The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-16

somewhat sluggish man, he was keyed
at high pitch for several months. He
left his family practically to itself. He
gave up dinners and smoking and drink
ing. He trained himself like an athlete.
He conserved every atom of his strength
that all nsight be used in carrying on
the battle.
When the fight was over and the vic
tory was won, he asked nothing but a
chance to rest. He refused to be secre-
tary of state or anything else. He de-
clined to have a word to say about who
should or who should not be placed in
Office. He washed his hands Of the
whole business and 500 went away to
the old world for recreation.
People We're surprised, but said Mr..
Whitney was only biding his time; that
he had cast his bread on the waters and
that he would bob up as al aspirant for
the successorship. Well, the time has
come in which he should show his hand
if he has one to show, and again he
wants nothing. His friends go to him
by the score and tell him he could have
the nomination if he would only move
his hand and set a few wheels going.
He resolutely declines to do it. 1t is as
certain rs that the sun shines that if
Whitney is to become the nominee it
must be brought about by the party it
self, not by such combination and effort
and manipulation as produced the nom
nation of Mr.. Cleveland three years
ago.
Why did Mr.. Whitney contribute his
efforts to the Cleveland cause i'll 1892
without hope of reward? Why is he
wholly without ambition for presidcn.
tial honors? These are questions which
every M is asking, and the answer is
mos interesting. Mr.. Whitney is both
young and vigorous. He enjoys life and
wants to live a long time. He knows
as we'll as any man i'll this country
knows that the presidency is a slaves
life. There is no peace i'll it. Mr.. Whit
ney says there never was u happy presi-
dent of the United States. Cleveland is
not happy and will not be till he gets
out Of the White House. Harrison was
not happy in Washington, though he
appears willing to come back and try it
Ssi a. Iot IttppN, tlit Lay %
only moderately SO. Mr. Whitney be
lieves that he who becomes president Of
the United States must determine to
sacrifice himself ON the altar Of duty.
He consigns himself to physical drudg-
cry and mental torment during the term
Of Office and loses the power to be thor
oughly contented thereafter. Mr.. Whit
ney loves life and its good things too
we'll to immediate himself for the sake
Of a longer biography when he is gath
cred to his fathers.
But 1 still have to tell why he plunged
himself into the battle of 1892. 1t was
because he loved his party, because he
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 loyal to that organi-
zation than Mr.. Whitney. There is one
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
~ to force him into the campaign Of
next year. Probably he would be per-
fectly content to take up the fight for
the party for success at the polls, if he
could be assured Of being let off for an
other long vacation when the fight was
won. That he would prefer this to his
own candidacy 1 have not the slightest
doubt, and l know Mr.. Whitney pretty
we'll. But at the same time one must
believe the same quality would force
him to accept leadership if the party
were to press him into service as it's can
didate.
1t is not because Mr.. Whitney fears
the Democratic party will lose in 1896
that he declines to be a candidate. He
has a strong faith that his party will
succeed. He believes the commercial
and industrial conditions in the country
are fast making for Democracy's good.
He believes local conditions in New
York are promising a return Of DemOc-
racy to power il state and city at all
early day. He believes the Democratic
party is nearer the masses of the people
than any other, and i'll promotion Of in
ternatiOnal bimetallism - which Mr..
Whitney looks upon as the only and the
inevitable solution Of the currency prob
lem not only in this country, but through
out the world-will it find its greatest
strength and surest future. -Walter
Wellman in Chicago Times-Herald.
But Why NOntransferablcp