re in any way to influence that
of others.

"Very truly yours,
"John Sherman.
"Hon. John Jay, Katonah, N. Y."

After the election in Ohio I received from General Arthur a list
of appointments for me in New York, which if I had attempted to
fill would have overtaxed my strength. Mr. Evarts had also been
invited, but limited his acceptance to one speech to be made in
Cooper Institute. I complained to him that it was not fair to
request of me so many speeches where he, a citizen of that state,
agreed to make but one. His answer was characteristic. He said:
"Well, Mr. Sherman, when the people of New York wish my views upon
public questions they arrange for a meeting in Cooper Institute,
or some such place. I make the speech and it is printed and is
read." I thought this, under the circumstances, a refined specimen
of egotism, meaning that he had only to pronounce his opinion to
attract universal attention and he need not therefore repeat his
speech at any other place.

This incident recalls to my mind a specimen of his keen wit. Among
the early meetings of the cabinet President Hayes announced three
or four personal appointments that he intended to make, mainly in
the foreign service, in the department of which Mr. Evarts was the
head. Evarts seemed to be surprised at these appointments, and
after some pause he said: "Mr. President, I have never had the
good fortune to see the 'great western reserve' of Ohio, of which
we have heard so much." For a moment Hayes did not perceive the
quiet sarcasm of Mr. Evarts, which was a polite expression of his
feeling that he should have been consulted about these nominations
before they were announced. We all caught the idea and the President
joined heartily in the laughter. Mr. Evarts is not only a man of
keen wit, but is a great lawyer and able advocate. I learned, from
my intimate association with him in the cabinet, and subsequently
in the Senate as a member of the committee on foreign relations,
to respect and love him.

On the 25th of October, when on my way to New York, at the request
of General Kilpatrick I made a speech at Paterson, New Jersey, on
the occasion of the ratification of the Republican nominations.
In this speech I expressed my opinions upon the subject of fraudulent
elections, especially in the south, and, while the government has
not been able at any time to completely protect the ballot box in
several states, the opinions I then expressed