Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-09-16
GREAT PlLITICAL
DISAPOINT MENTS
MEN WHO HAVE JUST FAILED
ATTAINING THE PREsl-
DENcT.
HENRY CLAY, WEBSTER, AND
BLAINE, FELT PANGS OF
FAILURE.

There is tragedy as well as comedy
in the story of our national party con-
ventiols, says the New York Evening
Post The jubilant shout OF victory
and success is frequently drowned BY
the note OF pathos that marks the ship
wreck of lifelong ambitions. S1yerai
of those who have seemed the most
natural or logical candidates tor the
presidency have never achieved it,
and in few instances has defeat been
borne with composure or resignation.
Henry Clay is probably the most
striking example in our history of a
man whom an adverse fate seemed al.
ways to follow where the presidency
was concerned Clay was a candidate
for the presidency as early as 1924,
when the election went to the house of
representatives, which chose J. Q.
Adams. He was the unsuccessful can
didate of the wings in opposition 10
Jackson's reelection in 1882. 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 Thur
low Weed, who was never friendly TO
Clay, set on foot the movement that
resulted in his defeat. Weeds real
candidate was Harrison, 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 de-
feat in the Harrisburg convention of
that year:
He had been drinking heavily in
the excitement of expectation. He
rose from his chair. and walking back
ward and forward rapidly, lifting his
feet like a horse string-halted in both
legs, stamped upon the floor, exclaim-
ing: My friends are not worth the
powder and shot it would take TO kill
them. 1t is a diabolical intrigue,
know now, which has betrayed me. l
am the most unfortunate man in the
history of parties-always run by my
friends when sure to be defeated, and
now betrayed for a nomination when
| /. or any one, would be sure of cleo
ton"
Supported Nominee.
He had, however, promised before
hand in a letter which was read to
the convention, to support the nomi-
| nee whoever he was, and he kept his
word. He even took the stump for
Harrison, although he made it clear
that while advocating his election he
could not be held respo S,ble for his
course in office. His complaint that
he was only nominated for Office when
he was sure to be defeated, seemed to
be fulfilled in 1874, when as the unanl-
nous choice of the wings he was de-
feated by Polk.
Clay was nearly II years old when,
in 1S4S. he was defeated for the whig
nomination by General Taylor. pis
humiliation was all the greater be-
cause it was the delegation from his
own Kentucky that led the way to Tay
lOr's nomination. He refused to sup
port Taylor in the ensuing campaign,
saying: Ought | to come out as a
warm and partisan supporter of a can,
didate, who, in reversal of our con-
ditions. announced his purpose to re-
main a candidate, and consequently to
oppose me so far as it depended upon
himself? Tell me what reciprocity Is
this? Magnanimity is a noble virtue,
and have always endeavored to prac-
tice it, but it has its limits, and the
line of demarcation between it and
meanness IS not always discernible."
For two decades Daniel Webster
was a perennial candidate for the