The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-02
AT THE POLLS AFTER DEFEAT
T HE question has often been asked;

= HE question has often been asked:
How does it feel to make a con-
test for the presidency and then
miss it-sometimes by the slenderest
of margins? Only one of the candi-
dates now before the people can be
elected in November; the others must
be defeated. How will the vanquished
accept their defeat2 asks the New
York Sun. In many instances our
presidents have tasted of botL the bit
ter and the sweet of politics. They
have known what it was to go down
enced the emotion of victory. This was
the case with John Quincy Adams.
Martin Van Buren,. General Benjamin
Harrison and Grover Cleveland
These men seemed TO accept both vic
tory and defeat WITH philosophy. In
other countries an unsuccessful dash
for throne is frequently followed by
tragic consequences. Here it is ac-
cepted as a regular occurrence once
in every four years.
1t was Henry Clay who said that he
would rather be right than president.
His unsuccessful attempts to achieve
his dearest ambition are known TO
every American.
After his defeat by Andrew Jackson
he felt very bitter and did not attempt
to conceal his feelings. From tLat day
until the hour of his death the pos
sibility Of reaching the presidency at
some time never entirely deserted him.
and even after his defeat by Polk in
1874 he made hard fight against Tav-
lor in 1S4S-his last great political bet
tie.
Those who follow the fortunes Of
presidential candidates are sometimes
consumed with greater energy and
feeling than their chiefs. At the time
that Jackson was chosen for the pres
idency MIR. Scott, who was then the
sole representative of Missouri in the
lower house of congress. elected TO cast
his vote for JOHN Quincy Adams. Sen
atOr Benton. who was violent par
tisan Of Old Hickory, denounced the
act OF Mr.. Scott as a grave crime. and
in the course OF a letter said to the
Oeffnder:
For nine years we have been closely
connected in our political course. AT
length the connection Is dissolved. and
dissolved under circumstances which
must mean our everlasting separation.
Tomorrow is the day of your self-im-
notation. If you have an enemy. he
may go and feed his eyes on tie scene.
Your former friends will shun the af-
fecting spectacle"
General Winfield Scott Hancock was
one Of the defeated presidential candi-
dates who accepted the result with
great calmness. His wife reported that
at I o'clock on the evening of the cleo
tiOn he yielded to extreme WEAKNESS.
after five months of hard campaign
ing, and went 10 bed, begging her not
TO disturb lin. as the news of the
result could wait till the next morn
ing.
At daylight he awoke, and. turning
to his wife. asked for the news. She
steeled herself up to the ordeal. and
said, as quietly as possible:
1T has been complete Waterloo
for you"
That is all right" he answered; Il
can stand it,
And in another moment he was
asleep again. Tie only disappointment
he gave expression to was concerning
the difference his defeat would make
in the future To many of his friends.
He attended the Inauguration of his
competitor, and, writing to friend on
the eve of his departure for the ma
tional capital he said
Yes, / am going to Washington on
the Sd Of March for a few days. Gen
eral Sherman. my commanding officer,
has asked me TO be present I have
no right TO any personal feeling in the
matter. 1t is clearly my duty as sol
der to obey"
After some reference to o<her mat
ters, he adds: