The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-04


short but tense career.
Probably few people Ga the world realize
whnt 30 is Co ho public man ~ The hip.-
est rank, especially to BE- president Of tho
United States, to take on the grent cares
aud responsibilities oi that Office. 90 dissi-
pate ones reserve strength day after day
To- e. struggle with The office seekers, with
Che questions OF tle day AMI with most Of
details ~ which no way lna hacn devised
for relieving our chief magistrate. The
work % receiving official aud other callers
al the White HOUSE is alone enough 20
break down uuu who continues long
enough ct &c. The mere effort o. rcmem-
Der names ard iaccs Of people who consider
Themselves ~ much Importance and TO
concentrate ones faculties upon the buat
ness which they bring forward one after
another like the changing colors ~ "a l.a-
kaleidoscope, b. "a herculean task in Itself
This rs only part a. che tension t9 which
president is subjected. The scmiwcczly
cabinet mcetings IRE not mere social rnth-
erings hy any means. They ARE councils 81
state, la which the president Is the central
figure Matters Of abe highest importance
come mp for consideration. All eyes arc
upon the man who sits az che head of the
table. All listen whoa hc speaks. lie feels
that sense Of re possibility, Of leadership.
which is wearing upon the nerves. which
even In a man as well balanced, az strong,
almost phiegmatic, as Mr. Cleveland is,
surely though slowly detracts from his
power Of endurance aud mental stability.
The Penalty Of OGlce.
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 10
deal so numerous. the questions which he
must concentrate his mind upon so vari
Gus and so fraught with Importance 20 the
country and 90 his reputation, that even
when the holidays come, or the vacation,
he cannot stop lie must work at his
desk In his 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
that a man can lead the life Mr. Cleveland
has led for 10 years Without strains upon
his mental fiber, his nervous system, which
will leave tleir marEaf The conventions.
the campaigns. the suspense, the election
days, the speeches, the public appearance,
all contribute TO "A state Of tension which
wears and cxhausts. 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 IA 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 a treasury situation that has de
manded his closest attention, Mr. Cleve-
land is not now altogether himself
II would be extravagant 10 say that he q
breaking down. II would be malicious to
say that his mind is giving way But he
is irritable, he is easily worried; he is quick
70 see the gloomy side of things; lac is sensi-
tive; he is, in short, suffering from a 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 rs to what the IN ire may
bring forth. They do not hesitate TO say
that IL Mr. Cleveland goes on at the pace
he has followed for the last year through
ont the remainder Of his term there will he
grave danger Of a collapse. lie will suffer
nervous prostratiOn, or some physical dis
order will supervcne. Therefore efforts
will be made, whenever opportunity offers,
to get Mr.. Cleveland away from Washing
ton for q few weeks rest In justice to
himself he should seek TO get away from
the cares Of his Office.
Tarns His salary