Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-08-21
MEN WHO WENT
DOWN IN DEFEAT
LOGICALLY AVAILABLE FOR PRESI
DENCY, BUT NEVER
GAINED IT.
LIFELONG AMBITIONS KILLED.
Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, William
H. Seward ard James G.
Blaine.
THE STING OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

THE STING OF DISAPPOINTMENT.
There is tragedy as well as comedy in
the story of our national party eonven-
tons, says the New York Evening Post.
The jubilant shout of victory and sue
cess is frequently drowned by the note
Of pathos that marks the shipwreek of
lifelong ambitions Several of those
who have seemed the most natural or
logical candidates for the presidency
have never achieved it. and in few in
stances has defeat been borne with COM
posture or resignation.
Henry Clay is probably the most
striking example in our history of
man whom an adverse fate seemed al
ways to follow where the presidency
was concerned. Clay was candidate
for the presidency as early as 1924,
when the election went to the House of
Representatiy es, which chose j. Q. Adj
ans. He was the unsuccessful candi-
date of the Wings in opposition to Jack
son $ reelection in 1889. The Wings
nominated Harrison by the old method
of legislative caucus in 1886, but in 1910
Clay again seemed to be the most likely
candidate. But ThurIow Weed, who
was never friendly to Clay set on foot
the movement that resulted in his de-
feat. Weeds real candidate was Harri-
son, who was weak in New York, so
Weed had the delegation instructed for
Scott to keep it from Clay. Henry A.
Wise thus describes Clay's bitterness at
his defeat in the Harrisburg convention
of that year:
He had ~ drinking heavily in the
excitement Il expectation. He rose from
his chair, nd walking backward and
forward rapluIy, lifting his feet like
horse string-halted in both legs. stamped
upon the floor, exclaiming: My friends
are not worth the powder and shot it
would take to kill them. 1t is a dia-
bolical intrigue, | know now, which has
betrayed me. | am the most unfortu-
nate man in the history of parties-al-
ways run by my friends when sure to
be defeated. and now betrayed for
nomination when or any one, would
be sure of election.
Supported Nominee.
He had. however, promised before
hand. in letter which was read to the
convention, to support the nominee who
ever he was, and he kept his word. He
even took the stump for Harrison, al
though he made it clear that while adj
vocating his election he could not be
His complaint that he was only nom
mated for office when he was sure to be
defeated. seemed to be fulfilled in 1914,
when as the unanimous choice of the
Wings he was defeated by Polk.
Clay was nearly II years old when,
III 1918, he was defeated for the Wing
nomination by Gen TAYLOR His hui
mliatfon was all the greater because il
was the delegation from his own Ken
lucky that led the way to Taylor's nom
nation. He refused to support Taylor
in the ensuing campaign, Saying: Ought
/ to come out as Il warm and partisan
supporter of candidate, who. in a re-
versal of our conditions, announced his
purpose to remain a candidate, and con-
sequently to oppose me so far as it de-
pended upon himself? Tell me what reci-
procity is this? Magnanimity is noble
virtue. and | have always endeayored to
practice it. but it has its limits, and the
line of demarcation between it and mean
ness is not always discernible."
For two decades Daniel Webster was
a perennial candidate for the presidential
nomination. Webster's famous reply to
Hayne made him Il candidate. In 1896
he was nominated by the w hig members
of the Massachusetts Legislature, and
polled the entire vote of the state. In
1910 he told Thurlow Weed confidential
ly before the convention. that he ex-
chusetts again stood by him, but Harri-
son was nominated. Harrison's friends
were anxious to have Webster take the
vice presidential nomination. but he re-
fused. Webster supported Harrison
heartily. and was rewarded by the APP
pointment of secretary of state.
Webster Stays in the Field.
He composed an inaugural address for
the President-elect. which Harrison re-
fused to use, because. as he said. people
would know it was not his. In 1918 Web
ster treated the possibility of Zachary
Taylor'S nomination as Joke and again
refused an offer that would have made
him vice president, saying: Il shall re-
main in the field as Il candidate for
President. ! am not candidate for any
other place
After Taylor's nomination he supported
him reluctantly. but only on the ground
that Van Buren, and Cass were less
worthy. and he was brutality frank in his
statement of his position. Gen. TAYLOR
has been nominated fairly he said. in
one of his speeches, land | cannot there.
fore. and shall not, oppose his election
At the same time there is no man who is
more of the opinion that such nomina.
ton was not fit 70 ne made" Had
Webster accepted the second place on
the ticket either in 1910 or 1913. he
would. in each ease. have been elected
TO the presidency. which he was destined
never TO reach. He made his last an
pearance as a presidential candidate in
1882. Even his strongest supporters. al
though they worked valiantly for him.
We're convinced that his cause was hone
less. but Webster kept up his spirit till
the last. On the morning of the conven-
ton ne told friend. Il shall meet the
result, whatever it may he. with com
posed mind
Rufus Choate nominated him in an elo-
quaIt speech. but his cause was hopeless
from the start. His highest vote was 80
in a total of Dob. As one writer re-
marks. Webster's composed mind"
failed him when he heard the news. One
of his friends who had attended the con-
vention in Baltimore returned To Wash
ington, and went at once to Webster's
house. The defeated candidate met him
Mt the door, but asked not n word about
the convention.
Choate arrived soon after. and the
family sat down 10 tea. but the meal was
finished without the convention or its
result being SO much as mentioned.
Choate had an hours interview with