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

ity for some years afterward. He receiv-
ed the honor of a nomination to the pres
idency by the American party in 1856, but
was unsuccessful at the polls Political
sentiment was fast crystalizing for the
final struggle on the slavery question, and
there seemed to be no longer room for
theorists or figure-heads in national af-
fairs
Franklin Pierce was much embittered
by the party strifes of his tumutuous ad-
ministration. Inundated by his failure
to obtain the denomination of his party,
he went to Europe and sought forgetful-
ness in recreation and travel. He finally
returned to his home in Concord, N. H.,
and took up the thankless role of a south
ern sympathizer during the war. He liv-
ed to see his party disintegrated, slavery
abolished, and nearly all the principles
repudiated for which he had struggled.
He died, a wiser If a sadder man, in April,
1869.
James Buchanan left the stormy scenes
in Washington in 1861, almost with a bro
ken heart. No other President has re-
tired from office so utterly repudiated
and detested by a great part of the peo-
pie. Withdrawing to his home in Penn
sylvania, he lived in seclusion, watching
with keenest interest the terrible drama
enacted between the warning sections of
his country. A few years before his death,
in 1868, Buchanan wrote a defense of his
administration, which seemed to remove
in measure the stigma which partisan
hate had heaped upon him.
Andrew Johnson also retired from the
presidential office under a cloud. By ma
ture, however, he was not a morbidly
sensitive man, and his life in Knoxville
among his friends was simple unaffected
and dignifed. A few years later he was
elected United States senator, being the
second of the eX-Presidents to undertake
the duties of that position.
After eight years in the white house,
Gen. Grant took up a life of leisure. His
journey around the world was probably
the greatest ovation ever paid to any
man in ancient or modern times Grant
was essentially indolent. Not that he lid
not labor when occasion required, and
often with an energy unknown TO other
men, but he preferred leisure, and, as ax-
President, he gratified that bent of his
nature to the fullest extent. 1t has al
ways been a grief to his countrymen that
the last years of his life were overshad-
owed by poverty brought on by the
treachery Of trusted friends, for otherwise
his retiremnt from public affairs would
have been ideal in every respect.
Half an hour after listening to Gar
fields inaugural address ex-Presldent
Hayes left Washington and repaired to
his home in Fremont, Ohio. There he liv-
being content TO engage in agricultural
pursuits and in the study of charitable
problems. He courted secusion, and
passed his days in that most unostenta-
tious retirement which perfectly befitted
his tastes.
Gen. Arthur had ambitious dreams of
business combinations and the accumula-
tion of wealth before leaving his public
duties. But lncurable disease had already
fastened its hand upon him. and he died a
few months later comparatively young
man.
This brief review of the after careers
of American presidents suggets that their
retirement to private life is the most nat
ural and withal the most rational ar
rangement. The majority have had am
pie means for lives of comfort and repose
A pension for some would have been SUI
perfiuous, and the retention OF others in
'the Senate or in any public capacity
would have been embarrassing and dan
gerous TO subsequent administrations.