Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13
Washington and John Adams, 2but John
Adams and George Washington. for John
Adams made George Washington"

Adams made George Washington"
Able Vice Presidents.
Some of the ablest of our statesmen have
held the vice presidential office but thei.
regulations have been made outside of it,
Look at the list. The names are great
enough Take John c. Breckenridge, Vice
President with Buchanan; George NJ. Dali
las. who reigned with Polk. and William r.
King. Vice President with Pierce-all of
these men will go down in history through
other acts than thosel done during their
vice presidencfes ThenLthere were Elbridge
Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of In
dependence, and the author of the system
of changing legislative districts for con-
gressional purposes, called, after his name
gerrymandering; George Clinton of New
York, Schuyler ColfaX, who was mixed
up In the Credit Mobi{ser; Henry Wilson
and others, once famous, but now forgot
ten There have been, altogether, twenty
three Vice Presidents elected by the peo-
pie. OF these five have died in office. three
have risen to the presidency by election,
four have gotten to the White House by
the death of the President and none have
through their positions made regulations
which will outlast century.
Arthur as Vice President and Presi-
dent.
Speaking of Vice Presidents who have
become Presidents by the death of their
chiefs, the best of the four may be said
to be Chester A. Arthur. He was to a
large extent a politician pure and simple
until he became President. He then de-
veloped into a statesman, and did his best
to give an honest administration. During
the light between Garfield and Conkling he
remonstla ted with Garfield, and asked that
the Objectionable nomination of Robertson
as collector of the port of New York be
withdrawn. After he bee anne President he
refused TO oblige his political friends when
they asked for much on political grounds,
and at one time, in reply to such re-
quest. said:
Il determined when l entered this office
that President Arthur should be one man
and Chester A. Arthur another, and l am
sorry to say that President Arthur has had
to do many things which G.. A. Arthur
didn't like. and leave many things undone
which c. A. Arthur would have been glad
to do had President Arthur seen his way
clear to do them
Fame 4. IL Bubble.
j have heard it said that Conkling did not
want Arthur to accept the vice presidency
and advised him to decline it. Arthur re-
piled that it was great honor and he
thought he would accept it. He did ar
cept it and by Guiteau's bullet became
President Judge Tyner. who was Post
master General under Grant, told me that
Arthur was much dissatisfied with the
Office at first He said he had never been
three months in the White House, and that
he would not accept the nomination again
If 1t were offered him a silver platter
Before the end of his term however he
was scheming for it. though he realized
the hardshipS of his position and the van
ity of it all. 1t was about this time that
New York friend called upon him. This
friend was a business man, and Arthur in
talking to him was inclined to doubt his
statement that he had no ambition to hold
political position.
Il suppose you would not care to be a
member of Congress- asked President
Arthur with smile.
No said the man. Il would not"
How about the cabinet?"
Il would not have it,
President Arthur laughed and looked in
-credulous as he went on: But the presi-
dency? How about being President of the
United States? That is certainly some
thing to wish for
Il do not want it," replied the man. II
think your position is high one and that
whether your administration is successful
or not your name will become historic
But. Mr.. President, what is all that? The
highest political fame is only a bubble
which. matter how iriiescent be its
hues. will, when it breaks. be bat a spot of
SldS upon the floor"
AS the President heard this his face
clouded. He rose from his chair and said
in an emphatic voice: My dear sir, you
are right. The presidency is the most I'M
comfortable. disagreeable and unsatisfac-
tory place in the world | am bound here
as in vice. / dare not treat my friends
well nor punish my enemies. I have not al.
hour to myself and / am more of slave
than the most prosecuted of the chain
gangs in the southern states. Yesterday ]
shook hands with five hundred pcople-Inen
and women who simply wished to look
upon the chief magistrate of the republic
AT the end all of the electricity was taken
out of me. l was exhausted and went to
bed like crushed rag. There is nothing
in the presidency and you have summed
up the whole in your remark, that Fame
is bubble. and broken.1is but suds.'
How Tyler Lecturcd Webster.
Vice President Arthur. when he became
President, retained Garfield's cabinet for
some time. He soon adopted new political
advisers, however, and this has been the
case in nearly every such instance. John
Tyler had great trouble with Harrison
cabinet / knew President Tyler's son
quite well. He was private secretary at
the White House at the time his father
ellis of the administration. He told me thai
Daniel Webster tried to dictate to his
father as to what he should do. Tyler was
the first Vice President who became Presi.
dent by the death of his chief and it was a
question as to how he should be treated
Some OF the statesmen thought he should
sign his papers as acting President" and
that he should not have the honors and
dignitics of fuil-feiGed President. '.Ai
the first cabinet meeting after Harrison's
| death" said President Tylers son to me
all of Harrison's cabinet came together
and President Tyler told them that he in
tended to continue them in Office for time
at least. At this Daniel Webster, who was
Secretary of State, said: I'm that case. Mr.
PRESIDENT L suppose that the rules of Mr.
Harrlsons cabinet will continue in force"
All! said President Tyler, Il don't
know about that. What were the rules ~
The rules Were" replied Webster that
all measures should be brought before the
cabinet, and that each member Of the cab
met should have one vote, the majority rul
ing in all cases.
President Tyler looked at Webster rather
queerly for a moment. The proposition
seemed TO him decidedly presumptuous
one. Finally he said
NO, Mr.. Webster, l cannot agree to any
| such conditions. l am the President, anC
L am responsible for the acts of this ad
mInistration. shall bring such matters
| as seem proper to me before the cabinet
and shall be always glad of your help il
the way of advice and suggestion. but as
to the final decision, that must rest
| with me. If any one of the cabinet does
not wish to agree to these conditions he is
at liberty to leave. 1 shall be sorry to lose
MIN, but cannot help It,"
mis- was enough to settle Webster. He
gave up the hope Of running the admins
tration. but continued in the cabinet fol
some time as Secretary of State, remaining
there after the other members had re
| signed.