When I got back to the next meeting of the convention,
I made known to them what I had done. I was told by several
of them that they would stand by me, but that it would cause
great dissatisfaction when they got home.
"What is the matter?" I said. "Our people do not want a Father
Confessor in the White House," was the answer. Although General
Sherman was a Protestant, it is well known that his wife was
a Catholic. Soon after, Mr. Curtis came over to my seat and
said: "Mr. Hoar, I cannot carry out our agreement." "What
is the matter?" said I. "There is an insurrection in the
New York delegation," was his reply. "They do not want a
Father Confessor in the White House." So we agreed we should
have to give it up. When I came back to Washington, I called
at John Sherman's house and talked over the convention with
him. I told him the story I have just related. He said he
was not surprised, and that he believed the unwillingness
to have the religious faith of his wife made matter of public
discussion had a good deal to do with his brother's refusal to
permit himself to be a candidate.
Pages:
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723