New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-04

me oath Of Office. wavered IN the determination
- retire IIOm public lie on the expira ton of
liN present term, March 3. 1909 [ might Well
content myself with a public declaration Of my
purpose so to retire il il We're not for q like
oeclsEatlon made on a former and similar oced-
eAoA' ana what followed St Ia the year 1900
announced through the press over my sigma
AIre 10 the Republicans Of Wisconsin that had
unallel2DIy determined" TO retire from public
life az The expiration OF the term ending March
a. l9O5. unless L should deem Il my duty 90 re-
k,gi Al an earlier date. justified the announce
nlent 80 long IN advance upon the ground that
The people, and those who might aspire
ONCE, We're entitled seaslOnably know from
4ile that 1 would not accept q reelection. De-
spite that declaration cir ruInstances with which
ne people Of the state familiar. and which.
therefore, need not here be recounted. seemed
- .aAe il my duty 10 accept a reelection,
prOmered, Il was. in "A manner which rem
1ered II at once coInnEand and finer honor
tiss' any when tlSld ever dreamed would come
70 Ine-one, indeed, which ought to satisfy the
pride ana ambition of any man. A similar dec
lafa1on by me al THIS time, however strongly
phrased tand IL Csouhl nog be more strongly
ihi3seG), would arr persuaded. prove as I'M
aTailing withdraw my name from considera-
ZION during the maxi years did that
1910
As raIy purpose to retire from public life IS and
has been irrevocable, / am unwilling to be fur
ther considered IN connection with Office
which L could not III The circumstance accept
= TcAidt"i VII DS Etteseh LOT me term ne
ginning March T. 1909 There viii he and
Shuolo be, during the next tWO wears grave ana
Nlae consideration alpcng the people as 10 the
person upon whom the honor shall be bestowed.
After much thought, ! deem il TO be my duty,
All things considered, 10 the people Of the state
and 10 the party 10 whose Partially / in
deoted for the highest honors within its gift 70
take TnESelf now, beyond recall. from the field
or possible choice. l ana therefore, impelled. not
only for the reasons suggested. but also that
may be free TO devote 10 the discharge of private
duty, too long neglected.. the remainder of my
term. 10 resign the Office tlis time. while the
l1n 1aF0nv ro1 alsffn
! avail myself OF this opportunity to say. al
belt am sure il is nor, needful. thai l am in-
eXpressibly grateful 10 The Republicans of Wis
consin for the generous and abiding confidence
which has led them tbr Re times to elect me 10
the high office of senator Of the United States.
have the honor 10 beg yours respectfully,
JOHN c. SPOONER.
THE PRESIDENTS TRIBUTE.
q on being informed of Senator Spooner's resig-
nation, the President ma De The following state
lnent:
I cannot sufficiently express my regret at
Senator Spooner's resignation We lose one OF
the ablest. most efficient most fearless and
most upright public serval ats that the nation has
-Four years ago / knew be extreme reluctance
with which Senator Spoon e. finally consented TO
serve in the Senate, and year by year since
have feared that he would resign. as he finally
has resigned, for 1 have powh that every year
of his stay in public life has been 10 him a
direct financial: loss which. he could but iii af-
ford. 7 understand fully the Senator's feeling
that he cannot longer stay in the public service
family, and much 1 regret his resignation
am most sincerely grateful that he has been
willing TO serve 81 long, He has been in his
life a gallant soldier. trained public servant
Of the highest standard Of ability and faith
fulness. anc at all times an American citizen
who did his whole duty.
Secretary Taft said:
The country suf ars a great loss I'm Senator
Spooner's withdraw al fr0m public life He is
cOncededly the grea test parliamentary debater
Of his day. and really deserves the title, much
misapped. Of a gr eat constitutional lawyer.
Every great act Of Congressional legislation in
the sixteen years OF AIS service has been made
better and more lucid and more clearly within the
constitutional limits q Congressional authority
by amendments and sag gestions of his. which
did not bear his name bCt which We're prompted
by his sense OF reSpol labiity for the body Of
y mich he was a dist lryuished member. HIS
power a lawyer and debater is not alone in
his keenness Of intellect. his lucidity and apt
ness Of speech. his great logical faculty and his
power OF application to the subject matter. but
also in the judicial qualify OF his mind which
forces him TO weigh and consider the arguments
Of his opponents and TO meet them on the ground
they select without eVas ton.
He has sacrificed much Of comfort and wealth
in order that He might eTye his country with
eye single 70 the publ. interest. He has not
thereby escaped the darts OF malicious calumny,
hut he has Seen them fall, harmless and forgot
His unal fmous retu IN TO the Senate after
y declinatiOn 10 stand al III against the viii OF
persistent enemies. was most remarkable evil
dence of the position his reat ability and integ-
rity had won for him. The, good he has done en-
titles him to retire but VI. must all regret that
has honored meaATith an intimate friendship for
sixteen years. feel 3 gentIine personal sorrow
that he is to leave Washingto on.
The Secretary of state, Mn Root. said
think the resignation of Senator Spooner is
e public misfortune. EVerA- one, of whatever
party. who is familiar with the operations OF
government and who wisheli for wise and ef
fectiVe government, must regret IL deeply.
There are no conditions in the world under
which leadership is dependent more absolutely
On personal qualities than in our Senate and
House of Representatives. Mere membership
tn of these bodies does not make a small
great, but il affords opportunities a
1uan OF great qualities TO exercise power and
render public service uneaualled in any place
except The Presidency
our history shows a succession OF a small
number Of very able men with great force of
character and devotion TO the public service
who have been predominant in moulding the
legislative policy Of the country. Mr.. .SpOoner
belongs 10 this succession The nation owes a
debt of gratitude 10 the State OF Wisconsin for
contributing him 10 the work Of national gov
eminent. lie win be sadly missed when Con-
gress reconVenes and his old associates feel the
loss OF his wisdom and strength, his courage
and magnanimity.
COLLEAGUES EXPRESS REGRET.
The ee-President. when informed Of Senator
Spooners resignation. said: THE retirement of
senator Spooner from the United States Senate
IS greatly TO be regretted, for he is one Of the
best men in the nations service. He is a states
man in the fullest and best sense able and fear
less, conscientious and interchangeable IN the dis
charge Of his great public duties He has been
q distinct power in the consideration and deter
animation Of many great questions