New-York tribune., 1902-02-22
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.

WHAT TO DO WITH EX-PRESIDENTS."
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Replying to your editorial Of to-day. under
the heading of What to do with Ex- Presidents" p"
the writer Of this is among those who have
long believed that the ex-Presidents Of this repub
lie should be retired half pay, with reversiop
to their widows. And 1 think that those of this
conviction belong to rapidly increasing class
who have found made leisure from the
"hustling Of current affairs for study of the
history Of other countries well that OF their
This class has moreover, been largely aug
mented by many who. though without the fruits
of such study, recognize, through their common
sense and instinct OF fair play when the subject
is presented to them, the injustice Of assigning in
his waning days TO false position the man OF
little or perhaps Of private fortune, whom
the nation has chosen for short term TO stand at
the helm Of the ship of state and to influence its
destnies cor the future, thus making him during
that term the official peer of the monarchs OF the
Old World and placing him in the fierce
light that beats upon their thrones'-a light more
than likely to reduce 10 ashes his equal chances
for self-support when relegated 10 the ranks OF
the masses. For in those masses each individual
is constantly. strenuousy and, may say.
clusivey at work for his covering his i'm
mediate familys) interests-interests founded ana
carried toward frution In the shelter of the OBJ
scurty common the multitude: obscurity
which quite secures him from the (often malicious
and Obstructive comment and criticism which,
you rightly intimate. handicap the eX-President
thrust back 10 the rivalres OF current affairs.
The officer OF the army navy or the pastor
emeritus Of the church. after spending the best
part Of his life for his countrys behoor. is retired
part pay, at least sufficient to keep him from
almstaking. OBy the way. commander In chief
of both OF national defence has not the
President in fact, q constitutional right in COM
mon with the fighting OF inferior grade 10 be
retired on part payN Indeed. in the Old World at
least this principle Of fair play for superannuated
nd DOSSessiOn OF their mental powers
plus experience,than in any or their youngiSe i5
Of finance and commerce. OF late years indicatlon5
have not been wantingre g. IN the t PaTamen1s an nus
nleasurably wider extension Of this principle may
TS oecto2 made BY he he rc
lists TO giving ex-Presidents voice IN the leG,
eral government Senators-at-large, appears
to many unworthy OF consideration as compared
with the advantage to the nation OF utilizing to its
benedt the very valuable material for the apt and
wholesome discussion Of public exigencies and
needs which It is impossible ior the man n VINO mas a
quired good deal OF bunGoInoe rRetorG @ i[gG 4sl
for merely or mainly home consumption; might might
by admiring neghbors; with blare Of brass band
and waving Of Od G2ry among % a6 9e ,b@n seats Sf
the experienced statesman WHO, at the summit OF
politisaI ambition has garnered In his memory the
outcome OF four or eight years handling Of ma
tona movement and m aspiration b Iespdrva eX
Presidents and representatives OF the two great
pa The current situation drawn them by the
enterprise of the press given some lndlcatlon OF
try by an ex-President dhere has rarely X recall
rightly been more than one living at a tlmel. pro
vided he were on vacating the highest office IN
the nations gift, assigned, ipso facto 70 seat II
not TO n vote. in the secular Sanhedrim or the
United States. - . 1,-..u
Doubtless there some members or congress
perhaps more than "a few-who. on hrst taxing, up
The oliestion as practical issue (aS an academic Al
o,n II 10 Of old standing) would conscientiously
muster up objections to your proposition nut IN
most ca ses their opposition would be apt TO cease
on further investigation and reflection or course,
Congressonal supporters OF 1t may have 10 reckon
U,jtb q class seldom entirely absent from a large
bodv of legislators acknowledgements those TO VII.
vyho are ever on the watch to discredlt cthers
whose broadened outlook and intimate Official ex-
reriences on the highest planes or national ana IN
ternationaI action possibly conflict WIN tleir
own personal ambition ana thelr p[3S|ebS S b coU 5U
stituents who form the bridge to that ambition,
Tlt il is to he hoped that. before long throuh tue
combined influence Of the press and tneir teiiow
Ieoielators they would not be permitted 10 inter
fe5a win measure so grave and benehcent as that
~ fair treatment for past chief servant ana ana
,I1a 6istrate Of the land and with another stl
moTe importantthat Of approPriating from ms ms
nxnerje1ce at the fountain head OF national ne
az ~ ration a. J. BLOOR.
Vorly E-ah 4