The Irish standard., 1904-10-08

lC WOulQ almost De possible 10 mdtcl
the roster Of the presidents of the
United States with a list Of equally
eminent Americans who aspired to
that high Office, but were thwarted in
their ambitions. OF course the names
of Washington and Lincoln stand
as did the men who bore them-with
out comparison, but when we consider
that among the defeated are Alexander
Hamilton, Aaron Burr, John G. CAL
houn, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay,
Lewis Cass, William H. Seward, John
G. Fremont, Stephen A. Douglas, Sam
uel ]. Tilden, James G. Blaine, Thomas
B. Reeds not the array an impos-
ing one? Aside from these not few,
some of whom are now forgotten, came
so nearly stepping into the presidential
chair that one can but wonder at the
combination Of circumstances and the
accidents that blocked the way, says
the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Alexander Hamilton was the first
eminent American who suffered the
pangs Of disappointment. He worked
hard and efficiently in framing the con-
stitution in 1887, and it was through
his influence that it was adopted by
his state, New York, after very stub
born contest. Able as jurist and
statesman, he had also proved him
self military leader of rare ability.
AS a cabinet adviser he enjoyed the
confidence Of Washington to a greater
extent than any other man of the
period. That he had presidential as
pirations he did not attempt to con-
ceal, and it is equally certain that his
"boom" was fostered by some Of the
leading men Of his day. He was born,
: it will be recalled, in the West Indies,
and, therefore, according to the general
tenor Of the constitution, ineligible,
but clause Of that great document
stipulated that the Office of chief ex-
ecutive should also be open to men
who were citizens Of the United States
at the time of the adoption of the con-
stitution. This clause, it is said, was
inserted at his request, that he might
some day succeed to the presidency.
That day never came. Nor was he
ever candidate. An episode in his
life, one which, had it been made the
gossip of a campaign, would have
made his candidacy hopeless, denied
him the natural and most desired
triumph Of his life. It has nothing to
do with his usefulness as q public
man, and this he haughtily told the
political enemies who dug it up and
made weapon Of it, but he did see
the force Of their argument and never
allowed his name to be used as an
open aspirant for the highest honor.
1t was a sore disappointment, but
he cherished one consolation. He had
no faith in the policies and very little
in the abilities of Jefferson. They
were the advocates of opposing gov
ernmental theories. Jefferson was for
the people, while Hamilton had dis
tinct tendency toward a limited aris-
tocracy. AS Federalist he abhorred
the American sympathy with the
French in their revolution, and was
certain that the excesses of the Reign
of Terror would have an echo on this
side Of the Atlantic. Then, he fully
believed, the incompetency Of the ad-
ministration would be clearly shown
and the pepole would clamor for a
leader who was soldier as well as a
statesman. He, he was certain, would
rise to the top. This may have been
the cause of his death, for several BIZ
ographers insist that he was opposed
to dueling and accepted Burr's fatal
challenge only because he feared that
when the time did come the masses
might refuse to follow man who had
shrunk from personal encounter.
Aaron Burr missed the presidency
by narrower margin than any other
defeated candidate, except possibly
Samuel J. Tilden. Adams, Jefferson,
Burr and Pinckney fought hard the
campaign Of 1900. The partisan press
was as abusive then as now, ministers