The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-07

No one will ever know how much money
he spent i'll the first place. Mr.. Whitney
Will never know, nor does he care. He
Is of tho temperament that stops at
nothing but success, no matter low
great the sacrifice OF tho effort required
to win 1t. have heard his contribution
estimated rs high as $3.50, 600. 1t could
not have been much less, for whenever
there was money gap Mr.. Whitney
was tho man who stepped in and stopped
it. The gaps We're frequent and wide.
Not only OF money, but OF strength,
did contribute lnvishly. Naturally a
somewhat sluggish man. he was keyed
ut high pitch for SEVERAL months. TIo
loft his family practically TO itself. IIo
gave up dinntIs and smoking and drink
ing He trained himself like an athlete.
Ho conserved every atom OF his strength
that all might be used ia carrying on
the battle
When tho fight WINS over and the vic
tory was won, he asked nothing but u
chance To rest, Ho refused 10 DO sccrc-
tary of state or anything else. uc dc
clincd 10 have ~ word to say about who
should or who shonld not bo placed in
office He washed his hands of the
whole business and soon went away TO
the old world for recreation
People were surprised, but said Mr..
Whitney was only bicling his time that
ho had cast his bread on tho waters and
That he would bob UP AZ an aspirant for
the successorship. Well, tho time has
rome In which he should show his hand
If he has ono To show, and again ho
wants nothing. His friends 20 to him
by the score and toll him he could have
tho nomination if he would only move
his hand and set few Wheels going
lie rcsolutcly declines TO do it, II is as
certain as that the sun shines that if
Whitney is to become the nominee il
must be brought about by the party it
self, not by such combination and effort
and manipulation us produced tho nom
ination of Mr.. Cleveland three years
ago.
Why did Mr.. Whitney contribute his
efforts to the Cleveland cause iii 1892
without hope Of reward? Why is he
wholly without ambition for preSlcn,
tial honcrs? These arc questions which
every ono is asking, and the answer is
most interesting. Mr. Whitney is both
young and vigorous. He enjoys life and
wants to live long time He knows
rs well as any man in this country
knows that the presidency is slavo's
life. There Is no peace III it, Mr. Whit
hey says there never was Il happy prcsi-
dent of the United States. Cleveland is
not happy and will not be till hc gets
out of tho White House. Harrison was
not happy in Washington, though lie
appears willing 10 como back and try il
again. Arthur was not happy, and Hayes
only moderately so. MI Whitney be
liovcs that he who becomes president of
tho United States must determine to
sacrifice himself OH the altar Of duty.
He consigns himself to physical drudg-
cry and mental torment during tho term
of Office and loscs the power to bo thor
ouGhly contentcd thereafter. MIR. Whit
ncy loves life and It's good things too
well TO immolato himself for tho sake
of longer biography when no is gath
cred TO his fathers
But still have To tell why ho plunged
himself into tho battle Of 1892. Ii was
because ho loved his party, because hc
loved his friends and could not sit silent
and inactive while they were in danger
OF defeat. There is no man in the Dem
ocratic party more loynl to that orcani-
2ation than Mr.. Whitney There is mono
anywhere that will go farther or do
more for his friends
1t is this quality i'll him, this pre-
dominating characteristic which is like
ly to force him into tho campaign Of
next year. Probably he would bo per
fectly content to tnko mp the fight for
tho party for success mt tho polls, if he
could be assured OF being let OF for an
other long vacation when the fight was
won. That no wonld prefer this to his
own candidacy 1 have not the slightest
doubt. and know Mfr. Whitney pretty
we'll But Mt the Same time one must
believe the saIne quality would force
him to accept leadership If the party
were to press him into service rs its can
didata.
1t is not because Mr.. Whitney fears
the Democratic purity will loso in 1896
that he declines to be candidate. He
has strong faith that his party will
succeed. He believes tho commercial
ana industrial conditions in tho country
are fast making for Democracy good.
He believes local conditions in New