The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-11

President.
From the PHILADELPHIA Times.
BUFFALO, Oct 3.-New York has had
four of the Presidents of the United States
which have been elected within fifty years.
Virginia had five from 1889 to tue end of
John Tyler's term in 1874. Four of these
were elected by the people. Tyler succeeded
to the presidency, which was left vacant by
William Henry Harrison's death one month
after his Inauguration in 1S41 Grover
Cleveland is the only regularlarly elected
President from the state of New York
since the government was founded, with
the exception of Martin Van Buren,, who
,llowed Gen. Jackson. Willard Fillmore
and Chester A. Arthur succeeded to the
presidency by the death of the elected
executive, both of whom were soldiers.
The difference i'll mind, character and
ambition Of the four men who represented
New York in the presidency is very marked.
Van Buren, was politician, one Of the
earliest of those who taught the nation
p actical politics. 1t was his assumptions
of power and his connection with Andrew
jackson that defeated him IN 1S41 He was
a striking figure in the politics of that day,
destroying himself and his party by his
capriceS and his double dealing Willard
man and would probably have never reached
tae executive chair Of the nation except by
the accident of death. He had cut some
thing of figure in national public life be-
fore he was named for the vice presidency.
but he was one of those genteel men and
conservative characters who make little or
no impression upon the powerful element in
politics. Right here, where you find many
traditions of him. it is easy to recognise the
weakness and strength of his position, not
only among his townsmen, but also in the
broader realm of national combat
He was precise, methodical man, full of
economical notions OF the smallest sort It
is t Id of him that he once found mouse in
a tub of meal at his residence, and, lifting
the forager up by the TAIL snapped him witG
his fingers that none of the flour might be
lost. This joke was told on him after he
became President to illustrate the economy
of his administration. Willard Fillmore, how
ever held high place in the social and pub
lie life of this community. He kept house in
good style and had q hospitable wife; he
moved around among men, and in a quiet
way enjoyed mental and physical friction
with the world. He was long in the public
gaze, and year by year his social distinction
grew. Even before ne was nominated for
the vice presidency with Gen. Zach Tayl or
he was leading figure in the society of
this city by the lakes. His term as Presi-
dent did not wean him away from the peo-
pie who knew him while he was seeking
clients as lawyer. He returned to Buffalo
after his public service and died here as its
most distinguished citizen. So the whole
of his life was spent among this people, and
they have great respect for his memory.
His remains are buried over in beautiful
Forest Lawn cemetery, and a striking
monument marks the spot where they rest.
While he was not man to inspire great en-
thusiasm among the masses, the good peo-
pie of Buffalo do not forget the distin-
guished place he held in the nation and
have feeling OF pride in his history.
There seems to be an unwritten law that
when man has been President he shall
thereafter take no active part in the ordi-
nary affairs of the time. No ex-Presidept
has ever attempted it without failure. Gen.
Grant left the executive mansion before he
was so, and made a sorry mess of the bust
ness career he attempted. Arthur tried to
practice law after his retirement, but
never could stand the atmosphere of his
Office. From time out of mind the record
has been the same. Absolute retirement
seems to be the only fate awaiting a man
who has finished his career as the ruler of
this mighty nation. Such being the case.
ought not these people to be satisfied with
the decision which the President has
reached? He has risen to the full
measure of every public trust that has been
given into his keeping Without experience
in public life, any association with great
public men or of very careful study of pub
lie affairs imagine he has shown himself
the master of every leader of his party who
has come i'll contact with him during his
term as President. He has also mastered q
great party and made it obedient to his
will Then if he chooses, after these years
of struggle in the highest office of the ma
ton, to spend the remainder of his days in
the capital of the nation, where he has
made all of his social life, what justice is
there in demanding his return to this city,
where his life must be cold and cheerlessi
Certainly he has had singular career, but
there is nothing very singular in his want
ing to steer clear of the animosities ALWAYS
prevalent in a small city and 1--we in the
broader atmosphere of the national career
he has made from a small beginning.
Gen. Arthur died from failure to do
just that thing. When he returned to New
York, after his honorable career as Presi-
dent, the whole atmosphere in the city had
changed. He found that Chester A. Arthur,
ex-President of the United States, was very
differently received than "Chet" Arthur,
the club man, and one of the political mas
tiers of the state His political power was
gone; he could not VISIT the clubs as fire.
quently and with the same propriety as be-
fore. He had to change the character Of
his companions and the men whom he re-
ceived as his close friends before must now
come to this house to enjoy the old-time
festivities of an evening. He had reached
the very summit of political power. He
had eaten the ripest and biggest apple
in the realm of social and political dis
tinction, and removed from Washing
ton and its delights, he found life
nothing but vanity fair and died of
L. A.