Peninsular news and advertiser. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1872-1904, 1876-05-26
Mr.. Bristow and the Presidency.

1t was Mr.. Lowndes who said, many
years ago, that the presidency was too
great an honor to be sought or declined,
and our history shows that it has gener.
ally eluded those who most passionately
pursued it. Clay, Webster, Calhoun
Douglas, Seward, Chase, are names o.
distinguished Americans who had al
evident, unconcealed longing for the of
fee, but who never obtained it. Taylor
Lincoln, Grant, were sought by the of
flee. The diary of John Quincy Adams
tells the story of the famous contest OF
1924, which ended in his own election by
the House. Yet lie was the candidate
who really did nothing to secure success.
Crawford, the Secretary of the Treasury,
spared no effort to gain the prize, and
failed ignominiously. Forty years later
Mr.. Chase, as Secretary of the Treasury,
was equally devoted to his own nomina-
tion, until the publication of the Pome-
roy circular and the patriotic unanimity
of feeling for Lincoln put an end to the
intrigue. 1t is certainly only natural
that able men in high political position
should earnestly desire the highest. The
ambition of such men for the Presidency
may be perfectly honorable. But it is
honorable only when it leaves the choice
of tine people wholly unfettered. The
moment an aspirant condesceuds 'to
pull wires" in any way whatever, the
instant that he personally and directly
attempts to affect the expression of pref
erence, he justly forfeits the respect and
confidence of patriotic citizens. And the
reason is obvious. No one who has been
really mentioned for the nomination,
can take any personal part in securing
it without exposing himself to the just
suspicion that he has 'come to an un-
derstanding, or that some kind of bar
gain is hidden under the arrangement.
The tone of our politics has fallen so
low, however, that it is now asked in
good faith why man should not help on
his nomination if he is conscious of the
ability and experience Indispensable in
so great an office. But the Presidency
should be the unsolicited reward of con-
spicuous and unquestionable public SER
vice. 1t is in its idea truly the gift of
the people. 1t is not prize to be played
for with tricks and craft, or secured By
skillful manipulations of conventions
and delegates by pledges and instruc-
tions and official machinery. Thisis I'll a
true Republican theory. But how far
we have gone astray may be seen in the
fact that Charles Francis Adams, who
has by common consent the character
and the qualities which are especially
desirable in President, who has the
courage of perfect independence, which
is the most precious and the least COM
mon quality in President, is also by
common consent the one American who
could not be nominated except as against
the party candidates. If this be the con-
sequence of the strict system of party
government, it is the most striking il
lustration of the vital defects of such Il
system.
1t is all the more pleasant, therefore,
to see IA possible party candidate who has
the same lofty disdain of intriguing for
his nomination that Mr.. Adams has to-
day and that Mr.. Adams's father had
half century ago. What a contrast,
and how favorable to our time, between
the action of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, Mr.. Crawford, and the Secretary OF
the Treasury, Mr.. Bristow Mr.. Craw-
ford had his agents and his "wires" and
his ''pipe" in every State. He toiled