Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-01-03
1amraster fntelligerlrer.
SATURDAY EVENING, JAN. 3, 1890.
HHe Must. He Will.


HHe Must, He Will.
1t seems well-nigh an impossibility to
convince the mind of man that anyone
who has a chance to achieve the presi-
dency of the United States. really and
honestly looks upon that Office as one
neither to be sought nor declined; al
though nearly every one will admit the
abstract proposition that the Office should
be so regarded. So, toe, the majority of
people undoubtedly believe that the priest
who VOWS molo episcopari, when he re-
ceives the episcopal Office, does not at
all mean what he says. 1t is SO very ma
tural to desire to stand in position
above ones fellows that incredulity is
universal when anyone proclaims an in
nocence of such desire of preferment
when an opportunity is offered him OF
stepping high up.
HoratiO Seymour is persistent victim
of his fellow citizens inability to con-
ceive that he does not want to he presi-
dent. He has made the declaration for
many years, and once received the nom
ination despite it. He accepted it
at the earnest demand of the party and
made avigorouS canvass; but the opinion
was perhaps generally entertained that
he really wanted it. There is no good
reason to believe that he was not sincere
in his declaration and that he did not
cruelty his feelings in accepting the
nomination. Surely the presidency i,
not such a bed of roses, and has not con-
ferred hitherto such undying glory upon
all it's occupants, that it should be incon-
ceivable that man of sense would wish
TO decline it. We have no doubt that
Mr.. Seymour would honestly avoid ac-
the same time acguit himself of his duty
and discharge the obligations resting
upon him to his fellow men. 1t seems to
us that anyone who considers the matter
of his nomination by the Democratic
party candidly and intelligently can he
at no loss as to the conclusion to reach
1t must, in the first place, be assumed
by the members of the party that Mr..
Seymour does not desire the nomination.
And, in the second place, they must de-
eide whether any other candidate will
answer their purpose. If they have such
another, clearly Mr.. Seymour's wish not
to be the candidate should be respected.
But if, on the contrary, it is decided that
he is needed. the nomination should be
conferred upon him. 1t will then he
for him to decide whether he will
sacrifice his personal wishes in COM
pliance with the demand made upon
him, and we have no doubt that he
would determine, Us it would be his
duty to do, to accept the candidacy.
We say this on account of aWashington
despatch in the New York Stn, in which
a deduction is drawn that Mr.. Seymour
would not decline the nomination,
because i'm a late interview with re-
porter Of the Herald he al,Stained from
saying what he would if it was given
him, and because, further, Senator ker-
nan, his closest friend, while asserting
THAT Mr.. Seymour is sincere in his dec
laration about desiring to end his days
in the retirement of private life, always
manages to convey the impression that
he might be induced to sacrifice his in
clinations to the unanimous demands of
the national Democracy Senator ker-
nan as a man of fair common sense might
well manage to make this declaration
without being Mr.. SeymOur's most init
mate friend, or even having any
knowledge Of his character that
the public do not have. 1t does
seem very plain, if Mr.. Seymour is
physically capable of complying with the
clearly manifested wish of his party, that
he may lie relied upon to do so; and as
his health is said to be good the only
element in the situation to be deter,
mined is as to whether the party will
call upon him to become its candidate.