the question of resumption is settled beyond a doubt. I want to
convince everybody that the experiment of resumption is a success;
that we can resume; that the United States is not bound to have
its notes hawked about at a discount, but that a note of the United
States may travel about the world, everywhere received as equal to
gold coin, and as good as any note ever issued by any nation, either
in ancient or modern times. I want to see that our debt shall be
reduced, which will be done through four per cent. bonds. If the
present policy prevails, we shall be able to borrow all the money
needed for national uses for less than four per cent., perhaps as
low as three."

I returned directly to Washington. Finding that a determined effort
would be made to force my nomination as governor, I wrote the
following letter to prevent it:

"Treasury Department, }
"Washington, May 15, 1879.}
"My Dear Sir:--In view of the kindly interest manifested by political
friends during my recent visit home, that I should be nominated as
the Republican candidate for Governor of Ohio, I have given the
subject the most careful consideration, and have come to the
conclusion that I cannot, in my present situation, accept such a
nomination if tendered.

"I am now engaged in a public duty which demands my constant
attention and which can clearly better be completed by me than by
anyone coming freshly into the office. To now accept the nomination
for governor, though it is an honor I would otherwise highly prize
and feel deeply grateful for, would be justly regarded as a
abandonment of a trust important to the whole country, to promote
my personal advancement. I earnestly hope, therefore, that the
convention will not embarrass me by a tender of a nomination which
I would be obliged to decline.

"It may be that no such purpose will be manifested, but I write
you so that if the convention should so incline, you may at once
state why I cannot accept.

"Very truly yours,
"John Sherman.
"General J. S. Robinson, Chairman Republican State Committee,
Columbus, Ohio."

Charles Foster was nominated by the Republican convention in the
latter part of May, and Thomas Ewing by the Democratic convention.
These nominations necessarily made prominent the financial questions
of the time. After the close of the funding operations, I received
from Mr. Blaine, as chairman of the Republican committee of Maine,
the following invitation, whi