The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-14

q Statesman
PAST PRESIDENTS.
The announcement II made that sx-
President benjamin. Harrison desires 10
r~-entsr the United States senate There
-. Of course. no reason why he should
not. and indeed. his experience would
make him an exceptionally valuable
member. II seems almost q waste Of good
material to permit . man who has occupied
for four years the once OF chief execu-
tive TO retire into private life Just when
the measure OF his experience - fun The
American people are not such stickies
for dignity that they would discounte-
nance the continuance In public life Of
valued public servant. but that rather
hard task master, Custom. has taught
the people not to look with favor upon
the spectacle OF ar ex-president enter
irg into q contest for less exalted honors-
What should be done with our ex-presi-
dents. Ii a question which has occupied
pubic attention on more than one occa-
sion. II has been euggested that they
States senate either with or without .
vote. but preferably the latter In this
way one who has been through al the
grades and reached the highest rank
would be spared the modification. in .
sense, OF being retired to private hfe-
One who has spent SUFFICIENT time In tho
administration Of affairs to have become
president. might be supposed to have not
only a taste for. but a capacity for. state
craft and At the age when most men leave
the White house. they are too old TO begin
q career in ordinary business pursuits.
The assurance. too. that at the close Of
q presidential term an once OF dignity
was open might preyent the use OF the
higher Office AZ q means TO subsequent
advantage.
In recent years retirement from the
Write House has usually been followed
by retirement to private life. Chester A.
Arthur, Rutherford B. Hayes and Z. 8.
Grant are the most notable examples Of
recent times. calamitous circumstances
having operated in the cases OF Lincoln
and Garfield to remove them from any of
the Disadvantages OF post-presidential
troubles. John Quincy Adams became a
member OF the house OF representatives
after he had retired from the presidency.
and Andrew Jackson was returned to the
senate. The only conspicuous example OF
an ex-president holding executive Office
was that OF James Monroe. who became
postmaster Of New York city. Nearly all
the other presidents were practically re-
tired when they left the White House.
The only living ex-president IL BENJAMIN
Harrison. and he will be Joined In March
by Grover Cleveland. The country would
undoubtedly be the gamer by having the
services OF these two men in q position
where they could with propriety partici-
pate in such discussions as form so I'M
portant part OF the proceedings Of the
United States senate. II they had no vote
there could be no possible objection to
thsir taking part IN debates or being de-
ferred to on matters OF national policy.
and the number of ex-presidents living at
one time would never be large enough to
admit OF their having an undue influence.
The British system includes the Office of
priyy councillor. 10 which retired minis
ters OF distinction are appointed. and they
serve as an advisory body. Their func-
lions are restricted. but at times IT is
found desirable to invoke their experience.
and limited though their area Of useful
ness may be. the position itself IL one OF
honor and is much sought after. No Of
rank with that OF president OF the United
States. and the reason seems to be greater
for paying such a compliment to one who
has been so highly distinguished by his
fellow-countrymen as 10 have been elected
.chIsf ma s.iztrats ~ this Tar,