Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-26
George W. Childs for President.
rom the Philadelphia Times, June Is, 1856.

A sprightly and progressive Baltimore
contemporary opens the Presidential bal
of 1858 by the emphatic declaration that
the next President of the United States
will be Ge rye ". Childs, if he will accept
the nomination" The qualification with
which the sentence closes is In important
one in the case OF the gentleman named for
the first honor of the Republic and the
highest civil trust OF the world. 1t would
not have been necessary to add IF he will
accept the nomination" had any ole OF the
thousand Others publicly or privately sug-
gested for the Presidency been named. In
the cases OF such men as Blaine and Bay
ard, Logan and Rosecrans, Edmunds and
Thurman, Hawley and Mcdonald, Harri-
son and Randall, and an indefinite number
OF Others OF more or less prominence. the
qualifying clause would be s~uperf1unus
but in the case of Mr.. Childs, it is doubtful
whether even an q ssured election to the
Presidency would induce him to consider
the question of accepting the candidacy.
Grover Cleveland was elected President
in 1884. chiefly because he had done moth
ing in the regulation political way to seek
the nomination OF election. He simply
performed his duty in a quiet, unostenta-
tious way as Sheriff, Mayor and Governor,
and trusted to the considerable judgment OF
the people for his reward. His strength in
the contest was the sharp contrast be-
the Presidency and the mar who had
turned bis sails to every wavering
political breeze to win the Office, and the
precedent OF 1884 is likely to be repeated
in the future. The fact that Mr.. Childs not
only does not seek the Presidency, but
does not want it under any circum-
stances, would be q great element
Il strength in a candidate; and the ad.
ditional fact that he is q stran-
ger not only do the asperities of party,
but to every feature OF offensive partisan
ship, would, with him in the field, re-
call the era of good feeling that well
coined the reelection of Monroe in 1920.
There is every reason why Mr.. Childs
should not want any political Office, not
excepting the Presidency. He possesses a
business effort; he owns a newspaper that
is the most profitable Of any in the coun.
try, taking the record OF the last decade OF
journalism; he has no politica! OF personal
grievances to avenge. no political or per-
sonal obligations to discharge at the public
cost, and he has no special political theo-
ries with which TO %convulse the country 10
the rude jostle for fame. He is one of the
best representative men OF the best private
citizens OF the United States, and that is u
tribute that exhausts the power of eulogy.
He is Thoroughly familiar with public men,
public questions and every phase Of public
policy; judges all from the standpoint OF
intelligent manhood, and dares to do right
for the sake of the right.
The time is fast approaching when such a
as Mr.. Childs will be demanded for the
Presidency. He will be called for because
he does not seek or desire the great Office;
because he would perform it's exceptional
dutirs with the same fidelity and integrity
that ever characterized him with the walks
OF daily life, and because he would enter
the Office as did Abraham Lincoln-"with
malice toward none; with charity for ALL"
And as we are reaching the period when
President is to be a great administrator
Of great public trusts, instead Of being the
servant OF hungry placemen, there will be
inquiry than there is now as to the
of a proposed candidate. When
such a call shall be made upon Mr.. Ch1lds
Or any other citizen it will be q command
that zone could refuse to obey. Whether
such a call shall be made upon such a man
as Mr.. Childs in 1888 or any later Presi- |
Dental year, is a matter OF little moment |
TO him, but it is a matter OF vital interest
TO all who believe in the rest possible gov.
srnment for the best people of the earth. |