ng out the protested vote of New York and Brooklyn, of
nearly half a million." Mr. Blaine, when it became known that the New
York vote was held to be against him, and civil war was threatened
if the returns were rectified, telegraphed to friends asking their
opinion of the New York situation; and I had the honor to be one
consulted. My reply was that the New York influences that had
prevailed to cause the declaration of a plurality for Cleveland
would be sufficient to maintain that determination. Then came the
opportunity of those unkindly toward Mr. Blaine to charge him with
forcing himself on the Republican party and ruining it with his
reckless candidacies, and I thought the facts within my knowledge
should be given the public, and wrote to General Sherman, asking him
to allow me to publish the correspondence between himself and Blaine,
proving that the nomination, instead of being forced by Blaine for
himself, was forced upon him; and I wrote to Blaine also, to the same
effect. I received from the General the remarkable letters following:

GENERAL SHERMAN TO MR. HALSTEAD.

912 GARRISON AVENUE,

ST. LOUIS, MO., _November 17, 1884._

DEAR HALSTEAD:--After my former letter, when I went to put the
newspaper slip into my scrap-book, I discovered my mistake
in attributing the article to the "Louisville" instead of the
"London Times." My opinion is nevertheless not to contest the
matter, as the real truth will manifest itself.[I]

I think Arthur could have carried the Republicans past the
last election[J]--but no man can tell what issues would have
been made in case of his nomination. So the wisest conclusion
is to accept gracefully the actual result, and to profit
by the mistakes and accidents sure to attend the new
administration, handicapped as it will surely be by the hot
heads of the South. Truly yours,

W.T. SHERMAN.

912 GARRISON AVENUE,

ST. LOUIS, MO., _November 21, 1884._

DEAR HALSTEAD:--I have yours of the 19th. The letter of Blaine
to me was meant as absolutely confidential, and of course I
would not allow any person to see it without his consent. I
am not sure that I would, even with his consent, because
I believe the true policy is to look ahead and not behind.
Blaine's letter without any answer would be incomplete, and
surely I will not have my letter published, as it contained
certain points p