r the dead of whom I could speak more kindly,
and for whom I felt a more sincere respect; but find that I have
engagements and public duties that I cannot avoid, and, besides,
while reasonably well, the lingering effects of the grippe still
hang on me, and my doctor advises against a long and wearisome
journey.

"Under the circumstances I felt compelled, though reluctantly, to
telegraph Mayor Mosby the withdrawal of my acceptance, and proffered
to assist him in every way to find some acceptable person to perform
the gracious duty assigned to me. This I will do. Lengthy orations
in the presence of the dead are out of place and out of time. A
brief, warm, hearty, kindly statement of the character and life of
Mr. Pendleton is all that is needed.

"Very truly yours,
"John Sherman."

On the 10th day of May, 1890, I reached the age of sixty-seven
years. My wife determined to celebrate the event and invited a
distinguished party, among whom were President Harrison, Vice
President Morton, Sir Julian Pauncefote and General Sherman, to
dine with us on the evening of that day, the dinner to be followed
by a general reception. I was accustomed to pass each milestone
of my journey in life without notice, but as we were both in good
health I readily yielded to her wish. Undue importance was given
by the papers to the social gathering and I received many letters
of congratulation and read many kindly notices in papers representing
each of the two great parties. I looked upon this as evidence that
I had arrived at that period of life when a difference in political
opinions was no longer regarded as a ground of personal disfavor.

Soon after the adjournment of Congress I returned to Ohio and
entered actively into the political canvass. The election was for
secretary of state and a few state officers, but the chief contest
was upon the election of Members of Congress. I made my first
speech in the Ohio canvass at Wilmington on the 16th of October.
It was a prepared speech and dealt mainly with the recent acts of
Congress. I opened with a general comparison of the two great
parties of the country. The subjects discussed were the trust law,
the pension legislation, the silver law and the McKinley tariff
law. I defended the latter as a protective measure that, while
reducing taxation, maintained the protection of all American
industries impartially. I continued in the canvass diligently,
speaking almost every day unt