The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-11-30

elected without Whitney at the head Of
tho campaign, but that is by no means
certain.
Mr.. Whitncy's personal sacrifices IN
the 1892 campaign were tremendous.
No one will ever know how much money
he spent in the first place. Mr.. Whitney
will never know, nor does he care. He
is of the temperament that stops at
nothing but success, no matter how
great the sacrifice or the effort required
to win it. 1 have heard his contribution
estimated as high as $3.50, 900. 1t could
not have been much less, for whenever
there was a money gap Mr.. Whitney
was the mar who stepped in and stopped
it. The gaps were frequent and wide.
Not onl, OF money, but Of strength.
did he contribute lavishly. Naturally a
somewhat sluggish 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 might 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 soon went away to
the old world for recreation.
People were 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 an aspirant for
the successorship. Well, the time has
come in which he should show his hama
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 as 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 in 1892
without hope Of reward? Why is he
wholly without ambition Cor presiden.
tial honors? These are questions which
every one is asking, and the answer is
most 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 in this country
knows that the presidency is a slaves
life. There is no peace in it. Mr.. Whit
ney says there never was q 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 il
again. Arthur was not happy, and Hayes
only moderately so. Mr.. Whitney be
lieves that he who becomes president O
the United States must determine tt
sacrifice himself on the altar Of duty
He consigns himself to physical drudg
cry and mental torment during the tern
Of office and loses the power to be thor
oughly contented thereafter. Mr.. Whit
ney loves life and it's good things to-
we'll to immediate himself for the SAX
Of a longer biography when he is gath
cred to his fathers.
But l still have to tell why he plunge'
himself into the battle Of 1892. 1t wa
because he loved his party, because h
loved his friends and could not sit silen
and inactive while they were in dang
Of defeat. There is no maj in the Dem
y ocratic party more loyal to that organi
=. zation than Mr.. Whitney. There is non
: anywhere tina. will go farther O d
more for his friends,
1t is this quality in him, this pre-
dominating characteristic, which is hkt
ly to force him into the campaign
next year, Probably he would be PEI
: fectly content to take up the fight fl
~ the party for success at the polls, if /
- could be assured Of being let off for al
other long vacation when the fight W;
won. That he would prefer this to h
! own candidacy I have not the slighte
= doubt, and I know Mr.. Whitney pret'
we'll. Bnt at the anne time II mu
:, believe the same quality would for
him to accept leadership if the par
were to press him into service as its ca
didate.
1t il not because Mr.. Whitney fea
=, the Democratic party will lose in 49,
:. that he declines to be a candidate. !
- has a strong faith that his party w
- succeed. He believes tho commerce
- and industrial conditions in the count
are fast making for Demccracy's goo
-, He believes local conditions in Ne