The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-22
OHIO AND THE Presidency


On the expiration of General Grants
present term in the Presidency, March
A, 1877, eighty-eight years will have
elapsed since the first President of the
United States was inaugurated. During
that period Of four score and eight years,
the limit of twenty-five Presidential
terms, eighteen eminent men have been
incumbents of that exalted office.
Out of those eighty-eight years, COM
prising the whole existence of the Presi-
dental office, the State of Virginia has
had the incumbency for thirty-six years,
lacking one month. Her incumbents
were Washington, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe and Tyler. Next to Virginia
comes the State OF Tennessee, whose in
cumbents have held the Presidency for
sixteen years, lacking about month.
Her Presidents were Jackson, Polk and
johnson. Illinois stands next, with an
tncumbency Of twelve years and about
one month. Her incumbents Of the
Presidential office were Lincoln and
Grant. The next Is Massachusetts,,
holding the Presidency for eight years,
in the persons OF the two Adams, father
and son. Next to Massachusetts comes
New York, whose incumbency continued
for seven years and eight months, in the
hands Of Van Buren and Fillmore. New
Hampshire and Pennsylvania have held
the Presidency for four years each, in
incumbency Of Pierce and Buchanan.
Mississippi held the Presidential office
Tor about four months, in the hands OF
General Taylor. And in those eighty
Eight years Ohio has given an incumbent
to the Presidency for just thirty days,
In the person Of General Harrison.
Now, it must be conceded that Ohio is
a great State. The statistics Of the GEN.
BUS tables prove it. Nobody denies it. |
She became a constituent member of the |
Federal Union almost with the opening
Of the nineteenth century. 1t has been
Imputed to her that she abounds in great
men; an imputation to which she mod |
estly yet gladly pleads guilty. Many OF
the most distinguished names that con. |
stellate the public service of the coun-
try, in the Army and Navy, in the Cabi-
net and in Congress, claim Ohio as their
alma Mater. Indeed, it has sometimes
happened that Ohio, in this regard, has
found herself embarrassed with riches
In the Cornelian jewelry of her sons.
But among them are found some Of the
few immortal names that were not born
10 die.
And yet, though for three-quarters OIL
= century q member of the Union, and
Tor one-third of that time the third State
Of the Union, with the names Of her sons
blazoned with distinction in every de-
partment OF their country's service, |
Ohio has never yet enjoyed the deserved
honor OF giving to her country an in
rumbent OF the Presidential office, except
In the case OF her lamented HARRISON
whose incumbency lasted but one small
month, when death claimed him for his
pwn.
Nobody will maintain that personal
worthiness and fitness for the Presi-
iential office are. TO be determined by
my considerations OF State boundaries
Or State worthiness in general. The
matter is altogether individual and par
tioular. The claims Of any State, simply
as such, to present candidate for the
Presidency would be as idle as absurd.
But, when all other things are equal as to
the wortniness and fitness of Individual
men, then the claims Of great State to
the privilege Of nomination Of her cap-l
able and distinguished Statesmen, a
privilege which she has never before en-
ioyed, may be gracefully aud pertinsntly
uyged upon the attention OF the Nation.
In THAT position stands Ohio now.
Neither Of the political parties in Ohio
10 lacking In representative men, ct,