Wichita eagle., 1888-12-02
Especial Correspondence. !


ton as from pressure OF other duties and
topics and his characteristic Discrimination
to borrow trouble For the president this
problem Of his future now becomes
a more serious one than is apparent to the
casual observer Even were the question OF
+ income SO settled as to give him 10 further
! concern, and by modest living and prudent
management his rentals might suffice to SUD-
/ port his family, there still remains the prob
lem of conGenial employment Mr. Cleve-
land is not old enough to find contentment IN
a retired life, and not enough of student to
find in his declining years the solace of o
scholar.
Ii the after life of his predecessors NJ.
Cleveland cannot find much to comfort him.
Washington lived only two years after his re-
tirement, and the peace of even this brief
period of release from public duty was
broken by the rumblings of O war with
France and by labor ct the plans Of reorgan-
ization of the army, which were intrusted to
him by President Adams. After twenty-five
years Of public service John Adams retired
to private life. feeling bitterly his defeat for
re-election-a bitterness which was in no
wise relieved by a CONSCIOUSNESS Of the fact
that while he had saved the young republic
from a war which might have ended in its
ruin the country had chosen for his sue
cessor the leader of the war party Though
62 when inaugurated, John Adams lived
twenty-five years after leaving the White
House. But he had the immense advantage,
which SO few of our modern presidents en-
JOY, of the possession of farm and a fond
ness for its cultivation Adams left Wash
ington in haste at the expiration of his term
not waiting even for the Inauguration cere-
monies, and took up his residence on his farm
at Braintree, ten miles southwest Of Boston.
There he read much, enjoyed correspondence
with jefferson, the men having been recon-
ciled by the aid Of mutual friends, and served
in a state constitutional convention when So
His declining years became more and more
tranquil as the bitterness engendered by poll
tics slowly disappeared.
Jeferson's after life was much harassed
by financial difficulties, and the fifteen years
which lie spent at Monticello after leaving
the White House cannot be described as years
of contentment. Madison was more FORUM
ate. Retiring at 66, he spent nineteen years
with his books and his friends at Montpelier
Monroe was 81 when he left the White House,
and the cloud Of his declining years was the
inadcQuacy of his income. He lived till be
was -, but his wife died soon after his re-
tiTement from public life, and he spent the
remainder of his days i'll the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Gouverneur, in New York
city
Only two presidents have re-entered public
life after bidding good-by TO the White
House. One Of these was John Quincy
Adams who retired in 1929, and two years
later appeared in the house of representatives,
where he remained, the ''Old Man Eloquent"
till stricken down at his post seventeen years
later. This reminds me of q prediction
recently made by one of Mr.. Cleve.and's
Buffalo friends.
''If the president fails of are-eection," said
he. Il expect him 10 return to Buffalo in a
couple of years and resume the practice Of
law. | also expect to sec him once more
mayor of Buffalo or a member of congress
from our state. lie may not be second
John Quincy Adams, but | know that Mr.
Cleveland does not look upon the presidency
rs an Office which precludeS its incumbent
atterward returning to his former vocation.
Or performing further public service no mat
ter in what capacity, if called thereto by his
fellow citizens
Andrew jackson lived eight years after
his life was Noteworthy calm and in strik
ing contrast with his tempestuoUs career He
became a devout Christian and took great
delight in reading the Scriptures to his fam
lily and servants.
Martin Van Buren, retired from the presi-
dency in Al, and lived in quiet and elegance
at Undertook. n. Y, till his death in 1862
Van Buren, was elected president in 1896. was
defeated in 40, was much talked of for the
nomination in n, and in As ran once more,
this time as the candidate of the anti-slaverv
wing OF the Democratic party. After leav-
ing the executive chair Tyler lived seventeen
years in contentment at his ideal home, Sher-
wood Forest, Charles City county, Va Polk
died within a few months al 1er retirement
Fillmore Travelled in Europe after his defeat
in So and in IS accepted the nomination of
the American party He lived quietly in his
palatial home at Buffalo till his death in "a
When Mr.. Cleveland retires from the
presidency he viii be a younger man than any
OF his predecessors was on leaving the White
House. Next to Cleveland in point OF youth
was Pierce, and it is TO be hoped Cleveland's
after life viii De more pleasant than Pierce's
was, Pierce failed OF q renom nation by his
party, Travelled three years in Europe, lost
all his sons and his wife, and his own almleSs
existence was terminated by death a. the age
Of So Buchanan lived but seven years after
leaving the presidency.
Johnson is the other president who re-
entered public life, though he reappeared but
for a moment Cpon his retirement in 90
johnson 81 once set about securing an official
return TO the Capitol in which Ee had been
the center OF 50 much turmoil Ee was de
feated for the senate in 1870 and for congress
at large in a., but in 1874 was elected 10
the United States sonata he died the next
year.
Gen Grant lived bu. nine years after re
tlrlng from the presidency, then barely pas;
his prime, and his last years were not with
Gus many troubles and disappointments
Hayes, the only living ex-presldent. seems
placid ami conten: in his 66th year, while his
immediate Successors met their fate untimelv,
tho one while Yet in Office by an assassin's
bullet. and the other OF q broken heart be
csase OF his party's failure to make him is
candidate
What is 70 BE- the future Of President
Clevela1di ROBERT GEAvES-
In brooches many have 4 penchant Tor
LEAF OF Roman gold, upon which C-awls
diamond aEd ruby coated caterpillar 10 u
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