The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-31
The BAUBLE REPUTATION
WHICH MEN SEEK ZEN AT THE
CANNON'S MOUTH,
Though 1t Is as Fleeing as the
HOur-Great Men New Al.
most Forgotten.

Boston Traveller: A careful study OF
Laumsn's Biographical Dictionary
would temper the ambition OF many
an ardent politician. In that large
vo ume are embalmed the names and
a brief sketch of the characters of
some thousands of members of the
House of Representatives, of the Sem
ate and OF the Executive Departments
Of this government. To the living
generation, and especially to the
younger half of the liv ng generation,
the names therein contained are IS
barren OF significance Ne are the
names of the Israelites recorded in
the genealogical registers OF the Old
Testament.
We venture to attempt to redeem
from abso'ue oblivion the name OF
the man who ell joysd the longest peri
cd Of service in the Congress OF the
United States in the FIST 100 years Of
our constitutional history. His lengthy
career was not one OF any positive
greatness either of intellect or chsrac-
ter. He never achieved distinguished
place nor did he become conspicuous
in any impori ant contest. He had the
happy quality of not being disagree
able. He was General in the War
Of the Revolution, sfterward he was
Mayor OF the city OF Baltimore, and
finally he had a sest in the House Of
Representatives and then in the Sem
ate, whose united terms amounted to
thiIty-nine years. A process Of rea-
soning would lead the mind to the
concl usion that such a career would
secure that recognition which the
world calls fame. His fate was other
wise. Outside Of the Smith family
Samuel Smith, Of Maryland, is IN
known, and to most readers this is to
them the first public mention OF his
name.
Personal ambition is an aid TO gov
eminent, and when personal ambition
disappears good government viii dis
appear also. But personal ambition
like seed time and harvest, will never
cease, and, therefore, there Is no peril
to the public good when attention is
called to the fact that much of what is
thought to be fame disappears when
the actors disappear. From the or
gauiZstion of the government there
have been twentyfiv Presidetial cleo
tons, and twenty-five persons have
held the Office OF President. II Is safe
to infer that not less than ten persons
have been aspirants for the place in
each quadrennial period. OF these
nine have been disappointed, or more
than 200 in all, who became the I'M
happy victims OF misdiIected ambition.
To these are to be added fourteen OF
those who attained the office and
sought q reelection without success.
The two Adamses, Calhoun, Clay,
Ora ford, the two Clintons, Webster,
Cass, Chase, Seward, and many others
lets we'll known, were disappointed
men. And what is to be said OF the
men who finally reached the office OF
President OF the United Statesf First
of all, it is TO be said that Gen. Wash
ington, Mr.. Lincoln and Gen. Grant
established regulations for statesman
ship which they did not before pos
cess. Whatever may now be thought
of the opinions or purposes OF Gen.
jackson, he made for himself con-
spicuous place in the political history
OF the country. AS to the two
Adamses, they gained nothing by
their elevation to the Presidency.
The elder Adams ruined the Federal
party, and the second Adams ruined
the Republican party, as it had been
organized under the lead Of Mr.. JET
feison. Neither Jefferson nor Madi.
son gained anything from the Office Of
President. Whatever OF the fame is
awarded TO Jefferson or Madison is
aWaI ded for services aside from the
Presidential office. Jefferson is remem-
bered as the author of the Declaration
OF Independence and as the author or
expounder OF fundamental political
principles. Madison is remembered
Tor his notes on the constitution and
for bis writings in the FederGlist. We
do not speak OF the living, but what
OF gain has come to the reputation OF
Monroe, Van Buren,, Harrison, Tyler,
Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Blu
chanan, or Johnson Their names
are in the list Of Presidents OF the
United States, and that fact counts for
something; but can anyone refer to a
measure that originated with either Of
those men that was wise in plan and
beneficial in its results2
We have not in view any moral pur-
pose; but at the end we may be in
dulged in one reflection. Wealth and
Office are proper objects Of ambition,
but many who take part in the con-
tests will fail, and some may succeed
at cost greater than the prize.