The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-19
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Q UNCERTAINTY As TO g
o DEMOCRATIC CHOICE. 9
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w . .
discussion of the question of the
Democratic presidential nominz-
IL ton is 1904 seems premature and
useless. for II il at best mere
speculation Conditions viii probably
arise between now and the tine for
the selection of nominee which will
necessitate new alignment of political
parties. and win call for new leaders
perhaps men who are little known
at the presnt time There Is nothing
so uncertain as politics. and the lead
ers Of today may not be the leaders
of tomorrow. Out of the uncertainty
OF politics has grown the one rule
which approaches certainty. namely.
that the leader OF parry does not
reach the presidency. II the history
of American politics teaches one thing
more striEingfy than another. il is this
rule From the time nearly three
quarters OF q century ago. when An
drew Jackson, -Old Hickory" brushed
aside the public leaders of his day
I'D made his triumphant march to the
white house. the men who have 1t
tanned the presidency were not. with
two exceptions. party leaders at the
time of their accession One of these
exceptions was Jackson's Immediate
successor. Martin Van Buren,, yet he
might not be classed as an exception
for. shrewd political manipulation as
he was, Van Buren, owed his promo
ton less to his leadership than to the
dominant influence of Jackson. which
gave him the democratic nomination.
Following the line of presidential sue
cession. what do we see?
William Henry Harrison was a SOL
der. He saw brief service in each
branch of congress. but he made his
reputation fighting the British and
chastising the Indians The wings
selected him as their candidate over
such intellectual giants as Webster
and Clay
John Tyler elected vice president
but succeeding to the Presidency on
the death of William He--- Harrison.
was a political accident He had been
put on the ticket with Harrison. rot
in recognition of his fitness for lead
ership. but TO strengthen the WING
party in the south.
James K. Polk was too Moderate in
everything to be a leader. He was a
compromise candidate evolved from
the heated contest for the nomination
waged by the great democratic lead
ers, Martin Van Buren, and Lewis
Cass.
Zachary Taylor was another soldier.
He had no well-defined political predi-
leoticl, but ran nis canvass as the
hero of Buena VISA" Indeed. II was
claimed that he had not voted in forty
years. For him the wings again pass
ed over Webster and Clay.
Willard Fillmore was another poll
teal accident He succeeded to the
presidency on the death of Taylor.
He was never leader of his party.
but was nominated for the vice presi-
dency to appease the wing of the WING
party which was disappointed at the
selection of Taylor.
Franklin Pierce was nominated over
such democratic leaders as Lewis
Cass, James Buchanan, Stephen A.
Douglas and William L. Marcy. He
was so little known that the question
was commonly asked at the time:
WHO is Franklin Pierce?"
James Buchanan is the second ex-
ception. He had long been a leader
of his party, and has held so many
high Offices that he was called "Old
Pacific Functuary."
Abraham Lincoln sat in congress |
for one term. This was the extent of |
his participation in national politics, |
yet he was chosen by the republicans !
for the presidential nomination over
such men as William H. Seward and (
Salmon P. Chase
Andrew Johnson, who became presi- |
dent on the death of Lincoln, so far
from being a leader of the republican
party which had elevated him to the |
office. was a life long democrat and /
died in that faith. He was nominated
for the vice presidency because he
was southern loyalist.
Ulysses S. Grant was another sol
1ier with no we'll defined political
affiliations He inclined toward DEM
)cracy; in fact, had been democrat,
ret the republicans passed over such
eaders as Charles Sumner, William
P. Fessenden and Benjamin F. Wade
'or the hero of the civil war
Rutherford B. Hayes served only
NO ltf us III COuSicoS Jul Hc ScCuISu
he republican nomination in compe-
ition with James G. Blaine, Roscoe
Oliver P. Morton and 9TH
RS.
James A Garfield haa seen more
service in national politics than most
Presidents, yet he was not leader
If the republican party when measur-
ID by such men as Sherman. Blaine
md Conkling.
Chester A.Arthur. who became pres
dent on the death of Garfield. had
Ieither political nor military record
Inspector general of New York and
of the port of New York sum
Ip his Office holding career. His NOM
nation for vice president was made
o reconcile the "stalwart republi-
ans" who were thwarted by the
of Garfield.
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