In 1886 , the Ohio legislature elected Sherman to a fifth term but , before long , he was considering another run for the presidency . To broaden his national image , he traveled to Nashville to give a speech defending Republican principles . He encouraged fairness in the treatment of black Americans and denounced their mistreatment at the hands of the " redeemed " Southern state governments . The tour had its effect , and Sherman 's hopes were high . His old friend , ex-President Hayes , thought him the best candidate . The early favorite for the nomination was again Blaine , but after Blaine wrote several letters denying any interest in the nomination , his supporters divided among other candidates , including Sherman . With no clear consensus going into the 1888 convention , delegates divided their support among an unusual number of favorite sons . Daniel H. Hastings of Pennsylvania placed Sherman 's name in nomination , seconded by Foraker ( who was , by then , Governor of Ohio ) . Sherman , at last , had a unified Ohio delegation behind him and led on the first ballot with 229 votes — more than double his nearest competitor , but well short of the 416 needed for nomination . Walter Q. Gresham of Indiana was in second place with 111 , followed by Russell A. Alger of Michigan with 84 . Sherman gained votes on the second ballot , but plateaued there ; by the fifth ballot , it was clear that he would gain no more delegates . He refused to withdraw , but his supporters began to abandon him ; by the eighth ballot , the delegates coalesced around Benjamin Harrison of Indiana and voted him the nomination . Sherman thought Harrison was a good candidate and bore him no ill will , but he did begrudge Alger , whom he believed " purchased the votes of many of the delegates from the southern states who had been instructed by their conventions to vote for me " . A loyal Republican , Sherman gave speeches for Harrison in Ohio and Indiana and was pleased with his victory over Cleveland that November . After 1888 , Sherman , aware that he would be seventy-three years old when the nomination was next open , resolved that from then on " no temptation of office will induce me to seek further political honors " and did not run for president again
1888 convention
1888 Republican National Convention
John Sherman