Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-01-20
PROVISION FOR
EX-PRESIDENTS.
Grover Cleveland Thinks the Ma
ton Ought to Pension Them.
WHAT THE COUNTRY EXPECTS

ssrts They Should Be Enabled to
Maintain Dignity In Private Life.
Grover Cleveland, ex-president Of the
United States, In an article recently
published in the Youths Companion
makes a plea for pensionlng ex-presi-
dents.
The title of the article is "Our Du.
ties to Our Ex-Presidents," and Mr..
Cleveland sets forth that, while he
wants no aid from the nation, we
should do something to provide for
the men who have occupied the execu-
tive chair to prevent their becoming
poverty stricken.
The article, the magazine declares,
b "a document likely to become his
torical, for, while the subject has had
much attention and discussion, the few
persons most vitality concerned in the
matter have never heretofore given ex-
preston to any special views upon it."
The following are extracts:
1T 10 most gratifying to note how
the private lives of our ex-presidents
are made grateful and bright by the
generous attachment and spontaneous
kindness manifested toward them by
their fellow countrymen. The Amerl-
can people are the best people in the
world, and the honor and respect with
which they follow to his retirement
one who has served them in the high
est Office within their gift illustrate
the innate nobility of the American
character.
'SThe truth is that our people, so far
from treating their ex-presidents sim
ply as relics Of past honors, seem dis
posed not only to bestow upon them
honor and respect, but to continue them
In service 30 far as to interfere seri-
Ously with their untrammeled atten-
ton to private citizenship and their I'M
restrained resumption of the occupation
Of everyday life.
There IL a sort of vague but none
the less imperative feeling abroad in
the lane that one who has occupied
the great office Of president holds In
trust for his fellow citizens a certain
dignity which in his conduct and man
ner Of life he Is bound to protect
against loss or deterioration.
obedience to this obligation, which
can hardly be avoided. limits the ex-
president in his chance of an occupa-
ton OF means Of livelihood and pre-
scrtbes Tor him only such work as In
popular judgment Is not undignifled.
and Il also forces a scale of living on
his part frequently less in keeping
with his financial ability than with
popular conceptions OF ex-presidential
propriety.
"our national pride should be rudely
touched when we read concerning
Thomas Jefferson after his retirement
from the presidency; by degrees JEFF
ferson became poor man and, indeed,
worse than poor, since he was involved
In pecuniary embarrassments. Before
matters had reached this stage he had
sold his library to congress for $23, 050.'
Although he expressed himself as
desiring nothing from the public treas
ury, he accepted pecuniary aid fur
nished by private subscription, with
the pathetic statement:
at have spent three times as much
money and given my whole life to my
countrymen, and now they nobly come
forward in the only way they can and
save an old servant from being turned
like dog out Of doors
"JOhn Quincy Adams a short time
before he retired from the presidency
and In contemplation OF that event
wrote as follows;
The income Of my whole private
estate is less than $4,000 a year, and |
am paying at least $1,000 Of that for
interest ON my debt Finally upon go
Ing out of Office In one year from this
time. destitute Of all means OF acquir-
ing property, 1t will only be by the
sacrifice Of that which l now possess
that l shall be able to support my
family
Whatever omission there may be OF
fair and consIderate conduct on the
part OF our people In their relations
with their ex-presidents ought to be
made good by a definite and generous
provision for all cases alike, based
upon motives OF justice and fairness
and adequate to the situation.
'"The condition Il by no means met
BY the meager and spasmodlc relief
occasionally furnished under the guise
Of q military pension or some other
pr0text. nor would II be best met by
making compensation, already accrued
or accruing. dependent upon the dis
charge Of senatorial or other official
duty.
IF, In concluding this discussion, a
personal word Is necessary or permits
Eible In view OF the fact that am the
only man now living who could at this
time profit by the ideas have advo-
Gated, hope my sincerity viii not be
questioned when | say that have
dealt with the subject without the least
thought Of personal interest or desire
for personal advantage.
Il am not In need of aid from tho
public treasury I hone and haliava that