII.

AAANA AAA9A WNE RAA0NNAA . ~
by the Ohio Legislature, Garfield havinl
resigned his seat In that body on hi
election TO the Presidency. Sherman'
resignation OF the ~Secretaryship Of the
Treasury, which he had held during the
Hayes administration, took eject on
March 8, 1881, and, his Senatorial term
not beginning until March 4, at noon.
there was an interval Of a few hour
during which he was a private citizen.
For twenty-six years he had been In the
public service. In this time he had passed
from the House TO the Senate, and from
the Senate into tho Cabinet, without q
break In his official life. These twenty-siX
years Witnessed more important changes
in the Federal organic law and In Fedora
legislation than had occurred before since
the Constitution became operative. When
Sherman entered Congress in 1885 the
powers Of the Federal Government had
suffered such diminution at the hands OF
the strict constructionists as 10 leave only
the form Of a supreme authority. Most
Of the essential powers Of such an authority
were denied by the dominating school OF
craftsmanship. It was not constitutional,
the country was told, 10 pass a tariff law
for the protection Of free labor, II vas not
constitutional 10 appropriate money for
great public improvements like the Pacific
Railroad, II was not constitutional 10 inter-
fere to prevent slavery from going into
the free territories Of the Union, there was
no national money, except gold and silver,
and II was not constitutional 10 create a
national currency. Mr.. Kerr points out
that the climax was reached FIVE years
later, when II was solemnly declared that
the national Government had no con-
stitutional power 10 save It's own life when
menaoed by the acts Of a sovereign State.
In the drastic changes which saved the
nation from being destroyed or minimized
to insignihcance John Sherman bore an
important part,
In the Republican national convention
that met at Chicago In June, 1884, Blaine.
II Is we'll known, was nominated on the
fourth ballot. OF 0hio's forty-six votes
John Sherman received but twenty-five.
the others being cast for Blaine. Sherman
had attempted 10 dissuade his friends
from presenting bis name and when he found
they we're resolved to present II, not
withstanding his personal wishes, he rele-
gated the promotion Of his candidacy TO
them. In Ohio substantially the same
political condition existed in 1884 that had
obtained in 1880. A small faction Of po-
litical ~malcontents, taking advantage Of
Baine's immense personal popu Arity, we're
able TO divide the Ohio delegation against
Sherman. After the convention Sherman
received many letters expressing regret
that he had not been nominated. Among
these W. one from Theodore Roosevelt,
TO the following effect: Il have only 10 re-
greet that my efforts to transfer the various
dark horse and 'favorite SON votes to
yourself we're not successful; you would
have received the most cordial support
from all Republicans, and | should have been
proud indeed could | have assisted in bring
ing about your nomination.
A few days before the first session Of the
Forty-ninth Cong ress began Vice-President
Hendricks died and Sherman was elected
president pro TEN. Of the Senate, which
office he retained until February 20, 1887.
On January II, 1880, he was chosen for the
fourth time United States Senator by the
Ohio Legislature.
II will be recalled that the Republican
national convention Of 1888 again met in
Chicago on June 10. In a letter addressed
to the chairman Of the Republican national
committee Mr.. Blaine declared emphati-
cally that he was not an ~aspirant for the
Presidential nomination. The publication
Of this letter greatly encouraged Sherman's
friends. Up TO this time but little had been
done 10 further his candidacy except q reso-
luton Of Endorsement passed by his State
in the convention Of 1887. The b%iographer
believes that II Sherman's nature had in
vited freedom OF intercourse he would have
been nominated for the Presidency In 1893.
Republican politicians, however, we're
afraid Of him. They did not believe that
they could prevail on him to give them pat
ronsge enough. They took Harrison in
stead. On the second ballot Sherman re-
ceived ?ls votes, but this was the highest
number that ne attained. ltumors we're
afoat as TO the loyalty Of the Ohio delegation
TO Senator Sherman, but Mr.. Kerr AYERS
that although the Ohio delegates we're dis
appointed when the votes cast for their can
didate fell far below expectations there
no lack Of sincerity or energy in the
which they gave him. Before the
final ballot was taken II became evident
that certain influences had been brought
TO bear upon the oolored delegates. osten-
sibly pledged TO Sherman, which they could ,
not resist successfully. Upon this point
our author remarks: Their pecuniary
condition was a weakness which they could
not fortify against. A large number Of the
delegates, instructed by their con-
,titlents to vote for Senator Sherman.
were corruptly influenced to vote for Gen.
After the resumption act the antitrust
Ia indisputably the most important
piece Of legislation with which John Sher-
name is connected. There has been
,vinoed In ONE quarters a disposition TO
from the credit due Sherman for
his statute, but Mr.. Kerr maintains that
lad Sherman not written a line Of the law
" contributed a single idea In the course
" the debate On II he would be entitled
more credit for enacting 1t than any
'ther single pan in Congress because
10 alone carriedth bill through the Senate.
Is to the so-called sherman silver law
he present biographer contends that the
tile Is a misnomer, Sherman. he says,
vas not responsible for that law and took
he irst step toward the repeal OF il.
VII.
On January II, 1892, John Sherman was