Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-26
PROFESSOR HARRISON.

Our people were somewhat surprised
when the announcement was made that
President Harrison, on his retirement
from the White House, was about to
accept professorship in Stanford Uni
versity. And yet, after all, there is
nothing surprising about it. The old
English kings were wont to sit in state
in Westminster hall and administer
Justice, and no doubt they talked good
deal of set law. assisted by their chan
cellors, who were generally clerics OF
approved learning. When President
Harrison ceases to be public servant
he will be advanced to the high dignity
of an American sovereign and can do as
he pleases. This is really much pleas.
anter thing than being president, sub
ject to the incursions of clamorous and
greedy politicians, who want the earth
and will allow the dispenser of patron
age no sort of peace. The fact that
Benjamin Harrison will take up useful
avocation on his retirement from Office
shows that there is much good stuff in
the man. 1t is great privilege to assist
in forming the ideas of the rising gen.
Grafton. In truth, it is far more dig.
nified function than that of holding
office, no matter how high the post may
be. The times are rare indeed when
great crises enable public official to
acquire any great distinction. Be-
tween Benjamin Harrison, log-rolling to
procure his own denomination at Mime
apollo, and Benjamin Harrison, laying
down great principles of law to eager
and gifted young minds, many of whom
will naturally figure in great arenas, the
comparison is all in favor OF the latter.
1t ia pleasat to know that the president
has been largely influenced in accepting
the appointment to Stanford university
by the pleasant impressions left upon
his mind during his visit to California.
That was, in truth, an agreeable epi-
sode. 1t showed in notably emphatic
manner that the American people are
disposed to drop the acerbities that
have too long characterized our poll
tics. Democrats as cordially as Republi-
cans greeted the president in the most
hospitable manner. The position which
has been rendered to and accepted by
Mr.. Harrison is that of nonresident
professor. With the strong prediction
which he shows for the Golden state it
need surprise no one to zee the president
take up his permanent residence
amongst US. This state seems to exer-
else an irresistible fascination on most
of those who visit it, and General Har-
rison appears to have caught the fever
in a marked manner. Should ne con-
clude to cast in his lot with us for good
he will nave made modification Of
Horace Greeley's "Go west, young man,
60 west" necessary. The injunction
will then apply to all ages, and he will
doubtless bring many persons in his
train who have heretofore regarded Cal
iforna and the great western domain as
peculiarly the stamping ground of
youthful energy and pluck.
General Harrison is not the first pres
ident of the United States who has de-
clined to consider his usefulness as a
citizen as ended by his withdrawal from
the White House. Thomas Jefferson
always took keen interest in the Vir-
glnia college that in part bore his name.
John Quincy Adams, on returning to
Massachusetts after his term of Office
had expired, allowed himself to be
elected to the house of representatives,
and he was one of the most picturesque
and influential members of that body.
The assiduity with which Rutherford
8. Hayes has attended all the chicken
conventions in Ohio since 1880 demon
strated his willingness to dabble in
public affairs and to keep himself in the
eye OF the people. Doubtless the shadow
of fraud was all that prevented him
from running for congress or governor
OF Ohio. This tendency is wholesome,
in the line of good republican traditions,
and ought to be encouraged.