. I paid no attention to these publications,
but they were the basis of comment in the newspapers in Ohio. The
discussion of this question extended to other states, and indicated
the desire of a large majority of the papers, east of the Mississippi
River, that I be re-elected. I insert an extract from a long
article in the Chicago "Inter-Ocean" of the 22nd of March, 1891:

"The most important event looked for in 1892 is that of a successor
to John Sherman in Ohio, and already the matter is being discussed,
as well it might be, and the interest is by no means confined to
that state. John Sherman belongs to the whole country, and it is
no reflection upon the usefulness of any other public man to say
that his retirement to private life would be the greatest strictly
personal loss the nation could now maintain."

I do not care to quote the many kindly opinions expressed of me at
that period.

I returned to Ohio early in April on a brief visit to Mansfield,
and to pay my respects to the general assembly, then in session at
Columbus. At Mansfield I was met by a correspondent of the "Enquirer"
and answered a multitude of questions. Among others I was asked
if I would respond to the call of the members of the Ohio legislature
to meet them at Columbus. I answered: "Yes, I will go to Columbus
on Tuesday next, and from there to Washington, to return here with
my family in May for the summer." He said: "Is there any significance
in this Columbus visit?" I answered: "None whatever so far as I
know." In leaving he said: "Tell me, did your trip here at this
time have any reference to your fences, their building or repair?"
"No," I said, "I came here to build a barn. I am just about to
commence it." He bade me good-bye without saying a word about my
declining or being elected as Senator.

I went to Columbus on the 7th, arriving late in the evening, but
not too late to meet many gentlemen and to give to a correspondent
of the "Commercial Gazette" an interview. On the next day, in
pursuance of a custom that has existed in Ohio for many years, I,
as a Senator elected by the legislature, was expected to make a
formal call upon that body when in session, and during my visit to
eschew politics. Accompanied by a committee of the senate I called
upon Governor Campbell. We were then and had always been personal
friends. He accompanied me to the senate, which took a recess,
when brief and complimentary addresses were mad