LETTERS I, II, and III b illustrate clear statement of questions either in themselves involved, or complicated by excited feeling on the part of, at least, one of the correspondents. In Letters IV and V there is not only a similar clearness, but persuasion appears in the pervasive irony. Letter VI tries only to convey an emotional state of the writer: Letters VII, and VIII, on the other hand, use emotion to induce an attitude of mind in the reader. Letter IX shows how excision of a few words or phrases in a long document may completely change its emotional effect. Letter III a shows how slight, often, is the difference between an open letter and an editorial. Letter X illustrates not only clearness of statement, in its masterly review of a case complicated by contradictory evidence and personal jealousy, but also the close relationship there may be between the open letter and an argument before a jury. 5 I. W. T. SHERMAN 1 Declining to be a Candidate for Nomination to [The following letter of Mr. Blaine's explains the cause for General Sherman's letter: (Confidential.) Strictly and absolutely so. WASHINGTON, D.C., May 25, 1884. MY DEAR GENERAL: This letter requires no answer. After reading it carefully, file it away in your most secret drawer, or give it to the flames. At the approaching convention in Chicago, it is more than possible -it is indeed not improbable that you may be nominated for the 10 presidency. If so you must stand your hand, accept the responsibility, and assume the duties of the place to which you will surely be chosen, if a candidate. You must not look upon it as the work of the politicians. If it comes to you, it will come as the ground-swell of popular demand - and you can no more refuse than you could have refused to 15 obey an order when you were a lieutenant in the army. If it comes to you at all, it will come as a call of patriotism. It would, in such an event, injure your great fame as much to decline it as it would for you to seek it. Your historic record, full as it is, would be rendered still more glorious by such an administration as you would be able to give the country. Do not say a word in advance of the convention, no matter who may ask you. You are with your friends, who will jealously guard your honor. Do not answer this.] HON. J. G. BLAINE : ST. LOUIS, May 28, 1884. 5 MY DEAR FRIEND: I have received your letter of the 25th; shall construe it as absolutely confidential, not inti 1 By permission of C. C. Haskell & Co., successors to the Henry Bill Publishing Co., both letters are reprinted from the Biography of James G. Blaine, by Gail Hamilton. mating even to any member of my family that I have heard from you; and though you may not expect an answer, I hope you will not construe one as unwarranted. I have had a great many letters from all points of the compass to a similar effect, one or two of which I have answered frankly; 5 but the great mass are unanswered. I ought not to subject myself to the cheap ridicule of declining what is not offered, but it is only fair to the many really able men who rightfully aspire to the high honor of being President of the United States to let them know that I am not and must not be con- 10 strued as a rival. In every man's life there occurs an epoch when he must choose his own career, and when he may not throw the responsibility, or tamely place his destiny in the hands of friends. Mine occurred in Louisiana when, in 1861, alone in the midst of a people blinded by supposed 15 wrongs, I resolved to stand by the Union as long as a fragment of it survived to which to cling. Since then, through faction, tempest, war, and peace, my career has been all my family and friends could ask. We are now in a good home of our choice, with reasonable provision for old 20 age, surrounded by kind and admiring friends, in a community where Catholicism is held in respect and veneration, and where my children will naturally grow up in contact with an industrious and frugal people. You have known and appreciated Mrs. Sherman from childhood, have also 25 known each and all the members of my family, and can understand, without an explanation from me, how their thoughts and feelings should and ought to influence my action; but I will not even throw off on them the responsibility. I will not, in any event, entertain or accept a 30 nomination as a candidate for President by the Chicago Republican convention, or any other convention, for reasons personal to myself. I claim that the Civil war, in which I simply did a man's fair share of work, so perfectly accomplished peace, that military men have an absolute right to 35 rest, and to demand that the men who have been schooled |