The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-30
The ad1ia aiIu Eagle Saturday zorne 80, 1sa3

break down a man who continues lon-
enough at it. The mere eff0rssto remem-
Der names and faces OF people who consider
themselves of much importance and to
concentrate ones faculties upon the busi-
ness which they bring forward one aftei
another. like the changing colors Of Ia.
leidoscope, is y herculean task in itself.
This is only part of the tension to which
b president is subjected The semiweekiy
cabinet meetings are not mere social gath
erings by any means They are councils Of
state, in which the president is the central
figure. Matters of the highest i'm portance
come up for consideration. All eyes are
upon the man who sits at the head of the
table. All listen when he speaks He feels
that sense of responsibility, of leadership.
which Is wearing upon the nerves. which
even in man as well balanced. as strong,
almost phlegmatic, as Mr.. Cleveland is.
surely though slowly Getracts from his
power of endurance and mental stability.
The Penalty of Office.
The president of the United States is one
of the few men in this country who never
get any rest. His station is so high, the
matters and the men with whom he has tc
deal so numerous, the questions which he
L
Gus and so fraught with importance to the
country and to his reputation, that even
when the holidays come, Or the vacation,
he cannot stop. He must work at hi.
desk in MS reception room or with his
mind all the time. The wonder is that Mr.
Cleveland has not ere this shown signs Of
breaking down.
Nor is this all. Does any one imagine
AIae L.
has led for 10 years without strains upon
his mental fiber. his nervous system, which
will leave their markss The conventions
the campaigns. the suspense, the election
days, the speeches. the public appearances,
all contribute to state of tension which
wears and eXhausts. Thus the fact has
come about that. after the campaign of last
year, starting with the ante-convention
period with its peculiar embarrassments
and anxieties, the closing days of the great
battle, the winter of cabinet meetings and
consultations, the Inauguration, the ordeal
OF forming new government and dispos-
ing of the hordes of Office seekers, the long
summers work on the silver question, the
worries of the Hawaiian and tariff ques-
tions and treasury situation that has de
manded his closest attention, Mr.. Cleve-
land is not now altogether himself.
1t would be extravagant to say that he is
breaking down. It would be malicious to
say that his mind is giving way. But he
Is irritable; he is easily Worried he is quick
to see the gloomy side of things; he is sensi-
tive; he is. in short, suffering from q loss
Of nervous force The long strain has had
its effect. While Mr.. Cleveland himself
laughingly refuses to admit that he is los
ing his mental and nervous ruggedness, his
intimates perceive that this is true. They
are worried as to what the future may
bring forth. They do not hesitate to say
that if Mr. Cleveland goes on at the pace
he has followed for the last year through
out the remainder of his term there will be
grave danger Of a collapse He will suffer
nervous prOstration, or some physical dis
order will supervene. Therefore efforts
will be made, whenever opportunity offers,
to get Mr.. Cleveland away from Washing
ton for few weeks rest. In justice to
himself he should seek to get away from
the cares of his Office.
Earns His Salary.
The immediate prospects are not favor
able. Beginning in few days, the social
season will make considerable demands up
on the president He will have to stand for
hours at the head of the receiving column
1t four White House levees-the levees
which tradition has prescribed and which
no president has had the courage to dis
pense with. Then he must give series of
dinners to the members of the supreme
court, the senators and representatives. till
all have been entertained. A state dinner
at the White House is not recreation for
any one concerned. especially not for the
host. 1t is rather a solemn and formal oc
casion, on which great care must be exer-
cised not to say too much, but to say just
enough. There are public questions, as all
the world knows, which greatly worry the
president just at this time. Things are
not going as well with his administration
policies as he could wish. Congress is here
is ION his hands, as Mr.. Cleveland not
long ago expressed it-and will be here
probably till the 1st of next August. There
does not seem to be any escape for the hard
worked, harassed president of the United
States for many long and weary months to
come He gets big salary, but the chances
are that he will be compelled to earn it.
1t is noticed that Mr.. Cleveland cares
more for the company and assistance of his
intimate friends than he ever did before
ne meaning Oh lnlS IS ludI the pTeSluenG
has lost somewhat of that self reliance
which has always characterized him. Near
ly every evening either Secretary Gresham,
Secretary Lamont, Postmaster General Bis
sell or Don Dickinson is at the White House
assisting the president with his work and
keeping him company. He feels the need
of them, and they do all in their power to
smooth his official path, which of late has
been full of stones and brjars
ROBERT GRAVES