The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-04

fessed another as Its leader. Ihe 1nscrutaoIe
power that sets at naught the wisdom of men
made the ideal seem to open its richest gar
nered wealth to bless him. You hear how
merrily he wore the cares of state, and the
lovers of the marvellous tell how the ribald
jest mingled with Cabinet councils. Yet he
was the purest, the siHcerest, and the saddest
Of men. He sreached the Executive chair
only to learn that his dream of
happiness pointed far beyond, through deep
tribulation and the tempest and flame of bat
tie. The strange unrest that ever springs
from fruitful hope was made deeper and
keener for him by the devouring care he
could not escape. But in the midst of
the anxious labors and sacrifices he had won,
in the name of honor, he dreamed the one
bright dream of a reunited people. 81 would
like to be the acknowledged President of the
arh0le Union before / retire., was the quaint
but earnest utterance he made when he was
awkwardly seeking to shape political action
so as to prolong his power, that he might
complete his work. He had the pro-
foundest faith in the cause of his country,
but he feared his own overthrow, with
nothing but the record of wars desolation to
mark his rule, and he knew not how devo-
tedly and Justly he was loved and trusted by
the people. And when his grand ideal seemed
to reach f%ruition, peace came only to mock
him with the fendish legacies of civil strife.
Still, far beyond, more dimly distant than
before, it pictured it's haven of contentment.
He died Just when his name could be re-
corded as most sublimely immortal; but his
history is but the simple, repeated, and ever
repeating story, that the ideal, fruitful as it
is of ftful blessings, has no ripened harvest
for mortals to gather. Pierce was President.
He plucked the green laurels from the vete-
ran Scott, and men judged that his ideal life
was realized. Not so, however, for he came
bereaved in his affections, to reign in
sickening turmoil, and he saw discomfort
and strife spring up to mock him in the re-
cords he sought to write. Discarded in the
lame of Peace, he retired and lived unfelt
and unworshipped, and died without touching
the nations sorrow. Taylor was borne into
the Presidency by the tidal wave that avenged
Mexico. He dreamed, as do other men, that
power is happiness; but, like the eagle Gagged
in bars of polished gold, he fretted his life
away. Fillmore found the dazzling cup of
his ambition full, but it turned to bitterness
as he drank the coveted draught. He sur
rendered power amidst public commissions and
personal discontinue, and faded from the
affections and well-nigh from the me-
mories of the people. He spoke re-
Gently, and like sorrowing Rip Van Wrinkle,
after the throes of revolution had whirled the
world a generation past him, he discussed
the problems of twenty years ago. The ever
faithful ideal still sweetens his isolation, and
shields him from himself. Johnson's ideal
destiny was the theme of his tireless speech.
He reached the throne through the food-tide
of a nations tears, and in his rule he rode
upon the storm. He was nothing if not tenn.
pestuous. He sowed to the wind, and
reaped beautifully of the whirlwind. In
hopeless strife ne fought out his power, and
went home amidst public rejoicing. And SC
the chapter might be continued through all
the struggles aud triumph of men-througt
all the honors, crowns, and titles lost and won.
Look at the group of heroes that adorns the
early histories of our late war. Not one Of
the faces there engraven on finest lines Of
steel for an admiring people appears in the
later group that is to be found near to the
chapter on Appomattox. How stars bright
ened only to fade in popular distrust or re
probation! An obscure tradesman stubbornly
carved his way from Donaldson, Shiloh, ant
Missionary Ridge-throughout meanest ant
mightiest malice-to the head of the army
Thenceforth, the nation trusted not in vain
He returned from his crimsoned battlefield,
with victory and peace, and the saved repub
lie, in mingled wisdom and gratitude, made
its great warrior its great pacificator. An
other untried officer, subordinated by the
War Department as of unbalanced mind, daz
zled the world with the daring and success Of
his matchless genius, and is now general-in
chief; and a name unknown until wreathed in
unfading laurels by his gallant troopers il
the valley, is second in command. These
have been successful, it may be far beyond
their early dreams; but think not that they
can claim exemption from the rude tempest
which ever break in fercest fury upon the
towering monarchs of the forest. Alexander
conquered the world-his great ideal destin,
was achieved-and he thrust the empty baubl,
away, with his own life, as his subordinate
wrangled for his crown. Napoleon dreamed
flag that confronted him, to die at last on an
inhospitable isle of the sea, without sceptre
home, OF country. Everything that 1 love,
everything that belongs to me, is stricken,
were the sad words with which he summed
up his destiny. Demosthenes became the
great orator of Greece; but the bright
ideal of his early manhood was dissipated,
~ 1900 = L.