The Washington herald., 1908-02-13

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tired Presidents some generous provision
comporting in dignity and security Of
comfort with the exalted Office they had
filed. But this has met no aoquiescing
response from American citizens, not be-
cause of Indifference or parsimony, but
because It was not deemed in harmony
with our seIf-respect as a body polite
of simple institutions. Gen. Benjamin
Harrison when there was talk or what
to do with distinguished Americans leaV-
ing the Chief Executive Once IN the
White House commented thus. kings
sometimes bcstow decorations upon those
whom they desire To honor but that man
IS most highly decorated who has the af-
fectlonate regard Of his neighbors and
friends.
The old question is revived again, now
that President Roosevelt has but little
more than a year TO serve Of his second
land-what he has decided for himself
constitutes his last term. When his pres
ent term expires, Mr.. Roosevelt viii he
fifty years Old younger by three years
| than any other president retired 20 pri-
vate life In the very prime OF vigorous
manhood. of rare physical strength, and
wonderful mental activity, amazing every
/ body by the wide range or subjects that
appeal TO his versatile faculties, there viii
be unusual curiosity Of concern about
! how AIr. Roosevelt will occupy himself
when he quits the exalted scene of his
most conspicuous ofhcial labors
| While In office he has been a prodigious
worker. yet no President has ever given
70
play. in the sense that sport Is play. He
+ has been a man Of speech and letters, Of
thought and impulse and action-action
/ OF such audaCity as to make him far be-
/ yOnd all others the most discussed man
/ OF his time The fruits OF his utterances
/ and OF his performances are exceedingly
numerous and the future historian VIII
| not lack for material from which 10 esti-
/ mate his character. Mir. Roosevelt has
+ not told anybody what he intends 10 do
as a private citizen. IL has been sug-
gestCd that lee will spend year or two
/ travelling Expressions Of admiration
/ from the rulers and the press of foreign
nations generally assure him an excep-
tonally hoSpitable and distinguished wei
come wherever he would desire TO gO but
| Mr. Roosevelt has never been noted as
/ traveller save IN quest Of game such as
Ibears, bobcats and wealthy maletactors.
/ The notion that he would like 20 repre-
| sent his State in the United States Senate
/ is said % deDend upon the election Of
| Secretary Taft 20 the Presidency. In that
/ event. SIR. Roosevelt. 81 is said. would
Inot risk the imputation that he was a
| mere White House Senator because his
friend and favorite WIS master of the
/ Executive Mansion. Possibly he would
/ go 90 the Philippines. a visit which Sec
retary Taft has time and again held up
/ TO him. while Secretary Root, when on
/ his recent tour or South America. assured
/ his entertainers that Mr. Roosevelt would
/ probably make them q visit II any
event IL Is beyond question that Il man
/ OF tine alert, aggressive character Of Mr..
/ Roosevelt, I'm the prime Of life. intensely
| concerned in the numerous policies
Launched by him during "a strikingly
eventful administration. viii take an ex-
rraordiuary interest ia public affairs Tho
! influence he may be expected 90 exert as
long as hc lives VIII be of very consider
able importance.
Former President Cleveland is in the
unique position Of having been twice an
/ ex- President. When be retired after his
| first term March {. 1889. be went for
some time % dwell at Buzzard's Bay, on
/ the Massachusetts coast. Gray Gables.
! his home afforded him soothing rest and
delightful recreation. Here. with bis
friend the great American actor Joe
/ jefferson. as neiEhb0T and the companion
/ OF his pastimCs. h0 became famous as
fisherman often making big catches and
exhibitin' "a forttude Of patience in the
/ face Of adverse conditions Of which only
great statesmen are capable. But Mr.
Clevelands rest was not for long. He
was drawn into politics inthe next PRESS
1 Dental campaign, and was elected and
| sent back to the supreme burden and con
| secrated responsibilities Of the Presidency.
When he retired in 1897. he removed 10
/ Princeton, \. J.. where, for some time,
! he lectured az the university. His legal
! opinions were sought and a few years
| ago he was made one Of the trustees Of
the Equitable Insurance Company Of New
York 10 represent the policyholders.
The first President. hest beloved OF all
| history. sought the secIusion Of coun-
try home and farm, when he might have
continued in Office by his own will had
/ he lived to be a centenarian. He had
already set the precedent Of declining a
/ third term, increasing the admiration of
/ the people for his great character, when
/ he appeared at the inauguration Of his
successor. The journal of the Senate OF
/ March {. 1897. noting the inaugural pro-
/ ceedings, lends more than wOnted color
| to the record of the entry of the Presi-
dental party, and how they were seated,
with the words. the great and good MT
/ Washington. as a private citizen. took
/ his seat a little in front of where the
| Senators sat" Immediately after this
/ he went to Mount Vernon and at once
| devoted himself with enthusiasm to the
management Of his vast farming estate.
| But not long could he remain Mr. Wash
1 ington,' War with France became i'm
minent in 179S and the President ap-
! pointed him lieutenant general. Most Of
the remaining months Of his life were
given 10 the task Of organizing the army,
/ and the commander-in-chief was fatally
| stricken before peace was reassured.
John Adams quit the National Capt.
tai TO go home without waiting to have
anything to do with the Inauguration of
/ his rival, Thomas jefferson. The second
| President lived twenty-five years after
/ his retirement from the White House,
and died on the fftieth anniversary Of
the Declaration of Independence, his last
words being Thomas jefferson still
| lives" And Mr.. Jefferson died the same
/ day. In their early careers the two were
! intimately associated in the near-perfect-
/ ing of our form of government. They
| later became rivals and bitter enemies,
| but in old age and retirement all former
| differences were forgotten, and they con-
/ Quoted a mutually respectful cOrre-
| spondence OF interest and instructive
ness surprising anything of the kind ever
divulged in the relations of any two other
/ private citizens.
Mr. jefferson fastened te bis farm in