Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-04
OUTING.
Absence of the Various P~residents-The
Charges kainst Consulate

Absence of the Various Presidents-The
Charges gainst Consulates.
Some Of the Republican papers are CON-
menting on the absence Of the President
from the capital. They seem to forget
that Republican Presidents were absent a
great deal, and that all Of the PRESIDENT
from the foundation Of the governments
spent much Of their time away from the
White House.
President Cleveland visited Gettysburg
one day, New York on decoration day,
and went fishing three days before he
started en- bis summer tour. 80 one has
more justly earned n two months respite
from official duties than Sir. & eyelaud.
Mr.. Rutherford y. Hayes was lie boss
absentee from the White House. He
began in 1871 by securing the North and
south, and duung the last year in the
White House abandoned Washington in
the midst OF the Presidential contest,
leaving my dear Hubbelr' TO run the
government and bleed the clerks for cam
paign tuHds. Ofhim it is SAID he went
INTO the White House with one majority
and lett it with the unanimous approval
OF the whole country. President Garfield
mad been in Office notfour months when he
started on mis- summer tour and was shot
at the Potomac depot. President Arthur
was iond OF running over 10 New York,
and WAS frequently away weeks at a time
on fishing excursions. His absence was
fOli0Wed by the departure Of AL the mem
beers Of his Cabinet. 20 that Washington
was a very dun place during the summer
season OF Mr.. Arthur's Presidential term.
ABSENCE OF H VARIOUS PRESIDENTS.
Washington was absent during his
Presidential term of eight years lSl days.
john Adams managed TO spend 3S5 days
out of The tour wears he was President at
hIs home in Quincy, Mass, aud else where.
President Cleveland IS not without the
highest authority for vacating the White
House, for the father OF Democracy and
political simplicity, Thomas Jefferson,
was absent from the seat OF government
during his two terms 100 davs. being more
than oue-fourth Of the whole official period.
His home at Monticello was his place Of
retreat. President Madison found his
home at Montpelier, Va. an agreeable
place 637 DAYS. II 10 true the British
burned the White House during his occu-
Dancy OF it; but his successor, President
Monroe, had no such excuse. Yethe found
EOS days more agreeable elsewhere
than in Washington during seven years OF
the eight he served his country, there be-
ing no data for the year 1924 and for
January and February, 1928. the last
months of his second term. John Quincy
Adams in four years spent I'D days out
side OF W |ashington. President Jackson
kept well up with his Democratic prede-
Cessors and was away 502 DAYS. Presi-
dent Van Buren, found an absence of l3l
days agreeable, and President Tyler during
his term was gone 1913 days from the seat
OF government. President Polk must have
found Washington a delightful place, for
the stare Department record shows that
he was absent only 81 days during his
Democratic reign of four years. Presi-
dent Taylor, in his service Of one year and
four months, was away 81 days, and Pres
ident Fillmore, who succeeded to the
office, carried its dignity away go DAYS. 1t
is a singular coincidence that Presidents
Pierce aud Buchanan We're each absent
only 81 days during their terms. Mr..
Lincoln was compelled to remaIn in
Washington. He found time to 20 to
Gettysburg and to Richmond. The Sol
diers' Home, near Washington, was his
only retreat from the cares Of the great
rebellion.
President Johnson remained here more
than any Of his predecessors, except Mr..
Lincoln. In 1886 be traveled through the
country on his famous swinging around
the circle" trip. The hostility Of Congress
toward Mr.. Johnson made it Unnecessary for
him to stay in the White House.
H OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT Of
sTATE
having made a careful examination of the
charges which have been made at various
times AGAINST consular officers of the
United States in China, have taken steps
u break up the irregularities which, al
most ever since the establishment OF COM
m-rciai reiat!uns with that empire, have
ci-grGccd the consular service. 1t ppears
from tuese sources Of information that of
late years the missionary influence at
PekiBg has been all-powerful and the
greatest scandals have grown out Of
the intrigues OF members OF that body.
There Is no doubt that the right eX-
ercise Of the relations OF such men as
DR.. Martin with the Tsung lie Yameu and
Mandarins OF influence would nave been
OF great advantage TO our national pres
DEe, but the abandonment or active mis-
siopNry work by many members OF the
missionary corps and their engagement in
secular pursuits, at the same time using
their missionary associations to further
their enterprises, has been a source of
great corruption, and has not only Op-
Grated against III diplomatic intercourse,
hut has materially weakened the cause OF
Christianity among the followers of Con-
tucius AMI Buddha.
10 is understood that a department let
ter has been addressed 10 Mr.. DENLY, the
new Minister TO China. o on his way to
bis post, calling mis- attention to some OF
the scandals which have long surrounded
the legation at Peking, and putting him
on bis guard against what ia known as
the Missionary Ring" IL is proposed to
make IA clean sweep OF the consular SER
vice in China, and an effort viii be made
IN the selection of new men to pug an end
TO the shameful disregard OF national reI-
utatton which has characterized the con-
sular service ia the treaty folts ut the
Empire, encouraged ~ lba indifference OF
Ministers Brown, Low and seward.