The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-20

jections felt by her people to giving any President of the United States a third term would not have prevented her sup porting him for renomination In 1880, support which would have insured his success"
 In a chapter on "The Senate in 1s77." MT Hoar says:
 ''The reform of the civil cervice has doubtless shorn the office of senator of a good deal of its power. I think Pres- dent Mckinley, doubtless with the best and purest intentions, did still more to eurtail the dignity and authority of the office. I dare say the increase in the number of senators had had also much to do with it. President Mckinley, with his great wisdom and tact and his delight ful individual quality, succeeded in estab fishing an influence over the members of the senate not, I think equalled from the beginning of the government, except pos sibly by Andrew Jackson. And, while the strong will of Jackson subjugated sena- tors, in many cases, as it did other men, yet it aroused antagonism not only in his political opponents, but in many im- portant men of his own party, which would have overthrown him but for his very great popularity with the common people.
 Mckinley Made Mistake.
 President Mckinley also made one serious mistake, of which, indeed, he did not set the example. Yet. he made what was before but an individual and extra ordinary instance, a practice. If that practice continues, it will go far, in lny judgment to destroy the independence and dignity of the senate. That is, the appointment of members of the senate to distinguished and lucrative places in the public service, in which they are to receive and obey the command of the ex- ecutive, and then coming back to their seats to carry out as senators a policy which they lhave adopted at the command of another power without any opportun- ity of consultation with their associates, or of learning their associates opinions. ? Senator Hoar's tributes to his colleagues during long service in the senate em- braces many senators of opposing politi- cal belief, most of them southerners. They include Senator Vest Senator Daniel of Virginia, the late Senator Wathal of Mississippi and many others. Of Sena- tor Vest, he says:
 Senator Vest.
 ''No list of the remarkable senators of my time would be complete which did not contain the name of Senator Vest of Missouri. He was not a very frequent speaker, and never spoke at great length. But, his oratoric powers are of a very high order On some few occasions he has made speeches, always speaking with out notes, and, I suppose, without pre- vious preparation, so far as expression and style go, which have very deeply moved the senate though made up of men who have been accustomed to oratory and not easily stirred to emotion. Mir Vest is a brave, sincere, spirited and straight forward man. He has a good many of the prejudices of the old southern secesson- ist. l think those prejudices would long ago have melted away in the sunshine of our day of returning good feeling and af- lection, but for the fact that his chival- rous nature will not permit him to aban- don a cause or an opinion to which he has once adhered, while it Is unpopular. These things, however, are never uttered offensively. He is like some old cavalier who supported the Stuarts, who lived down into the days of the House of Han over, but still toasted the king over the water''
 Mir. Hoar disclosed the fact that he was twice offered the English mission once by Secretary Evarts, and again by Mir Mckinley. The chapter relating to this also discloses that he suggested to Presi- dent Hayes the appointment of President Elliott of Harvard as British minister when MT. Welsh resigned and Mr. Low ell, then minister to Spain. was reluct- ant to accept the appointment. The fol- lowing correspondence, which MT. Hoar makes public, is interesting:
 
 ''Executive Mansion Washington, D. G., September 13 1S9S
 Hon. George F. Hoar, (Confidential)
 Worcester, Mass.
 "It would give me much satisfaction to appoint you ambassador to London. Will it be agreeable to you?
 WILLIAM MCKINLEY"
 September 14, 1898. ITO the President, Washington, D. C..
 "I am highly honored by your confi- dence for which I am gratful. But. I be- lieve, I can better serve my country, and better support your administration by continuing to discharge the legislative du- ties to which have been accustomed for thirty years. than by under taking new responsibilities at my age, now past seventy-two If it were otherwise, I can not afford to maintain the scale of living which the social customs of London make almost indispensable to an ambassador, and l have no rsht to impose upon my wife, in her present state of health, the burden which would fall upon her. Be assured of my warm personal regard, and of my desire to stand by you In the diff ficult and trying period which is before you. GEORGE F. TIOAR."
 MT Toar reviews the Philippine ques- ton at length, defending his attitude and restating his position. He pays a lofty tribute to President Mckinley, and ex- presses his regret that in this great mat ter principle compelled him to depart from the belief oi his party.