National Republican., 1883-01-05
MR.. ROBESON's CASTLES.
They Are in Washington and New Jersey, Not
in Spain.
The Views OF Retiring Statesman on
the Issues OF the Future.

"TIave you any idea of going abroad" was
the question propounded 60 Hon. George NJ.
Robson, of Now Jersey, yesterday, allusion
having previously been made to the news
paper gossip nssociating his name with the
Spanish mission.
NO. My castles are in New Jersey and
Washington, not in Spain. 1t has been said
that q position abroad, of good grade, would
exoctly suit my tastes and wishes, but such is
not the case. After having been at the head
Of great executive department for eight
years, have no thirst for subordinate office.
To be a servant Of servants il not according
to my tastes. A member of congress is q
servant only Of the people, and If he fills his
place well it is a place as honorable as any In
our government, and as influential too, with
the single exception of that of the president.
AS for foreign missions there is hardly one Of
them worth accepting by man of active
ideas. If the best was offered me, Of which
there is not the remotest chance, understand,
would not feel justified in assuming the ex-
ponse connected with It,"
"But you are credited with being man Of
large means"
"Whateyer my reputation in this respect
may be / cannot mako large expenditures for
what / don't want without crippling my
means Of doing what 1 do want. l have
never claimed TO be q man of large
fortune, neither have / ever pretended to
be poor man. / live now and have
lived ever since l came to Washington exactly
as lived all my life. 1 did not change my
habits nor manner of living when 1 took Office
and shall not change them when / go out.
For myself shall leave Office on the 4th Of
March without regret. The position of mem
Der of congress, honorable as it is, had no
special charm for me as a.mere positions.
had long enjoyed higher honors in the ordi-
nary acceptaton of the term. A seat
in either house of congress in the
hands of q small man is a very small place.
1t derives all its honor from the character
and conduct Of the person who fills it. l have
endeavored TO act my part rs we'll as knew
how, and to attend to my public duties with
industry and courage, If not with ability.
retain my own opinions and believe that have
maintained the interests of the people against
what now seem to be their opinions with a
constancy that became me- For the last IF
teen years / have stood pretty well forward
in the front of political strife; / have taken
many blows and given some in return; hove
done the state some service of which they
will reap the benefit even If they never
know il. ! shall not be sorry TO accept
the quiet of private life, and will be glad to
attend to my own business, If other people
will mind theirs. After the fourth Of March
next do not mean TO argue with anybody,
not even with my own family, unless l am
paid for it,"
"Have you nothing to say about the pros
poets of political parties"
60 do not profess to be able to read the
future The man who to-day processes 90
know with any certainty what will be the
condition of things two years hence, in my
opinion talks like fool. There is one SUBJ
ject, however, beyond the range Of mere
party politics which will sooner or later
absorb the attention of the people. In
country as large as ours and as diversified in
its interests, the two problems ofstatesmanship
are unity and development. Their most inn
portant conditions are the easy and constant
intercommunication of the people and the
cheap transportation of their commodities,
whether the products of the soil or Of work,
whether the materials of labor or the neces-
saries of life In these questions the people
have a direct interest. They present proper
and natural objects for the exercise of govern
mental power They will force themselves
upon the attention of statesmen and cannot
be long kept in the background.