Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-05
OF PRESIDENCY
Great Men Have Fought for
the Coveted Place in Vain;
Others Have Had it
Thrust Upon Them.

As the moth futtcrs wildly around
the burning candle, and Is finally
consumed in tho blaze that hypuo-
uzes II. so have we seen soino OF our
greatest statesmen drawn BIZ Il more
than hypnotic attraction like furl.
Gus mania, toward the White House.
only TO die at last untouched and dis.
appointed. burned up, as 1t we're, by
vaultinG ambition impossible OF reali.
cation.
So Webster. Scott. Seward
Chase, Clay. Morton, Greeley and
Blaine pursued tho ignis fatuus to
the end Others had the great prize
forced upon them, accepted It reluct.
antly and with regret AS did Grant,
Hayes, Garfield. Mckinley and Rose.
welt, II Is history that Mckinley put
IL aside in 1855 and would not have
II ut all. Tho Suggestion was not only
painful but repulsivo and even often.
sivc. SO with Garfield In 1880. He
did not want IL. II was forced OH,
HIN. Garfield had to bc fairly draft
ed, conscripted. in 1850, and was
deeply hurt over 1t. His reluctance
and regret he expressed freely TO all
or us. lie was Senator-elcct. the eli.
max OF his ambition. and he WOULD
u thousand times nave preferred u
SEQ John Sherman nominated. though
Sherman never saw It that way. In
tho last conversation had with She,
man. In his own house IN 1899, aftei
he had left the Mckinley Cabinet IN
Il passion. he spoke to mo very bit.
terly not only Of McFdnley's treat
ncnt OF him. hut of wh.,, ne called to
the last "GarIelds betrayal" OF him
in 1880.
He was mistaken. Garfield was
deeply disappointed and melancholy
over the result and tried 10 inducs
tho convention TO nominate come otli
az man. first of all Sherman. for Gar
field was true as steel, loyal, honest
and sincere TO 4 fault
AS a member of the Ohio legisin.
ure met Hayes every day OF the
electoral contest as 1t dragged FOL
months through the dcary winter OF
1907. and Iknow how anxious we nj
were that he abide by the result. .aiiC
commission should award 1t TO him
st times he was on the point Oh
throwing UP tho sponge. handling l.,
all ever to T.lden. and so ending tn,
disputed election. In the first plac,
We had forced tho nomination on hLl
he accepted reluctantly, BIZ
never sought; and now we Young met
saw prospect. n danger, that n
would render all cur efforts Mega
tory by surrendering to Tildcn, who
had a big majoity OF tho popular vot,
and an apparent majority in the cleo
toral college on tho face of the re
turns. Those were cr.ucal days II
February 1877. when the contest still
ragged in Congress and beh-re TIL
electoral commission, and the coun
try was on the verge of a civil war
Grant alone saved us from all thni
His mighty name. power. and prestis
alone saved us from civil war ant
mnde the Inauguration OF Hayes a
all possible
Mckinley was still young man
as ages of statesmen go-as u leadei
OF the House In 1888 anu did not dc
sire. and squarely refused, the pres
idency. easily within his reach. Sher'
man, the general. could have had tn
prize offered him in 1876 and again
In 1888, and urged on him. But iit
put 1t aside with such emphasis a;
left no doubt that he would refuse :;
nomination even II unanimous.
so you see there have been severa
great men OF our day who had no de
sire for the place ut all, were not al
tracted by its glitter or glory, ant
others who sought 1t madly and ncye
reached it at all. like Bryan. Whenc'
II seems settled that he who Seeks
shall not find it. but some who seek
It not will have it thrust upon them !
Why it is,so. / don't know. but I know
1t Is so.--private Dalzell. In the Pitts
burg GaZette-Times. g'