The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
LIVES OF CHIEF MAGISTRATES
RETIRING FROM OFFICE.
Active Business for some. Well
and Disappointment for a Few.
New York Times

Nhile Rouse IN lNSy. he was asked by a
friend regarding his plans for the future.
lie replied that he was going TO practice
law. just as he would have lone if he had
not been President. Il think" he said.
the most appropriate thing a man can do
after he has retired from public office is
to take up his private business again. I'M
less. of course. he is too old"
1t is we'll mbe how industriously
Grover Cleveland, the lawyer. held to his
purpose. and with what transformations dig
nifty he pursued his vocation in New
York. as he had done years before in Buff
faio. in the practice of his profession. His
mental activities and his natural energy
impelled him to work as a plain citizen of
the Republic. and 10 take such part i'm the
political movements around him as occasion
offered.
But now. after the turmoil of a second
eventful administration Mr.. Cleveland ap-
pears to have less incentive to engage in
active professional toll than he had eight
years ago. Doubtless he does not consider
himself too old TO take up his private bust
ness again. But the necessity for it is
surely absent. Mr.. Cleveland has passed
through a long and laborious career of re-
sponsibility. Therefore. in retiring TO
Princeton, he is but satisfying that worthy
ambition which every man feels. to enjoy
d well-earned rest. Ample wealth makes il
possible for him to indulge in the recrea-
lions and light employments of dignifed
leisure, and. like Washington at Mount
Vernon. Cleveland seems to have sought
out ideal retirement in which TO pass the
remaining years of his life.
Benjamin Harrison followed Mr.. CIeve-
lands example four years ago by returning
to his home in Indianapolis and entering
once more upon the duties of his profession.
He left the White House under the shadow
of domestic misfortune, but neither that
nor the fact that he was a retiring Presi-
dent made any difference with his resolute
determination to engage in useful pur-
suits. Since leaving Washington he has
been particularly active as "a lecturer. as
an advocate and as a political orator.
An opinion has prevailed at times that it
was not consistent with the dignity IF the
Nation that an eX-President should engage
in professional work or should be active as
a politician. Consequently, it has been
suggested that these high officials should
either be pensioned by the government. SO
as to permit them to retire without finan-
cial embarrassment. or that they should be
made honorary member of the Senate. in
VI tAio lHti tAlttieHCt dliu WlSOp0l
might be made permanently available to
the public interests. The feeling may have
been inspired by the opinions expressed by
Washington and by his example when he
retired from the presidency. He refused to
become a candidate for "a third term.
as he had declined to wear the crown. and
he told his couhtrymen that it would he
wise TO limit the presidential term by GUS
tom IL not hv constitutional ,ro,;.;o,
WASHINGTON IN RETIREMENT.
But the father of his country had
grown weary of carrying the burdens of
public office. and he yearned for the COM
forts and relaxation of domestic life. For
thirty years he had been the first citizea'
OF America. His life had been filled with
the most eventful experiences and he had
been subjected to thrilling dangers on tie
field of battle, as well as to the perils of
suspicion and treachery in the admins
tration of public affairs. He was literally
tired out, and as soon as his successor was
~inaugurated he returned TO his home IN Vir-
ginia and prepared to take up the role of &,
quiet country gentleman on the banks or
the Potomac. He lived but two years in the
ideal retirement which he had eagerly
sought. but il was a dignified repose. such
as well befitted the first President Of the
Republic.
John Adams was sixty-six years old
when. as the representative of the Federal
list party, he was defeated by Thomas JEFF
ferSon in the Electoral College. He retired
from the presidency under a cloud. and
lived for a quarter of "A century afterward
to see his political opponents discredited by
the people, when his son was elevated to
the presidential office. On the same day
that his successor was inaugurated. Mr..
Adams left Washington for his home In
Quincy. Mass. He entered his library and
practically lived i'm it to the day of his
death. surrounded by his books and pa
nnrS bn tnnk thn ~ fntn.n.s q. -nl Ia
affairs. and through a voluminous CORE
spCndence with statesmen in Washington
and elsewhere. the elder Adams, as he was
called. continued for many years TO have
a large influence upon the political destinies
of the country. He died i'm the peaceful
retreat to which he retired July 4. 1926. and,
by a singular coincidence. Thomas Jefferson
at Monticello.
AN EX-PRESIDENT IN POVERTY.
At the close of his second presidential
term. Thomas Jefferson. like Washington.
declined election for the third time. and
withdrew from public life to his estate i'm
Virginia. Though he had been associated
with the government from its beginning,
and had been twice President. jefferson was
was a poor man, and was burdened by
financial difficulties. from which he seemed
unable to eXtricate himself. OF course. his
embarrassing position was aggravated. if
not CduSeu, Dy Spendtnrlft habits, for he
kept open house at Monticello. the hospi-
taIties of the mansion being at times
strained to accommodate as many as fifty
guests. He supervised the plantation and
made it as profitable as possible. but his
embarrassments finally became known and
he was compelled 10 so through the humil-
iating experience of making an appelI 10
Congress TO buy his library. The response
was a generous one. Jefferson receiving
5000 for his library treasures. But Ills
sum sufficed barely to pay his debts. and
in a brief time he was again i'm the tolls of
poverty.
But during the years of his retirement
Mr.. Jefferson founded the University Of
Virginia at Charlottesville. and thus gave
impetus and direction 10 higher education
in his native State. lie also wrote an au-
photography and edited his speeches and
papers at tho same time. following the ex-
ample OF his predecessor by keeping up an
extensive correspondence with public men
in all parts of the Union.
James Madison also went TO his Virginia
estate after retiring from the presidency.
and was almost never heard g. afterward
living in complete seclusion.
Mr.. Mcnroe. fifth President of the United
States, like Jefferson. saved TO money while
in the service of his country. His admins
tration is known i'm history az the ERA of
good feeling" and up to that time the in
FAINT Republic had never been so prosper
Gus. But as his term of office came TO a
close James Monroe discovered that he
would be forced to exert himsel keep
the wolf from the door. ACCORD he
repaired TO New York and there aged
in the practice OF law. being the Il of
the Presidents Ito take UP his iyate
business again as a means of earning "A
livelihood. He did not meet with great
felt the DinchingS of poverty. BY another
strange coincidence the authOr IF tho Non-