Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-05
JUST BY A HAIRS BREADTH
Some Famous Misses by PreSi-
dental Lightning.
so NEAR AND YET so FAR
Instances From Aaron Burr to Blaine of Great
Men Who Were Made the Plaything
of Chance.
New York Herald.

new 1Ofk HERALD
Presidential lightning is the most &C.
centric form of electric energy known
to either science or religion. Again and
again has it fallen upon dry places, when
it might have found safe conduct through
brilliant minds and embellished and COM
pleted shining mark
The greatest and wisest of our land
have prepared attractions for it, but it
has passed them by to illuminate the
lowly and obscure.
At this time when the nation is girding
up it's loins for the twenty-eighth presi-
Dental election, which will take place
in November, it will not be amiss to
glance backward at the names of those
(all dead and many of them forgotteD
who might have become presidents of
the, republic but for the interference of
stubborn chance, or providence, or fate,
or what you WILL
The men who missed the presidency
were in most instances the men who
seemed at the time most worthy OF the
honor. Clay and Blaine were again and
again within an ace of gaining the COW
eted prize Daniel Webster the modern
Demosthenes, died of broken heart be-
cause the ambition of his life was denied
him. and yet he might have realized
that ambition had his spirit been humber
and been willing to accept the crown in
the way the BoQS presented IL.
1t Is an interesting study, this review
of the causes which baked some of the
country's heroes just as they were reach
ing out their hands to take more than
q ''kingly crown" The contemplation of
these facts of our history may bring COM
fort at this time, when disappointment is
in the air for more than one aSpirant,
who would perhaps be ashamed to con-
fess to the canker gnawing at his heart.
Aaron Burr Came Near 1t.
Aaron Burr just missed the headship
of the nation. He was man of remark
ably brilliant mental attainments, and
into the presidential contest of 1900 he
entered with his accustomed energy and
determination. The republicans tri-
umphed but between the two highest
candidates-Jefferson and Burr-there
was a tie, each receiving 33 votes, which
threw the election into the house of rep
resentatives.
In connection with this affair Burr was
charged with intriguing to defeat the
public will and have himself chosen to
the first office instead of Jefferson. The
federalsts resolved to defeat Jefferson at
any cost and so fixed upon Burr as their
sole reliance in this great emergency.
The balloting went on for seven days.
Thlrty-five ballots were taken without
result. In the balloting in the house each
state delegation cast but one vote. The
candidate receiving the highest number
of votes would become president, while
he who received the next highest num-
Der would be declared elected vice presi-
dent. The federalists strove long and
fervently with Burr, but could not obtain
from him the pledges they desired. JEFF
ferson was therefore, elected on the thir-
ty-sixth ballot, and Burr was declared
elected vice president, having received
the next highest number of votes.
Clinton's Stout Fight.
In the campaign of 1912 Dewitt Clin-
ton was regarded as promising repub-
lican candidate for the presidency. He
had held many prominent places in the
government and filled them all with
credit to himself and to the advantage
of his country. During his term in the
United States senate he distinguished
himself by a powerful speech opposing
the war with Spain. He resigned from
the senate in 1902 to take the Office of
mayor of New York city, to which he
had been appointed by his uncle, then
governor of the state for the second time.
He continued mayor until 1876
Aaron Burr's disgrace had removed one
of his most prominent rivals, but Clinton
soon began to be looked upon with dis
trust by his party, on account OF his want
of sympathy with some of President JEFF
ferson's acts and with Madison's course
previous to the war of 1872. He was sus-
pected of leaning toward the federalists,
and was bitterly assailed by his enemies,
toward whom his own course had never
been mild.
The republican caucus at washington
In 1872 renominated Madison, but Clin-
ton, retaining his hold on the party Of
his own state and relying on the support
of the federalists, secured nomination
from the republican members of the New
York legislature. Clinton made stout
light. and up to the very last seemfd TO
have a chance of winning, because there
was considerable dissatisfaction over the
manner of Madison's nomination. With
Pennsylvania on his side Clinton would
have won. and his supporters were also
sure In advance Of the adherence of other
states, which failed to come to time as
expected. Thus did another statesman
Of the early days of the republic miss by
4 chance the great honor for which so
many were striving.
Henry Clay's Miss.
Henry Clay would probably have been
president but for the grip upon his repu-