The sun., 1890-06-15

Thoughts Among the Departed.
Among tho ilustriouI men who designed
and constructed what has become the great
est republic and most powerful nation OF
modern times. WASHINGTON, JOHN ADAMS,
JEFTEHsON, MADISON. and MONROE were,
succcssvcy. called to the head thereof. OF
these WAsIiIEGTON alone died when he was
Still the glamour Of his great achievements.
Although JOnS ADAMS livcl some twenty
five wears after hs was retired from the
Presidency, he took no further part in pol
itics. His time was spent among his books,
in literature and in the sOcietyof his friends.
So bitterly did he feel his failure to be elected
again that lie would not stay in the Presl
dents mansion TO induc. his successor.
JEFTERSON lived eighteen years after lcav-
ing tho White House. At that time he was
SO embarrassed with debt that he feared ar
rest from his creditors, and his poverty con-
tinucd to the end. He was forced to sell his
library to Congress, though he obtained for
ii only about ono-quart"r OF its value. But
for Il contribution Of $4,000 made to him by
the cities OF New York, Philadelphia, and
Baltimore, he would not have been permit
ted To die in the home which he inherited.
Imagine JEFFERSON, author of tho DeCla
ration Of Independence, n leading member In
the national Congress, Minister to France,
Secretary uf State, twice President of the
United States, and founder Of the Democ-
racy having the lccolcctions of his great
career interrupted by duns. and his days
harasscd with tho cares OF procuring the
money necessary for tho requirements Of
his hOus"lOld.
MADISON lived nearly twenty years after
he had been President, but the public's con-
CernmcnS were not his. His books and n
few friends wcrn all tia. was left to him dur
Ing the long period Of his retirement from
daily and VOiumnouS duties TO u season OF
enforced rcp1sc.
MONROE who was twice elected President,
and tho second time almost unanimously,
and who WAS the founder OF Il doctrine in
American policy which is known by his
name, retired first into obscurity As II coun-
ty Justice OF the Peace in Virginia, and
then camc to Now York, whore he was
reduced to desperate financial straits, and
where lie died at last in poverty, and for
gotten. How many men now know even
Rhcrc his bones lie buried?
Thus Of the first five Presidents, who weIc
also conspicuous rs founders of the Govern
ment, one alone died with his ambition sat-
isiied and unchllcd by neglect. But thosn
who died poor and forgotten by the public
which they had served 80 well, had at least
the satisfaction OF knowing that they had
acted an important part in nation, which
at its very outset, showed tho signs of that
greatness which it has since developed.
They coud we'll hope that posterty would
do them justice.
Is not tho fact that man has been
President Of the United States sufficient
fllling OF the cup Of Hmbition2 No. Amb!-
tions cup Is never full. In ono who has
devoted his life to pubic affairs, AMI who IS
sound in mind aud body, ambition never
dies. Popular applause Is tho breath of his
nosrils The prldc Of place and the longing
for it remains with him always. Tho hing
ing OF the knee, to which he has become ac-
Gus Omed, is necessary to his happiness. He
eNUitS IN II. fo knows how many will tak0
the exercise. lY"n AaDlEw JOHNSON. with
two-,hlrd, .! tho Senate in opposition TO
HIM declared that he could always secure
tho confirmation of any nomination which
he SAW fl tu press. Rest to such men is not
only'ru5t, but humiliation. To drop from
the highest elevation ont OF sight j. to them
living death
We Lave s""n what happened to tho five
great men whom We have named: and
now let u- look at Their Successors and
SEQ what br'Hma "f Them. join QUINCY
ADAMS, after thv"n years % comparative re-
tiremrEt, again entered thr arena and. as n
nncmbcrof Comgrrss for seventeen years. was
constantly and Prominently before the pub