The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-25
HOW STATESMEN
ENDURE DEFEAT
A Glance at Unsuccessful Presidential
Candidates.
THE DISAPPOINTED ASPlRANTS
But Few Tive Outward Signs OF
Blasted Hopes.MOst of Them Re.
sumed Their Old Lives, and Some
Sought Other and Much Smaller
HOnOrs.
From the Globe-Democrat.

From the Globe-Democrat.
The name of Bryan has been added
to the list Of defeated presidential can
didates, a list which proves IN strlN-
Ing manner how short-lived is political
repute. Many of the names thereon
have already faded from popular mem-
Dry, and those that still hold a place
In peoples minds could be counted on
the fingers of ones hand. To this
class belongs Aaron Burr, who in 1900
was defeated for the presidency by a
hairs breadth. Indeed, Burr came
nearer to the presidency without reach
Ing it than any other man save Til
den. but he Is best remembered as the
politician who slew Hamilton, and later
plotted unsuccessfully to create great
empire in the Southwest of which he
should be monarch. Thereafter he was
for several years an exile in Europe,
and during his last days practiced law
In New York, dying at such an extreme
old age that men are now living VINO
knew and conversed with him.
For more than n generation Burr
was an Ishmaelite among his fellows,
and he carried his hatreds with him
beyond the grave. His doubtful tri-
umphs with women are well known.
Among the papers which he placed at
the disposal of his literary executor.
OF letters, almost every one of them
from women whose standing in society
was good, and some of them members
of families of great social prominence.
Many of these women We're dead. Some
of them had left happy families \
few were still living. Most of the let
ters, while beginning the series in
terms of endearment and affection.
ended them with pitiful charges of be-
N,, I.,ea artt hn hnp me
known that Davis possessed these let
ters publishers in New York and other
cities offered him large sums of money
for them, but he was more merciful
TO Burr's victims than was Burr him.
self. He returned as many of the let
ters as possible and the rest he burned.
Years before, Burr, on the eve of his
duel with Hamilton, had committed
these letters to his own daughter, The
Odosia. bidding her, in case he fell. to
do with them what she chose. Thurlow
Weed used to say that there We're de-
scendants of Burr living in New York
city who had no idea that Burr was
their ancestor, for he had two daugh-
ters by woman with whom he board
ed, and for whom in his old age he
seems to have had some pity, for he
undertook a lawsuit for her by which
she secured property enough to live at
least in comfort. Burr died in 1896,
and was buried by the side of his
father in Princeton, N. j.
CLINTON'S NERVE.
George Clinton did not permit his de-
feat for the presidency to end his pub
lic power in state and national politics,
and was governor of New York after
he had served as vice-president.
De witt Clinton also took his defeat
by Madison with the calmness Of
sage In after years he carried to
successful issue the construction of the
Erie canal and became governor dying
suddenly, as so many men who have
been governors of New York have done.
The public career of Rufus King may
be said to have ended with his defeat
by Monroe in 1916, and the same was
true of William II. Crawford who had
been national figure for nearly a
quarter of a century, resigned his seat
in the senate soon after the election.
went back to his home in Georgia. and
in order to support himself secured an
election as judge of probate, dying in
that office few years later.
on the other hand, the after career OF
Henry Clay, who was also an unsuc-
cessful candidate for the presidency in
1924, is still a household word. He
served for many years in the cabinet
and senate and remained until his
death the idol of his party. Defeated
by Jackson in 1928, he was cheated out
of the Whig nomination in 1910. and it
was his own fault that he was not
elected when he was unanimously made
the standard bearer of his party four
years later. Clays last appearance in
public life was In 1850. when at the age
of "a he Cancelled his vow of retirement
and returned to the senate to carry
through the famous compromise meas
ure, which he vainly hoped would set
tie the slavery question once and for
all. When his bill was under discus
sion in the senate, although ola and fee
BILE, he persisted in speaking two days
in advocacy of his plan of settlement.
Crowds of people came to Washington
from distance to hear the winsome
and fascinating orator make this last
and greatest effort OF his life. When
his speech was done admirers rushed
upon him to thank him. and multi
tude of women kissed him with etfusive
tears. Clay died during the following
year
Calhoun. who. during the debate just
referred to. also addressed the senate
for the last time. although never like
Clay formal candidate for the presi
dency. was still for many years an
eager aspirant for the office, and it was
the understanding when Jackson was
elected in 1928 that he should serve one
term, and then vice-President Calhoun
should be promoted as his successor.
But William II. Crawford, who held
Calhoun chiefly responsible for his de-
feat in 1924, from his retirement on the
Georgia bench, wrote a letter in which
he stated that in Monroe's cabinet CAL
houn had proposed that General Jack
sons conduct in the Seminole war be
made the subject of inquiry. and If the
charges against him were found true
ne should be punished with severity
His letter was used so adroitiy by Van
Buren, that the friendship of the presi-
dent for Calhoun was changed to vim
dictive and implacable enmity. From
that day Calhoun was doomed as the
successor of Jackson, and Van Buren
became the favorte. Save for Craw-
ford's letter, it is safe to say that Cal
houn and not Van Buren, would have
been chosen president In 1885,
DID NOT SURVIVE DEFEAT.
The brilliant lawyer and orator, Will
liam Writ. who was one of Jackson's
opponents in 1882. died within a year,
and Hugh l.. White and Willie Z.
Mangum did not long survive their de-
feat by Van Buren, in 1896. Van Buren,
after his crushing overthrow by Har-
risOn in 1870, retired to his home on
the Hudson and devoted the ensuing
four years to active maneuvering for
the Democratic nomination in 1874.
There is little doubt that again he
would have been the candidate of his
party In the year Just named had it
not been for the fact that Calhoun,
seeing that an opportunity had come
to crafty the resentment caused by
Van Buren's defeat of his own candi-
dacy, entered Tylers cabinet and han
died the Texas question with such skill
that Van Buren, was forced to so COM
init himself that he lost Southern sup
port, and with 1t the nomination for
the presidency. However. it was the
often-expressed opinion of William II.
Seward that Van Ruren never com
A1I hut t.,l