The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-07
Especial Correspondence. ]

Mnrch?-Bcnjamin ifarrison's Prospects.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON " WIN Grover
Cleveland be the twenty-second or the
neutrality-suspicious. of the United States
when lie is inauguratcd next March? he
was the twenty-second president when in
Office before, but what number will history
give him after his second term? General
Harrison is the twenty-thirtl President. Is
Cleveland to be- the twcnty-fourth as we'll
as the twcrty-sccond, or won't his second
term count numerically?
These pu%Zling questions grow out of he
fact that Mr.. Cleveland has broken nil
records lie is the first man in the history
of the United States OF America to be
elected Il second time to the presidency
after having been in retirement Seven
presidents before Cleveland were reelected
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, Jackson Lincoln ana Grant-but each
of them was elected TO succeed himself.
Cleveland alone serves II term, is set aside.
and then reappears in the White House
This is not the first time, however, that
q man has won the presidency after having
been defeated No aspirant for the highcs,
Office in the gift of the American people
ever met with more surprising defeat
than did Andrew jackson in 1924, when,
in the electoral college, he was defeated by
John Quincy Adams in the house OF repre-
sentatives and it will he remembered that
jackson, undaunted by this rebuff. lived
to serve two terms in the presidential
chair and to name his successor. Jackson
made little Van Buren, president but Van
couldn't hold himself up.
1t is Il somewhat remarkable coinci' nee
that on the two occasions in the history OF
the country in which the same candidates
were pitted against each other twice in
succession Harrison was one of the
rivals. In 1886 Martin Van Buren, defeated
William Henry Harrison, but four years
later William Henry Harrison triumphcd
over Martin Van Buren,. Half a century
later the shoe is on the other foot, so far rs
tie llarrisons are concerned, for in lSSS
Benjamin Harrison defeats Grover Clcve-
land and in 1892 Cleveland beats Harrison.
y majority OF our presidents have risen
step Ivy step almost continuously to the
highest post in the land. Some, however
met with serious reverscs. Lincoln was
defeated for United States senator after a
notable struggle with Douglas Poll; was
twice defeated for governor of Tenncss..
before he became president, and Benjamin.
Harrison had been beaten in contests for
governor ana senator in his State
OF course Cleveland's recovery from the
defeat of four years ago will 20 down to
posterity rs the most surprising chapter of
our political history, but seeming i'll fo,
tune has i'll previous instances served to
cihnnrc the fame of its victims.
President Jackson appointed Martin Van
Buren, minister to London, and Van Barren.
shortly after his arrival in England. WAS
chagrinod to find that the senate, through
the influence Of his political enemy. John
f'sHft 81
nomination. He returned to America. and
by virtueof the iron hand and commanding
genius of his patron, the great Jackson.
had the satisfaction of displacing Calhoun
Ill the vice presidential chair, and after
ward of reaching the presidency itself,
which Calhoun had sought in vain
Another case still fresh in the popular
mind is that of Chester a. Arthur. His
removal from the New York custom house
seemed ut the time II cruel blow, but it led
TO his nomination for vice president. and.
through Gariield's death. to the presidency
The incoming president is without much
doubt the wealthiest man who ever held
the Office. Mr.. Cleveland's property and
possessions must now be worth fully $3.50
600. He was worth about 500, 900 when h,.
left the presidential chair four years ago.
and since then he has made fortunate in
vestments, has earned Il large income as Il
lawyer in New York and Mrs. Cleveland
has come into some property.
AS Il rule our presidents have been com.
paratively poor men. President Harrison
was worth about $4,000 when he came
here four years ago, and while here he has
added about Sl25, 900 to his store Monroe.
Jackson the first Harrison, Polk, Taylor.
Pierce, johnson, Lincoln, Grant and Car.
field were none of them much if ANY
Wpllt lipr Inn, Ron intpit,
they came into Office. Washington. JET
ferson, John Quincy Adams, Van Bur.i.
Tyler, buchanan and Hayes were cnc,.
worth something like S200,00O when hcv
became chief magistrate. Chester Arthur
lett an estate worth $4,000
President Harrison will retire from Office
next March still man in his prime. AZ
sixty, and with good health, he will wan,
employment for his active mind, and ,hi.,
no doubt he will find in the practice of Iii,
profession, rs Mr.. Cleveland and man,
oIher retiring presidents have done.
The presidents of history are against hi
-cappcarance in public life OF course ii i,
barely possible he will follow in Clcy,
lanG'S footsteps and run for president the
third time, but it is not probable Luce
Ike lcvcland's does not come TO two me,
lis ic century.
IS three presidents held Office af,r!
leaving the presidential chair. John Qu'u.
cy Adams spent seventeen years in con
gress and every day see visitors To the
Capitol gazing at the meta! disc in the
floor of the old hall Of the house where ne
fell and closed his career. Monroe bcciisp
a justice Of the peace after leaving ;hc
presidency, and johnson was elected Unitu,!
States senator in 1875.
The careers of our presidents after dofr-
"A. rIAla flA