The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-10-06

the life of president, In his
last days he was tricked shamefuliy
bv those who sought to trade on his
He idolized; but he well
knew whatit all meant. Hehadll lived
as commander; he had given offices
as brides. He had fought a good
earthly fight. There was nothing to
do but to forgive his enemies IN q
lump, join the church and look out
for his soul. This he did in due
order, and yet the office-seekers
bounded him into his grave.
lido not think Martin Van Buren,
ever looked on the White house with
ennui, and desire to escape; how
ever, we know that he detested the
very arts Of which he was master.
He hated to pull wires with his nicely
gloved hands, but he did it marvel
ously and won the title of little
magician" He was a politician OF
perfect make-up-that is, he was
thoroughly polite. "Nothingrutfied
him. He was thick skinned, elastic
and tough" He was never states
man. He could cutely work upto the
presidency, but he could not controlhls
party or administer the government.
Poor Harrison did not live long
enough to weary of the White house.
But it is possible the terribly exciting
campaign killed him, for he lived just
one month after Inauguration; and
we had nothing left but Tyler. The
'log cabin candidate" was clever,
honest old gentleman from what was
then the far west, 1t was beyond all
precedent q noisy campaign. and
fought on a decidedly low political
level.
Mr.. Tyler was the first instance of
a vice president by the death OF his
chief. The pro-slavery fight wasnow
well begun, and Texas was admitted
to enlarge slave territory and secure
the permanency of the institution.
So far as known Mr.. Tyler, having
broken with his party, and having
no friends or faction to speak OF,
dropped out of Office contentedly.
He was in the White house just long
enough to leave the Mexican war as
q legacy to his successor, James X.
Polk. Mr.. Polk very nearly raised
this medieval era of the American
government above the mediocrity
into which it dropped with Van Buren,;
but not quite. Our presidents from
1910 to 1860 represented mediocre
talents; no great principles, and
abundance of compromise.
Taylor died at the close of his year,
and we know from his own words
that he far preferred the saddle to
the executive chair. Fillmore, so
far as we can judge, enjoyed himself
in spite of the rough battling about
him. He had temperament that
shed trouble as ducks back sheds
water. should iken him to n YES
sci riding peacefully in storm by
means of the oil thrown out from it's
deck. President Pierce was glad to
get free from the White House.
Buchanan had more than just
measure of trouble, traitors and
consequent obloquy. 1t would be
difficult to find O politician OF the
present day who, able to look at it
in the light of history, would be will
ing to take the presidency during
that era of political hurricanes and
hatred. l have taken no pains to
look up any expressed opinions OF
the executives of this era. So far as
they had ability they were to be
pitied; it was only their mediocrity
that made their fate tolerable.
In 1860 all was changed. Only gil
ants were of any use, and only giants
we're at the front. Lincoln and
Douglas were intellectual equals, but
: in moral conviction and tenacious
adherence to principles Lincoln was
eminently superior. From first to
, last his life at the white house was
, sad and burdensome. He carried a
weight that millions would have been
glad to share with him, but they
could not. / do not know anything
in history so charged with pain as
the state papers of Lincoln. with
malice, toward none, with charity
for all, with frmness in the right as
God gives us to see the right, let us
7 strive on to finish the work we are in,
to bind up the nations wounds, to
care for him who shall have borne
the battle, and for his widow and his
orphans-so do all which may achieve
3 and cherish just and lasting peace
among ourselves, and with all ma
7 tious.n Endeared to the nation next
: to Washington, he left the White
: house victim.
, Poor johnson! Truly an accident
: al president! He would have suffered
t no more had he fallen into the hands
of the inquisitors of Torquemada
} He was harassed almost out OF hi
: reason. His impeachment barely
8 failed.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.