The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-09-20

Aged Statesmen Do Not Realize
Their Infrmities-
Continue to Serve the Public Until
Retired by the Governmental
Heaa--some Notable Ina
stances.


It is rather strange coincidence that
at the very time when President Nc
KinIey was engaged in the exceedingly
painful task of insisting upon the res
ignation of his secretary of state, tx
Senator Sherman, Emperor William
should have been similarly occupied IN
forcing a still more famous veteran TO
retire into private life.
With ordinary civil, military and
naval servants of the state, al 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
ton and eminence seem to exempt
them from ordinary rules and regula-
tions. And the case of the German field
marshal, Count Blumenthal, constitutes
a striking illustration of this.
The old marshal, having reached the
advanced age of IS, had become obvi-
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 view of calling his at
tention courteously and considerably
| to the fact that il was considered de-
sirable to appoint younger man to his
| place, in the person of Field Marshal
| Count Waldersee.
But he turned deaf ear to them, and
absolutely declined to tender his resig-
nation, partly because, like so many old
men, he believed himself to be fully
capable, physically as well as mentally,
i to fulfill his duties, and likewise be-
1 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.
4 Finally, however, matters came to
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 suggestions
that it was wanted.
In his case, too, old age and infrni-
: ties. which made him so irritable and
intolerant OF contradiction as to render
official intercourse with him difficult il
the extreme, were one of the mair
causes of his practical dismissal from
the chancellorship of the empire
Yet another instance in point wa.
that of the old duke of Cambridge. who
when he received suggestion from hi.
cousin, Queen Victoria, TO the effec
that the duties of generaissimo OF tn
/ entire British army were too exactins
for a man of his years. and that h.
: would do well to resign, responded b.
pointing out to her majesty, that in
asmuch as the duties of governing tn
vast British empire must be infnitel,
more arduous than the mere commas
!, : of the army, he could not for YER
!. shame's sake give up work until sh
! set him an example by abdicating.
: That proved an unanswerable argu
!, ment, and the queen declined to tax
i any further steps in the matter. In
deed, if he eventually was gotrid of,
was through species of trick on tn
i part of the Rosebery cabinet, and i
particular of the then secretary OF stat
for war, Sir Henry Campbell Banner
. man, a trick which the old duke ha
= neither forgotten nor forgiven to thi
= day.-Washington Post.