Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-16
POLITICAL "reminiscences
Why Gov. Horatio Seymour Never
Came to Occupy the White House.
Voliticai CoBditions At Opesiss Of the
New rresidentia Year Inspire IN
Account OF the status Precedias
HenominattoR Of Abraham
Lincoln In 1854.

The New York correspondent Of the Al.
hsnY journal writes his paper as follows:
As We begin the new year, q year in
which vc choose a president, fnd that
people are making surveys OF the out
look and it Is as natural to inquire
whether or not any such conditions as
those by which We are confronted this
week have ever existed I'm the past. For
one thing, | am unable to cite an instance
when, SIX months or more before the
meeting of the democrats, it was so
slpshle what they were going to do
about a candidate. Never. to the best OF
my recollection, has II been so easy to
forescc what democracy will do 1t is
regarded as certainty that when demo-
cracy assemblies in tn. month OF June
this year there will be practically only
one candidate before the convention OF
tnat party In other words. the circum-
stanccs will be the reverse OF what they
were N democratic councils in 1896 In
TIC year last named Chicago greeted del
cEatos vino assembled in the midst of ao-
solute uncertainty. They were hesitating
sud they were uncommitted, when, anil
the chaos on the floor. Mr.. Bryan sprany
his silver slogan and became, on that
dramatic issue. tho choice of his party
for tho White House.
He ran again in 1900. and was regard
n with such favor that he came very
close 10 receiving q third nomination IN
1904. The latter year, however. Mr.. Bel
mont and his friends were able to desig
nate Judge Parker. on the theory that
democracy had had enough OF heretcs;
that they would come out better in No
vember IL they fixed upon some leader
known to he safe and sane" But the
count in 1904 showed that Mr.. Bryan had
run even better than the statesman from
Esopus, that now the Nebraskan
comes so far forward in the hmelight
that lie will sweep the Conclave OF his
ns rtv TO he held in June this year and for
the third time put to the test his prcsi-
Dental aspirations. II ever In the history
~ parties It was perfectly plain in Jan-
uary what that party was going to DO
IN June. this Is the January when, by
common consent. it is no risk 10 assert
That six months from now ". j. Bryan
Nll he opening up his third campaign.
TIE SEARCH FOR A PARALLEL.
Tho conditions are not very similar;
and vet there is something about the
present republican status which reminds
me forcib,y ~ the state of party scnti-
nent in the month of January, 1854. on
that occasion. as on this. had a re-
1,u,lican president in Washington.
Nj Lincoln called his best friends to-
rcther n the early part of 1864 md tod
them that they must not support him for
renominat on. It was not but that he
knew his policies must be adhered 10, or
that tho end Of the republic was in sight.
It was not that he was guided by any
mean or petty motive. Mr.. Lincoln was
politician and those whom he trusted
were politicians. As such. they rccoS-
nlZcd the power OF forces which were
sntagonizing the administration. II never
was with Lincoln himself nor with such
mon as rhurlow Weed. a personal prob
lom in the least. What they were seek
ing simply was the government.
THE QUESTION WAS NOT PERSONAL
II it could best bc done by naming
Lincoln to succeed himself. Mr.. Lincoln
Was prepared to sacrifice himself. II. on
tho other hand. the forces in Alignment
against Lincoln. within the ranks Of his
own party. wcro 40 powerful. as well as
81 obtuse. that they 1nperied repuol-
can success. in case the President should
'''lIl' dEdtlI beIOTS tHe nation. MT, lsln-
ro,u ami his closest advisers were not
only Wiling bl.- anxious TO stand aside.
for the sake OF manta lining the policies
on which alone the nation could be re-
established. The policies OF Mr.. Lincoln
were the ones best suited to the exigen-
cles Of the moment. Al this late day, IL
seems incredible that any loyal citizen
could have doubted that, and It Is Just as
Incredible that any loyal and intelligen:
voter could have raised a question as to
The justice we'll tho expedency OF
naming Lincoln as his own successor. All
the trouble. however. arose becaus. Of
The vigor with which the President was
sssailed in New York In New England
and in the Middle West. The problem
was whether that animosity should be
prop'tiated by putting Lincoln on the
shelf or whether It was wiser to stand
by the President and take the con-
~cquenccs. Throughout the early portion
~ the debate, Mr.. Lincoln himself was
strongly OF opinion that the best course
IN follow, in view of the yiruencc with
which he was lambasted, was 20 stand
aside himself--n other words TO paci.y
the malcontents of his own party. TIL.
status at the moment was SO pregn. Mt
that 7 am tempted to enlarge on it for