Evening journal., 1898-07-09
OLD MEN In SERVICE.
Aged Statesmen Do Not Realize
Their Infrmities.
Continue TO Serve the Public UnttI
Retired by the Governmental
Head-sOnle Notable In
stances.

1t is a rather strange coincidence that
at the very time when President Me
Kinley was engaged in the exceedingly
painful task of insisting upon the res
ignation of his secretary of state, ex-
Senator Sherman. Emperor William
should have been similarly occupied IN
forcing still more famous veteran 10
retire into private life.
With ordinary civil military and
naval servants of the state, an age has
wisely been fixed by law, on attaining
which they are compelled to Surrender
their offices TO younger men. who, while
possibly possessed Of less experience,
atone for that defect by superior men
tai and physical energy and activity.
But. unfortunately, there is no age
limit set for those statesmen and great
commanders whose service to the ma
tion and eminence seem 10 exempt
them from ordinary rules and regula-
tous. And the case Of the Germanfield
marshal, Count Blumenthal, constitutes
a striking Illustration of this.
The old marshal. having reached the
ously untitled for the proper perform
ance OF his important and eXacting du-
ties as inspector general Of the third
inspection of the entire German army.
All sorts of hints and suggestions Of
the most pointed character were offered
TO him. with a view of calling his at
tention courteously and conslderately
to the fact that it was considered de-
sirable to appoint younger iuan TO his
place, In the person of Field Marshal
Count Waldersee.
But he turned a deaf ear TO them. ami
absolutely declined TO tender his resig-
nation, partly because. like so mouy old
men, he believed himself TO be fully
capable, physically as we'll rs mentally,
TO fulfill his duties, and likewise be-
cause. having sustained financial re-
verses through unfortunate invest
ment, he did not relish the idea of sur
rendering full pay for relatively mea-
ger pension.
Finally, however, matters came 10
such pass that the kaiser had to per
emptorily and directly demand his res
ignation, with the result that he retires
into private life as soured and embit-
tered a man as Prince Bismarck. who
would likewise have remained in Office
forever had not the kaiser been forced
TO insist upon his resignation after he
had refused all hints and sLgs ,stions
that it was wanted.
In his case, too. old age and infirmi-
ties, which made him so irritable and
intolerant of contradiction as to render
official intercourse with him difficult In
the extreme. were one of the main
causes OF his practical dismissal from
the chancelloTship of the empire.
Yet another instance in point was
that of the old duke of Cambridge, who
when he received a suggestion from his
cousin, Queen Victoria, TO the effect
that the duties of generalissimo of the
entire British army were too exaeting
for a man of his years, and that he
would do well TO resign, responded by
pointing out to her majesty, that IN
asmuch as the duties of governing the
vast British empire must be infinitely
more arduous than the mere command
Of the army, he could not for very
shame's sake give up work until she
set him an example by abdicatng.
That proved an unanswerable argu-
ment, and the queen declined TO take
any further steps in the matter. In
deed. II he eventually was got rid Of, il
was through a species of trick on the
part of the Rosebery cabinet, and in
particular of the then secretary of state
for war, Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man, trick which the old duke has
neither forgotten nor forgiven to thi'
day.-Washington Post.