The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-22
POLITICAL WAVES.

Prominent among the candidates Tor
clerk of the United States senate is eX-Goy-
ernor and Ex-senator Withers, of Virginia.
Mr.. Withers is a man of fine abilities as a
writer and as an orator, u painstaking, IN
dustrious official. But it would seem to be
a little out of the natural order ofpolitical
development that one who had so ably
filled and so creditably discharged
all the duties deyolving upon him
in those responsible positions, should
be now seeking the subordinate post of
clerk in a house in which he was not many
years one oft masters. At enc time. if
we mistake not he was largely interested
in some railway or other wealthy corpora
tons, from which one.would naturally ..sus-
pect that he ought to have laid bye a suiii-
cheney for livelihood But yet we must
assume that it must be the income rather
than the honor he is seeking from the
position he is now aspiringto 1t is rather
a retrograde movement therefore, that the
ex-senator is proposing. In thisconnection
we recall the fact that ex-Presdent Tyler,
after he had left the presidential chair, be-
came q road oyerseer in his county, and
that cx-President Hayes has lately been
called to perform similar duties. In this
there is for the one and was for the former
neither comparative honor nor profit, but
their election thereto was species Of allec-
tionate regard for the citizen who was thus
complimented by old home friends, who de-
sired to manifest their fondness for him
who had so honored his own and their imme-
date home. But there is a wholly different
aspect of affairs when from gubernatorial
and senatorial dignity one descends as pc
titioner from those with whom he once
ranked. for small pittance of the public
pap. Not that there is anything dishonora-
bic whatever in the action do We allude to
this, but to point moral as to the uncer-
tainties Of the political wave on the treach-
erous main, Only few months ago, we
witnessed the resignation of distinguished
statesman, marked with the scars of honor
received in the service of his people, all be-
cause of the poverty that prohibited his
further stay at an expensive post What
has thus befallcn these efficient pub
lie servants may in the future
happen to cX-presidcntS as well,
if Washington life continues to increase in
requirements Of cxtravagant living. 1t has
transpired that General Grant has been
most muniliccntly endowed, and that Mr..
Hayes is possessed ofline farms and ofother
sources Of income; but Mr.. Garfield was
comparatively poor man, and had he lived
out his term and been liberal liver he
might have retired poor at the turning
point Of life when it is difficult for one to
engage in the money-making pursuits of
life. 1t is hap-ha2ard sort of
way of providing for ex-presidcnts or
their families to appeal to the charlie, of a
people through subscription lists and the
like. Some more regular method should he
fixed on. AS rule our national senator's
and representatives are lawyers and so
have opportunities of securing large fees in
supreme court and other legal cases. Indeed,
w i'NNN .iNhAN VI lNNhlllCIS iflllH
offered to congressman for certain purposes
wherein their actual professional aid was
never even intended. Anhonorcd and hon.
orablc ex-governor and eX-congressman of
this state was once so appreciated by a rail
road king, when the former was in congress,
He comprehendcd the indelicacy and in
consistency ofsuch work, and duly resented
the covcrtly made proposition Roman
senator's in the time of Augustus Caesar
were required to possess Il property qualif-
cation, under an established senatorial cen
sus, at one time Of $4,000, subsequently
increased to $4,000, and were forbidden to
engage in mercantile or professional pur.
suits during their terms. General Grant
bears the repr0ach, whether Justly or not
We say naught of having used his high
office to enhance his personal possessions.
These things should not be, and
these exalted offices ought to be left
by retiring officials with names as unsul.
lied as we expect from those who wear the
crminc. To this end it would seem that
some provision, beside adequate compensa-
ton during terms, ought to be made for
those who have long and faithfully served
the people in high national or state
positions of great trust. Army officers,
navy officers and Others are pensioned and
in somewise cared for, and, indeed, this sem
timent runs through all humanity from
mercantile employers down to the care the
farmer bestows on the beasts that have
served him we'll Why should it not be so
with those who have deserved well in
higher service.