National Republican., 1877-03-04
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survivor oil the long roll. The occasion will
naturally be to him one of solemn signia-
cance and reflection, marking, as it will
that period in his race which comes not at
all in the experience of the great multitude
ofmeD, but only in rare instances of excep.
tion TO the rule of life-,nd then, gene.
rally, at much later stage-when the
active career ceases, because the field of am
btion is exhausted, and there is no longer any
Incentive TO exertior; no longer fates
to conquer, or honors to win. His thoughts
will turn back along the line of his prog.
ress from private life to public station, paus.
ing here and there to again
enjoy his triumphs in early and
later efforts to gain the popu.
lar applause, or resting heavily in the
vicinity OF some sorrow unknown to the
world-for human existence is incomplete
without such scenes in the wards of mem.
ory. He will shudder as he recurs to the
oft repeated occasions when the fortune of
others who fell equally entitled to the
gratitude of their country, would have
cut of his worldly hopes, and given him
preferment only where the dead receive
their reward. And tracing thus his
favored path to the highest honors of the
State, twice bestowed in return for his ser.
vices, he will not fail to reflect how more
than merciful have been the providences of
God toward him, that he should be spared
by war TO rule in peace; and SO meditating,
he will recognize an exalted mission hence
exacted of him. and inquire whether he
has fulfilled 1t to his own satisfaction. II he
has not, he will have only to look about
him, to observe the condition of the people,
and note the field for labor. to find en-
ployment for his future; and he will not
conclude that life has no other demands
upon hini-that because the honors are
consumed his obligations are discharged.
There is no reason why an Ex.Presi.
dent, when by experience most fitted for
usefulness, and by fame most capable of
influencing the people, should withdraw
from public life and enter retirement as a
cloister, or seclusion as grave. Our
country gives no patents of nobility; and
the spirit OF our institutions forbids that
citizens most qualified for public service
shall be discharged from its duties simply
because they have been supremely hon.
ored. If 1t were to be assented that such
is the fact or should be the case, 1t would
be equivalent to establishing by public
Judgment and approval, the condition of
nobility, without its title, and the conse.
quence OF caste, without its ackno owledge.
ment. In other words, it would be per.
mission on the part OF the people to the
more successful Of public men, to arrogate
TO themselves the virtues and excellcncies
of superior beings, and the right to erect
barriers between them and the less for.
tunatc-them and the commons who gave
them their distinction.
And when 1t Is said that an ex.President
should abandon further attempts to serve
the country, because efforts in that direc.
ton would be likely to draggle his fame
and cause him TO fall into disrepute, it
seems to US to be sheer afectation of an ab.
surd sentimentality. If in such case the
future course and conduct of the ex .Presi.
dent were to be carefully suited to the dig.
nifty of his person and made consistent
with the high qualities which originally
led to his elevation, he would not only not
descend in the scale of public estimation,
hut would largely add to his acquired
renown, in that it wonld be evidence that
he felt the safety of his revered character
so assured in the integrity of his acts and
motives, as not TO deprive the country of
the benefit or his abilities and experience
on account Of such selfish and unworthy
considerations. And the people would
the more hono- the man who exhibited
such q reliance upon tue strength of his
own personal character and capacities, as
to be willing to risk tarnish in rendering
them of service to the world while he re.
mained part Of it.
AS matter ofprac tice, thefore, we think
the theory of graduation in useful public
life, except it be with failing health, is
detrimental to the interests Of the country;
and 1t follows, as matter of ethics, that
the useful public servant has no
right to retire from his labors
and leave the trust in less competent
and perhaps less conscientious hands. And
right here we will add thought often in
mind, that in our country, and prob
ably in all instances of free government,
because Of the general ambition for prefer
ment and promotion, there is too great a
tendency to retire able and experienced
leaders, for no other purpose than to
bring forward aspirants who as frequently
as otherwise have only the merit
of perseverance in advancing their
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