Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-14

1
! Thomas Jefferson at twenty-six was
conspicuous in the Virginia house of bur-
| gesses; at thirty sat in the continental
! congress and at thirty-three wrote the
immortal Declaration.
James Madison entered congress at
| twenty-eight, and at thirty-six had won
| the title of Father of the Constitution"
James Monroe, who held more great Of
| fees than any other American, and dis
/ tinguished himself in every one of them,
began his high official career at thirty
| three.
Dewitt Clinton was one of the fore
most leaders of the dominant political
party of the time when only twenty-sev-
en-, and United States senator at thirty
three, and before he was forty had led
the movement for the construction OF the
Erie canal so powerfully that the success
Of that great movement was attributed
to him more than to all its other promot-
ers combined.
Henry Clay was a United States senator
before he was thirty-one. In fact, he was
SO young that some of his enemies cir
culated the libel that he Judged" little
in stating his age.
Daniel Webster was a member OF con-
gress at thirty-one, though did not reach
the senate until he was forty five. But
in the meantime how many superb
achievements were hist
John C. Calhoun, the other figure in the
great triumvirate" was elected to con-
gress at the age Of twenty-eight, was SEQ
rotary of war at thirty-five and vice pres
ident at forty-two. He was fifty before
he entered the senate.
Jefferson Davis had made a famous rec
ord In the Black Hawk and Mexican wars
and was a leader in the United states
senate by the time he had reached the
age OF thirty-nine.
Howell Cobb was speaker OF the federal
house of representatives at thirty-four,
governor of Georgia at thfrty-six and sec
rotary of the treasury of the United States
at forty-one.
One of the most memorable contests for
the Georgia governorship was that be-
tween Benjamin H. Hill and Joseph p.
Brown in 1856. Hill was thirty-three and
Brown thirty-five.
Robert Y. Hayne was only 80 when he
encountered Daniel Webster, who was
about ten years older, in the most famous
of American senatorial debates.
This list of very young American states
men could be heightened largely, but we
should find very few names to put in II,
the establishment Of whose fame does not
date back of the SOS.
Why is it that young men, both in the
United States and England, do not acquire
lofty leadership, hold 1t so long or use 1t
so effectively as many men Of their age
did in bygone generations?
There is one very patent reason.
The allurements Of politics are not now
as captivating as they once were. Other
professions have gained immensely in i'm
portance and win a large proportion Of
gifted youths.
There are the railroads, the insurance
business, civil engineering, architecture
great business enterprises of many kinds
TO offer magnificent rewards to men of
brains and ambition.
Another reason for the failure Of young
men to shine with the splendor Of former
youthful prodigies in politics is that they
do not have that thorough training and
equipment that was once given to the
boy who was designed by himself or 9TH
ers for political career. Most young men
who now go into politics do so without
any intention of making that science their
life-work. A large proportion of them
merely dabble in II and regard 1t as a
temporary entertainment or a passing
adventure.
1t is an inspiring spectacle to see young
man illustrious in any line Of effort that
requires high qualities, unfaltering devo-
ton to purposes and ideals.
We have in many walks Of life illustra-
tions of youthful triumphs that challenge
our admiration, but politics now gives us
fewer of them than were once found in
that great field. tf