The Portland daily press., 1892-02-23

presidential Office, and was IN the end
robbed of the object of his ambition by
the interference of death. Stephen A.
Douglas was great senator, but the
man he defeated for that Office wrested
the presidency from him. David Davis
whilessnator was presidential aspirant,
and SO were Thomas Ell. Hendricks and
Joseph Mcdonald, both Of Indiana.
If all these names which stand for
disappointed ambitions to use the senate
IS stepping stone to the presidency are
not enough to discourage the eminent
Republican and Democratic senators
who now aspire to travel the same diff
cult pathway, let them turn to the great
John Sherman who sits with them, who
has been moro than quarter OF a CEN
fury a senator, who is now the Nestor of
public life in America, who has sought
the presidency year after year under
many favorable conditions, and who
now says to his intimate friends: 'It is
delusive thing, will-o'-the-wisp.
am done with the presidential ambition
forever"
Still, hope springs eternal in the hu-
man heart, and while every one knows
that history repeats itself, no one can
tell how soon it may indulge in new de-
partures. Hence Senators Hill, Cor
man, Palmer, Mcpherson, Carlisle,
Stanford, Cullom, Allison, Villas and
the others need not despair. One of
them may be happy yet.
Mr.. Blaine's letter declaring that he
will not be candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination has revived the old ira
dition concerning the i'll luck that hangs
over the Office of secretary of state.
Considered in the light of the history of
the last half century, it is not a post
which brings the presidency as re-
ward. Six secretaries of Stakeholder
son, Madison, Monroe, j. @. Adams,
Van Buren, and Buchanan have become
presidents, but only one of these, Buch-
anan, was elected within the last half
century. 1t is somewhat remarkable
that in fifty years not one man who had
ever sat in presidential ministry has
been promoted to the head Of the table
in this country.
Some people make an exception of
General Grant, who was for short
time acting secretary of war, but that
was mere incident of his military serv-
ice and is not worth considering. Many
members of the cabinet-Seward, Chase,
Cameron, Bristow, Gresham, Lincoln,
Sherman, Window, Bayard and others
have aspired to the presidency, but
in vain.
There being some talk of the nominal
ton of Robert Lincoln for president, it is
astonishing how many public men there
are who believe Lincoln will some day
succeed to the Office in which his father
won imperishable renown. 1t is, on the
contrary, recalled by the superstitious
that not since the days of John Quincy
Adams has foreign minister of the
United States been elected president,
with the single exception of Buchanan.
Seven vice presidents have reached
the higher office-John Adams, Jeffer-
son and Van Buren,, who were elected to
it, and Tyler, Fillmore, johnson and
Arthur, who succeeded the four presi-
dents who died in Office.
1t is somewhat remarkable that among
all the prominent candidates now being
talked of for the presidential nominal
tions of the two parties this year only
three - President Harrison, Senator
Palmer and General Alger-have had
military experience. OF the twenty-thres
presidents Of the republic twelve had
military training and rank. Washing
ton was commander of the armies, Mon
roe captain, jackson and William
Henry Harrison major generals, Taylor
general of the army, Pierce brigadier
general, Lincoln captain, Grant gen.
eral of the army, Hayes brigadier gen.
eral, Garfield major general, Arthur
and Harrison brigadier generals
In these days, when president making
is occupying SO much of the attention of
the people, and the records and merits
of various candidates are under consid-
Grafton, it is interesting to recall that of
our twenty-three presidents sixteen were
members of the legislature, seventeen
were in congress and ten had been gov
errors of states.
To those who are looking for coinci-
0OIICOo eeiil J1tl fGllClS III JIG ludGCCI VI tb0
Che following facts will be interesting:
President Harrison is SO; Mr.. Cleveland,
IS; Senator Hill, 4S; Senator German,
SO; Senator Palmer, "a; Senator ALI
son, 63; Senator Cullom, 60; Senator
Carlisle, So. The youngest president
was Grant, who was AZ when inaugu-
rated. Cleveland was 4S: Garfield and
Pierce, 40; Polk and Fillmore, SO; Arthur
and Tyler, 81; Lincoln, SO; Hayes. "a;
Van Buren and Benjamin Harrison, IS;
Washington and johnson. 81; jefferson,
Madison and J. @. Adams, So; Monroe,
50: John Adams and jackson, SO; Taylor,
SIS; Buchanan, sc, and William Henry
Harrison, 6S. The average age of the
presidents st Inauguration was nearly Sc
years. Mr.. Cleveland will be Sc years
old March is next, and the superstitious
might ON this coincidence select him for
a winner If he had not already been once
inaugurated at 48.
Henry Clay and James g. Blaine were
in their prime, dashing, magnetic men;
both were sent to the legislature while
young, and they became the speakers of
their respective houses. They were