The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-24
THE QUESTION OF AGE OK The
PRESIDENCY.

The opposition 10 the nomination by
the Republican party of Governor Nor
ton for the presidency on account Of
his age. has tempted The Baltimore sun
to 20 into an investigation of the ages
Of men who have strongly attracted the
attention OF the world. and the results are
very interesting, indeed
Governor Morton will have just en-
tered his seventy-third year when the
Republican National Convention meets,
next June. so that if DE were nominated
and elected. he would begin his presi-
Dental term Of service within a few weeks
Of his seventy-third birthday. The old
est of our Presidents so far. when in
augurated. was william Henry Harrison.
who was sixty-eight. Next TO him came
James Buchanan. sixty-six, and next to
him, Zachary Taylor, who was siXty-fve
John Adams and Andrew Jackson were
both sixty-two years of age at the time
they entered the Office. and all the rest
Of our Presidents were inaugurated while
they were between nifty and sixty years
Of age. except Franklin Pierce, who was
forty-nine years old; Ulysses S. Grant
who was forty-seven, and Grover Cieve-
land. who was forty-eight
While It Is true that Governor Morton
who Is d hale and hearty man. Is Older
than any one who has ever been inaugu-
rated President. it is also true that many
d No
sim performing most important public
functions. Cardinal Newman is still one
of the active and great men Of his time,
at ninety years OF agc. Mr. Gladstone is
stiIl busily at work I'm literature at
eighty-six. and mas only recently left the
political arena. Pope Leo XIII. is bearing
the heavy burdens Of his great Office az
oighty-nve. Sir Henry Parkes is in the
thick Of Australian politics at eighty;
Bismarck is eighty, and Justice Field, OF
the Supreme Court Of the United States,
remains upon the Supreme Bench Of the
country. performing the duties Of
Justice as ably and as well as ne ever
did at the age of seyenty-nine and SEN
ator John NJ. Palmer OF Illinois. is
sturdy and active at seventy-eight: Queen
Victoria sim rules Britannia, and Prime
Minister Crispi sways the destiuies of
Italy. though both OF them are more
than halfway on the journey from sew
enty 20 eighty. Prince Hohenlohe IS at
the helm OF Germany at seventy-two. and
ex-Speaker Galusha II. Grow is busily
engaged I'm the daily work OF our House
OF Representatives at tho same age. And
the list might be made much longer. The
post OF Prime Minister Of England is
probably as laborious as that OF the
President OF tho United States. and be-
sides Mr.. Gladsionc's example. IL may be
recalled THAI the late Lord John Russell
filled that office at seyenty-four ana
Lord Palmerston held IL at eighty.
The records Of history furnish great
many arguments upon both sides Of the
question Of age. IL cannot be questioned
that many Of the greatest careers have
been made boy young men. Washing
ton was but forty-three when made com
mander-in-chief OF the Revolutionary
army. Henry clay was Speaker Of the
House OF Representatives at lhirty-fonr.
stephen a. Douglas was but thirty-nine
when he first became ii candidate for the
presidency. John Jay was CHIEF Justice
OF the United States az fouy-fve. and
John Marshall al the same age. James
q. Blaine was only thirty-nlne when he
ioearro Sneaker ,f fh. IfnI4. ~ Repra-
sCntativcs. and Alexander Hamilton took
charge Of the United States Treasury az
thirly-two years OF age. Martin Van
buren, at thlrty-six organized fhe famous
Albany Agency, and was Governor CT
New York ~ forty. John c. Calhoun