The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-11-21

EX-PRESIDEN7,S AND SENATOR'S.
The New York Eceninq Mad makes some
sensible and timely comments bearing OH the
unrepublican proposition to pension ex-
Presidents. Without concurring or dissent
Ing from its opinion about Senators at
Large, we heartily approve the rest of the
following article
We approve Of the Tribuns's advocacy Of the
proposition to make ex- Presidents Ssnators-at-
Large for life. but cannot agree with some OF the
reasons which 1t gives. For instance, esteemed
| contemporary remarks
II there is any direction In which our Republic
is conspicuousIy ungratefu II is toward its eY-resl-
DENTS The President OF the United States is about
the only citizen In II who has future. The
his successor lifts his hand to take the oath Of oce
the retiring President becomes nobody who is under
an Implied obligation not to make any attempt to be-
come somebody. 1t is not usual for him to take
our politics, would often be difncnlt any way 1t Is
not usual for him to Resume his old business or profess
taking ocal position inferior TO that which he has
once held. He may be poor. lie may not like to be
idle But custom demands that he sha'l fold his hands
nitya line OF official duty which, IN other countries,
as rule. commands a liberal salary.
As To which We beg leave to submit: First, That
republic is not called for gratitude toward any
citizen who has been honored with the Presidency,
| merely because he has been President. The oblga-
tion Is entirely on the other SIDE
Secondly. No who has discharged the duties OF
the Presidency with ability and fidelity has had
reason to complain OF the ingiatitude OF the RE-
public.
Thirdly. Nc man who was not u ''nobOdy' while
a President became such afterwards. Washing
ton at Mount Vernon; John Adams, at Quincy; JEFF
ferson, at Montceo-loOmed up before their
rymen and the world with grandeur needing no
official rank to raise them In esteem.
Fourtbly. The glorious example Of John Quincy
Adams In going to what is-as We thnk-sDobbshly
termed 90 the lower House, - and grandly ending his
career on the field of parliamentary battle ought for
ever To explode the notion that ex-President is
compelled TO become nobody, and to drop out Of
active political life. In fact the President who
has not enough brains and force Of character to be
somebody and do something after he has resumed the
noble title Of an American Citizen ought 10 be kept
retiracy and codded there, for the credit OF the
public The most crediable story that ever heard
OF John Tyler " the traitor ~ this: on Ills re-
tirenent from the Presidency, some Of his old whig
neighbors thought to put on him deserved indgnity
for his treachery BY electng him county road
missioner. To their surprise he accepted. In letter
expressing his conviction that all the duties OF cti-
zen were dignined and Important aud that the honor
lay In the discharge Of these duties and not In the
olcial rank he held. Under the laws Of Virginia, at
that time the road commissioners had unlimited
powers, IN the way OF ''working the highways
And the roads In Tylers county were in wreched
condition. So he began at once TO call all his
neghbors for slaves to Jrk the roads. And kept
al II for some months, using hundreds OF slaves, aud
making the main roads Of the county tho best IN that
part or the state. The Wing neghbors found out
that the joke WAS altogether too expensive 20 be en-
Joyable, but their opinion Of captain Tyler was
ttaEul. liz ALA