The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-03

| thy. Too often it has happened that
after excited contests for the presiden-
! tial nomination the candidate for vice
president has been selected from the
defeated faction for the purpose of APP
peasing their resentment, and that af-
ter election he has remained antago-
nistic in spirit, and a stranger to the
counsels of the president whom he
may be called upon to succeed. Hap
PLY we are now in no such case. The
people would fain see again such re-
lations of sympathy and loyal help
fulness for the public good, as existed
between President Mckinley and Vice
President Hobart; and the personal re-
| latiOnS between President Roosevelt
good understanding assure us that
these happy conditions will come again
after the fourth of next March. We
count upon your wisdom and expert
ence and loyal aid as an element of
ever present strength in the coming
administration.
las to the supreme responsibility of
the vice presidency in case of success
sion to the presidency, We shall all
pray, and no one more earnestly than
yourself, that it may not come to you.
But we are not at liberty to ignore
the possibility that it may come. Sad
and bitter experience admonishes us
that provision for succession to the
presidency is no idle form. OF the last
twelve presidents elected by the peo-
pie of the United States five-nearly
one-half-have died in office and have
been succeeded by vice presidents A
serious obligation rests upon the DO
litical parties which select the candi-
dates between whom the people must
choose, to see to it that they nominate
men for this possible succession who
have the strength of body and mind
and character which shall enable
them, if occasion comes, to take up
the burdens of the great presidential
office, to endure its trying and ex-
h rrti .1rK, a.
responsibilities. and with firm hand
and clear vision to guide the govern
ment of the country, until the people
can express their choice again.
Is Our opponents of the Democratic
party have signally. failed to perform
this duty. They have nominated as
their candidate for the vice presidency
an excellent gentleman, who was born
during the presidency of James Mon
roe, and who before the 4th of March
next will be in the eighty-second year
of his age. Before the next admins
tration is ended, he will be approach
ing his eighty-sixth birthday. 1t is
no dispara cement of this gentleman,
for whom / believe we all have the
highest respect, to say that he shares
the common lot of mortaIS, and that
the election of any man of such great
age would furnish no safeguard to
the American people against the dis
aster which would enYle upon the
death of a president WITH a successor
not competent to perform the duties
of the presidential office 1t is COM
mon experience that very aged men,
however bright and active they may
appear for brief periods. cannot sus-
tain long continued severe eXertion.
The demands of the presidential Of
flee upon the mental and physical
vitality are so great, so continuous and
SO exhausting, as to be VIII oily beyond
the capacity of any man of eighty-five.
The attempt by such man to perform
the duties of the office would with practi-
cal certainty be speedily followed by a
complete breakdown both of body and of
mind. In contemplating the remote pos
sibility of the election of the Democratic
candidate for vice president, the people of
the country are bound to contemplate al
SO as a necessary result of such an cleo
tion in case of the nresfdent's death. that
others, not chosen by the people, and we
know not who, would govern in the name
of a nominal successor unable himself to
perform the constitutional duties of his
office; or worse still. that serious doubt
ed a condition of inability within the
of the constitution would throw
the title to the office of president into
dispute.
1.-The serious effect of such an event up
on the government and upon the business
interests and general welfare of the coun-
continual menace of such an event, must
be apparent to every thoughtful mind
this chef require mcat will be f,:lly met.
In the full strength of middle life you
the presidency. Your successful and dis
tinguished career, the ability and probity
with, which you have already discharged
spect and esteem of the people of In
diana who have delighted TO honor you,
the union-all assure US that
you have the character and ability to gov
come president Many indeed among our
people have already turned toward you