The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-04-02

If little collection of trustworthy
maxims could be published under the
title, How to Become President" it
would be a help to those rare boys
who begin early to think of what
they would like to be, and it might
set some boys to thinking of pres
ldential chances who now never give
the matter a passing thought. But
the winning of the presidency is not
one of those exact arts for which the
directions can be set out like lessons
in school book. Thus far we have
had but 20 chosen presidents; for five
of the presidents, so-called, have been
vice presidents, succeeding to the
powers and duties of presidents who
died within their terms of office.
Twenty is small number from
which to extract rule for the selec-
ton of presidents, and six of the 20
had already been chosen under the
social distinctions prevailing down
to the time when jackson, an idol of
the rude and hardy settlers, who
were transferring the political SUI
premacy from the Atlantic coast to
the Mississippi valley, brought in the
era of the poor boy" Yet the rea-
sons why the 20 chosen ones became
preferred to others must throw
some light on the kinds of men and
lives most likely to lead to the pres
idency.
Washington was chief of the men
who had carried the young nation to
independence through the revolu-
tionary war, and when the people de-
cided to have a president they had no
room in their minds or hearts for
anybody but him. He would have
been a president for life if he had
not insisted upon retiring when he
felt that he could leave the office
without injury to the country.
Presidents John Adams, jefferson
and Madison were all illustrious
statesmen of the revolutionary pc
Rod, and each was the natural and
proper choice of the party that elect
ed him in behalf of the nation.
Presidents Monroe and John Quincy
Adams were both statesmen of dis
tinguished character and service,
with high claims upon the whole peo-
pie, and stronger claims than any of
their competitors upon the party to
which they belonged.
President Jackson, coming up early
from the humber ranks of the peo-
pie, had gained great fame and pop
ularity as a military and political
leader at the time of his election.
He was man of violent passions
and prejudices, but, like the gentler
Lincoln of after years, man of
many virtues and of rare strength
of character, and a lover of truth,
honesty and the interests of his
country. Following the examples of
Washington and Jefferson, he refused
to serve for more than two terms, and
gladly went into retirement at the
zenith of his power over the govern
ment and people.
President Van Buren, was a man of
winning manners, and of great pop
ularity; he was renowned as manager
of political affairs, and having been a
loyal and most valuable helper to Jack
son, the latter, in return, did all he
could to make his friends succession
to the presidency easy and sure.
President William Henry Harrison
was much like Jackson in the great
hold he had upon the masses through
his military fame; but he was a we'll
bred man, and amiable to all men and
parties. He was old when the great
office came to him at last, and died
only monh after the date of his in
auguration.
Presidents Polk, Pierce and HAYES
were men of esteemed private charac-
ter and creditable standing in politics.
Their positions in public life were too
moderate to give them hopes of the
presidency. but their party leaders
chose them as compromise candidates
when unable to agree upon statesmen
of greater fame.
President Taylor and President
Grant were military men who had be-