Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-21
Webster's disappointment.

I'LL. WcDSteT is TepOrteu 10 nave SAID to
friend that although he knew that he
had puolic reputation to leave to pos
terity, yet if he was to live his life over
again, be would, upon no cor
slderation whatever, permit himself to
enter public life. The public, he said,
are ungratetu, and the man who serves
the most faithfully receives no adequate
reward. Do your duty, he added, as a
private citizen, but let politics alone 1t is
probable that he said this substantially as
1t IS reported, for there was never more
disappointed public man, Toward the
end OF his life there was almost gloomy
melancholy in his aspect. At the com
Dletion of the Erie Railroad, in 1851, as
Secretary of State he accompanied Presi-
dent Fillmore and very distinguished
party OF public men on an excursion along
the road from New York to Dunkirk,
and upon reaching Dunkirk he spoke
from platform in the street. During
the speech the Easy Chair, who was
spectator, observed that the sun was set
ting just behind MIR. Webster as he stood
erect, his gray hair lifted by the breeze,
his great head and sombre, mournful face
drawn against the illuminated west. 1t
| was significant and pathetic spectacle.
A little latter the National Convention
of his party passed him by and nominal
ed another candidate for the Presidency.
Still little later he died, as was general
ly felt, broken-hearted man, not only, it
was believed, because he had failed to
receive the adequate reward" but be-
cause of some things be had been willing
to do to obtain it. On the evening Of
the 9th Of march, 1850 the orator at Ply
mouth Rock in 1891 said to friend and
member of Congress, who told the Easy
Chair, To morrow l am going to an
initiate you-abolitionist
The remarks that we have quoted are
familiar, and are but modern form of
Wolsey's piteous words to Cromwell in
Shakespeare's Henry VIII. They are
true also in this sense, that the man who
serves the public for the hope of official
reward from the public will probably DC
disappointed. But this truth is as
old as history, and no man who is able
to fill great public place adequately can
! be ignorant Of it. The blindness of per-
sonal ambition is we'll illustrated by the
! reported words of Mr.. Webster. He saws,
in effect, that he had served the public
faithfully, and had been not only made
ouately rewarded but had been most
severely censured for his least selfish
actions. But what is adequate reward of
great public service?"
For forty years Dir. Webster was almost
continuously in public life, as Representa-
tive in Congress, Senator, and Secretary
of State. His commanding abilities, at
once recognized, placed him in general
estimation at the head Of the bar, and
secured him an unequaled influence in
politics. By common consent he was the
chief Of living American orators, and his
mere presence as speaker gave greatness
to the greatest occasions Upon points
Of constitutional law he was the highest
authority, so that his word alone could
challenge long settled Interpretation
not only without absurdity, but with a
force that was so respected as to raise a
doubt. As adiplomatist he was unrivaled
among his fellow statesmen. And, above
all, there was the greatness of his reputa-
tion-a historic fame that began while he
was yet hving-which made him the most
conspicuous of American citizens, and
which might well have satisfied the most
inordlnate ambition Of applause and per-
sonsl consideration. No possible official
position could have added to his renown,
nor to his opportunity of great service.
If his fame and his unquestionable power,
the immense admiration which was uni
vcrsally conceded to him, and his vast
authority in public affairs were not an
adequate reward, it is not easy to see what
would have been.-Harper's Magazine 70,
Nay.