The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-09
Mr.. ClEvEuMD's FUTURE.
1t Is Not Yet Decided What II
Will Be.
Perhaps He VIII Travel for n Time
and Then Become q Banker-How
Other Ex-PrssideBts Have oeea-
pied Their Time After Leaving
the Highest once.
M.shington letter.

Gvlty and comfort before BIN. Altei
leaving the White House the president
will soon come face TO face with the
necessity OF adding to bis income BY
professional labor. He is worth nc
more than $1,000. large part o.
his property being unproauctiye. lie
owns Oak View and some other outly'
ing property here in Washington. and
- small business block and residence
I'M Buffalo, but the income from all
tbi9 could hardly be Sufficient Tor the
needs Of his family.
According TO the presidents Trends
nothing is settled concerning his III
ture except thaf he viii not return 20
Buffalo. The pfe1s ling opinion is that
after journey TO 3arope he will sell
his Washington property and seek %
place himself at the head OF some
financial institution in New York city.
Though trained and successful Law
yer it is not thought probable be VIII
care 10 resume the practice OF his pro
fession. Certain it Is that until within
the last few days the president has
hardly given thought 10 his future,
not so much from a bind confidence
in his reelection as from pressure OF
other duties and topics and his char
acteristic disincliDation TO borrow
trouble. For the president this prob
lem OF his future now becomes n more
serious one than is apparent To the
casual observer Even were the ques-
ton of income so settled as 10 give him
no further concern, and by modest
living and prudent management his
rentals might suffice 10 support his
family, there still remains the problem
of congenial employment. Mr. Cleye-
land is not old enough to find content
ment in a retired life, and not enough
Of student TO find in his declining
years the solace of a scholar.
In the after life OF his predecessors
Mr.. Cleveland cannot find much TO
comfort him. Washington lived only
two years after bis retirement. and the
peace OF even this brief period OF re-
lease from public duty was broken by
Abe rumbings of a war with France
and by labor at the plans OF reorgani-
nation of the army, which were IN
trusted to him by President Adams.
After Is years OF public service. John
Adams retired 10 private life, feeling
bitterly his defeat for re-election-s
bitterness which was in no wise re-
Iieved by a consciousness OF the fact
that while he had saved the young re-
public from a war which might have
ended in its ruin the country had
chosen for his successor the leader OF
the war party. Though G2 when in
augurated, John Adams lived % years
after leaving the White House. But
he had the immense advantage, which
40 few OF our modern presidents en-
Joy, Of the possession OF a farm
and fondness for its cult
vation. Adams left Washington in
haste at the expiration Of his term,
not waiting even for the inauguration
ceremonies. 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
siled by the aid OF mutual friends, and
served in a state constitutional con
yention when 81. His declining years
became more and more tranquil as the
bitterness engendered by politics slow
iy disappeared.
Jefferson's after life was much EN-
barrassed by financial difficulties, and
the II years which he spent al Month
cello after leaving the White House
cannot be described as years Of con-
tentment. Madison WIS more forum
ate. Retiring at G8, he spent 10 years
with his books and friends at Mont
pelier Monroe was 67 when he left
the White House. and the cloud OF his
declining years was the inadequacy
OF his income. lie lived till he was
20, but his wife died soon after his re
sirement from public life. and he spent
the remainder OF his days in the home
of his daughter, Mrs. Gouyerneur. in
New York city.
Only two presidents have re-entercd
public life after bidding good-by TO the
White House. One Of these was John
Quincy Adams, who retired in 1872,
and two years later appeared in the
house of representative, where he
remained. the ''0ld Man Eloquent. +"
till stricken down at his post seven
teen years later. This reminds me of
prediction recently made by one of
Mr.. Cleveland Buffalo friends.
"If the president fails OF re-elec-
ton" sand he, 81 expect him 10 re
turn TO Buffalo In couple OF year.
and resume the practice Of law
also expect 10 see him once more
mayor OF Buffalo or member of con
gress from our state. He may not be
n second John Quincy Adams, but
know that Mr. Cleveland does not look
upon the presidency as an Office which
precludes its incumbent atterward re-
turning to his former vocation. or per
forming further public service. no mat
Ter in what capacity, II called thereto
by his fellow citizens.
Andrew Jackson lived eight years
after leaving the White House. and
she evening OF his life was notworthily
calm and in striking contrast with his
tempestuous career. He became a
devout Christian aud took great de
light in reading the scriptures to his
family and servants.
Martin Van Buren, retired from the
presidency in al. and lived in quiet
and elegance at Undertook, y. Y,
till his death in 1852. Van Buren, WAS
elected president in 1886 was defeated
In 40, was much talked of for the
nomination in "a. and in IS ran once
more. this time as the candidate OF
the anii-slayery wing OF the Democratic
pary. After leaving the executive
cir Tyler lived II years in content
nsnt at his ideal home. Sherwood
Drest, Charles City county, Va. Polk
lied within few months after re-
tirement. Fillmore Travelled tn Europe
af his defeat in 81 and in 50 accepted
the nomination of the American party
He lived quietly in his palatiA home
at Buffalo till his death ia -.
When Mr. Cleveland reiires from the
presidency he viii be younger man
ihan any OF his predecessors was on
leaving the White House, Next to
Cleveland in point OF youth was
Pierce, and IL Is To be hoped Cleveland :
after life will I've more pleasant thsn
pierce's was Pierce failed OF re
nomination by his party, Travelled
three years in Europe. lost all his sons
and his wife, and his own aimlc~s CN-
istence was terminated hy death at
the age OF Is. buchanan lived bit
seven years after leaving the preSi
aency
johnson is the other president who
re-entered public life, though he re
appeared bat Tor a moment pom
his retirement in % Johnson at once
set about securing an official return 10
the capitol In which he had been the
center OF so much turmoil lie Wa
defeated for the senate in tNso ami for
congress at large in -. but IN lSstwas
ele ted tn the United States senate
He died the next year.
Gen Grant lived but nine wears az
ter retiring from the presidency, then
barely past his prime. and his last
wears we're not without many trouh Is
and diSappointments Hayes, the
only living ex- president, seems placid
aud content in his 65th year, while hi,