The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-04-28
Our Presidents.

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we indebted for such title? We now
have presidents of railways, banks, IN
surance companies and similar institu-
tons, and, by a comparison with foreign
lands, we learn that the term is pecu-
liarly American. The chief officer of
the Bank of England is called "gover-
nor" and the ruler of British college is
called principal or ''dean of faculty"
President, on the other hand, is an Amer
lean term. If the question be, there
fore, asked who designated this term for
our chief magistrate, the reply would be
Benjamin Franklin, whose mind was al
ways adequate to an emergency. Twenty
five years before the Declaration of In.
dependence Franklin proposed a colonial
convention at Albany for the purpose of
consolidating American interests under
the British flag. AS member of that
convention he proposed ga president
general, and British interests were to be
promoted by the proposed union. The
home government objected to giving such
power to the colonies. and hence the
scheme failed. When the revolution,
however, took place, President was
a natural idea. At first this officer was
merely president of congress )" but
when the present constitution was adopt
ed he was made really "president-gen-
eral." Franklin lived long enough to
behold the inception of his scheme in
George Washington, and the latter
found him on q dying bed when he
passed through Philadelphia on his way
to New York. Franklin died soon after
ward, but the news of the Inauguration
cheered his last hours. He saw the full
filment of his early scheme, since the
President was, by constitution, "com-
mander.in-chief of the army and navy"
He was indeed the "president-general."
It is we'll for us to recall the fact that
our government had is inception in
social life. Washington and all his first
cabinet were married men. The first
President had two adopted children.
His successor. John Adams, had highly
fitted wife, and a son whom he lived to
see in the presidential chair. Jefferson
was deeply bereaved widower. His wife
died twenty years before he reached the
presidential chair. They had eight
children, all daughters, only two of
whom survived infancy. Madison was
married but had no children. His wife
Wds Tile uOot 0lcS0At WOuuuA tAbt CVCI
adorned the presidential mansion. Jack
son was q widower and so were Van
Beuren, Harrison and Tyler, The latter,
heiress, Miss Gardiner, of this city. He
was the only President that married dur
ing his term of Office. The social con-
dition of such men as Lincoln, johnson,
Grant and their successors, needs no
reference, except to add that Grant is the
first man to have daughter married
while in Office.
The Presidents of the United States
were generally men of good personal APP
pearance. The extremes in point of
stature were in Polk and Lincoln-the
latter of whom was six feet four, while
the former was little more than five feet
three. Van Buren,, also, was a small
man. The first four were men of much
dignity. Concerning Washington, moth
ing need be added on this point. He
was the beau ideal OF manly beauty,
even in his latter days. and when Stuart
undertook to paint his portrait the ar
fist was so overcome with the majesty Of
his patron that at first he was unable to
proceed with his task. John Adams
lacked Washington's noble stature and
grandeur of mien, but he was a man of
much dignity. Jefferson was of noble
personell-tall, well built and of i'm
posing appearance. Madison had merely
q respectable look, and being dressed in
black, presented much the appearance
Of a clergyman. Monroe and Washing
ton were the only Presidents that served
in the field during the Revolution. They
we're together at Trenton, where Monroe
was a lieutenant and received ball
which he carried through life. He was
the last of the revolutionary Presidents,
and wore the cooked hat and continental
uniform, which became him to a remark
able degree. John Quincy Adams, like
his. father, was stout, thick set, and de-
fcient in point of stature. Jackson was
tall and gaunt, with bristling hair, high
cheek bones, and q nervous but defiant
countenance.
Van Buren, lacked personal dignity,
and, indeed, was the most deficient of all
our Presidents in physique excepting
Polk. Harrison was a man of much
personal dignity. Tyler was a spare
faced man, with o broad, thin nose,
which gave him rather comical appear
ance. 1t was his station as President
that won the hand of the rich woman,
Gardiner, rather than any personal at
traction. Polk was, as has been said, q
small man, with cold, repulsive coun-
tenance, and q hard, staring pair OF
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