The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-10

EZRA of good feeling" and up to that time
the infant republic had never been so
prosperous. But, as his term of office
came to close, James Monroe discovered
that he would be forced to exert himself
to keep the wolf from the door. Accord
-ingly, he repaired to New York, and there
engaged in the practice of law, being the
first of the Presidents "to take up his pri-
Vate business again. as a means of earn
ing a livelihood. He did not meet with
great success, however, and his family
keenly felt the pinchings of poverty. By
another strange coincidence, the author
of the Monroe doctrine breathed his last
on Independence day, in 1881.
But the post-presidential career Of John
Quincy Adams is the most remarkable
and unique of all. When he left the
white house. after the expiration Of his
term of office, it was his intention to fol-
low the example of his father, and retire
to his ancestral home, to devote the re-
mainder of his days to study and literary
pursuits But the people of Massachu-
sets would not consent to the arrange
n1ent. They needed a man of wisdom, ex-
perience, and integrity to represent them
in congress, and so Mr.. Adams was sent
back to Washington, to begin a new off,
cial experience in the House of Repre-
sentatives. He became at once the leader
of his party, and really added to his fame
by untiring devotion to duty. His fight
IOr tnG IlSnC OF peIlIlOn was one OF the
greatest parliamentary battles ever wag-
ed in Washington, and the reputation of
John Quincy Adams would have been sur
passingly great had he never served in a
higher position than representative from
Massachusetts.
After a legislative experience of twenty
years in congress, he was observed one
day in his seat, overcome by illness. He
had been smtten by apoplexy, and expired
in half hour, having rounded out an in
tensely active and useful public career.
After two terms of unexampled excite
ment and party strife Andrew Jackson re-
tired from the presidency, broken in
health and weary with the conflict. He
had been industrious in office, and had
impressed strong personality upon bis
country's history, as few of its chief ex-
ecutives have done. The first official act
of his successor was to direct the surgeon
general of the army to attend Mr.. Jack
son to his home in Nashville. After a
tiresome journey by way of Pittsburg the
Tennessee statesman was conducted to
the Hermitage, where he partially recov-
cred health and strength. From there
he exerted considerable influence upon the
political destinies of his country. He en-
tertained with lavish hand, and his Ten
nessee home became the shrine for the
pilgrimages of Jacksonian democrats from
every part of the country. Until his
ASdlHt III 1920 AHlS picturesque anu unique
specimen OF American political life con-
tinued to be the prophet and law-giver Of
his party.
Van Buren, was still in the vigor Of
manhood when his administration came TO
an end in 1871. With the exception of
Washington, he was up to that time the
wealthiest of the retiring Presidents, and
the leisure which was forced upon him
gave ample time for cultlvating the art Of
politics. He was, perhaps both before
and after his presidency, the most subtle
and crafty political leader the democratic
party ever had. Therefore, Immediately
after withdrawing from public life he set
resolutely 10 work to secure a renomi-
nation in 1874 He almost succeeded. and
would have done so but for the perfdy of
party friends whom he implicitly trusted
Though the organization which had sup
ported him was split in twain. he did not
then give up the game of politics. lie ac-
cepted the nomination Of the free soil
party In 1913, and had the satisfaction Of
seeing the democrats hopelessly showed
under In the defeat of Lewis Cass.
His failure to then become President
dampened his ambition, for he realized
that be was getting too old to wait for an
other chance to be elected, or to endure
It's trying duties II chosen. The failure OF
the free soil movement ended Van BuTens
political career. and ne spent the remain
ing years OF his life at Undertook on the
Hudson in an apparently happy and Sc
rene old age, living until the country had
been plunged into the throes OF civil war.
Ex-President Tyler went to Richmond af-
ter his term OF office. and was known as
a progressive and public-spiritGd citizen,
taking great interest In local as well as
national affairs. In the stormy days OF
the secession movement Mr.. Tyler sided
with the people Of Virginia, and accepted
office under the confederate government.
James X. Polk retired from the pres-
dency In shattered health, and repaired
by slow stages 10 his homo. IN Nashville.
where he died few months later.
Millard Fillmore returned 10 his home
Ina Buffalo and engaged IN political actly-