The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-11-29
The Death Of Hobart.

For the sixth time in the history of the
government Vice President has died in
Office. By strange fatality the Vice
Presidents whom death removed before
end of their term were among the
most prominent and potent Of the per-
sonages who have held the second office.
George Clinton and Elbridge Gerry, the
former of whom was Vice President dur
ing part of the time when jefferson and
Madison were Presidents, and the latter
of whom was in the second office for
awhile during Madison's second presi.
dental term, were among the leading
spirits in the Democratic party of their
time. William r. King, who was elected
with Pierce, had far greater ability and
political experience than the man OH the
head Of his ticket and the same could be
said of Thomas A. Hendricks, who died
in the ist year of his service, aud of the
service of President Cleyeland, while
Henry Wilson, who died in the second
office during Grants second presidential
tenn, was one of the founders of the Re-
publican party.
Garret A. Hobart gave to the Office of
the vice presidency prestige and a po-
tency which it has lacked since the ear
ler days of the government. Coming to
the Office without any political expert
ence except what he had gained in hold
ing posts in the Legislature of his State
he quickly displayed an ability and
discrimination which made him a potent
force in the politics of his party, and in
the affiirs OF the country. The relations
between Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Hobart
were more cordial than those subsisting
between any other President and Vice
President in the country's history except
between jackson and Van Buren, the
latter being the second officer during
Jackson's second term. Mr. Hobart was
consulted frequently by President Nc
Kinley on important matters of public
policy, and he was taken into the coun-
ellis of the Republican leaders of the Sem
ate and House. The Judgment OF John
Adams, the earliest of the Vice Presi-
dents, that this was "the most insignifi-
cant office the mind of man contrived or
bis imagination conceived" ;" was cry far
from being true in the case of Adams
latest successor.
The influence in the management of
public affairs which Hobart exerted, in
deed, is likely to make the vice presi-
dency hereafter more attractive to am
bitiOus men than it has been since the
early days of the government, when it
was considered stepping-stone, by cleo
ton to the presidency. Webster indig-
nantly refused to allow his name to be
considered in connection with the vice
presidency in the Whig convention of
1s4s, but if he had been nominated To
that post by his party that year he would
have been President about two years and
two thirds, Taylor dying in office about
year and four months after his Inau-
guration. There are possibilities for a
Vice President to impress himself on
politics which ought TO be kept in mind.
even though nobody holding that post
has been elected President since Van
Buren, two-thirds of a century ago. In
fact, Adams, who said the vice presidency
was insignificant, had through the fre-
quency of ties in the Senate very nearly
as much sway over legislation as was
exercised by President Washington.
With Senate more than three times as
large as it was at the beginning of the
government, however, equal divisions on
votes come comparatively seldom now.
The experience of Garret A. Hobart
proves that Vice President, if man Of
ability, knowledge and tact, can win rep
usation for himself and be useful TO his
country.-Glo6e>De Democrat.