The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-27
rnE uAsp OF DESTINY. AGAIN.

"A distinguished reformer and pro
gressive has expressed the opinion
that none developed into a progress
sive after, having lived as a conscr-
rattre for sixty years." and this state
ment has been made the text OF a
very interesting and instructive edi-
torial article in the ColumbIa State,
in which Editor Gonzales expresses
the view that the considerations of
Natures rule In such affairs may be
forced upon the Democrats OF the
United States before making up their
mind as to whom they wish chose n
for the standard-bearer of the party
In the next presidential cam
paign when the party. to have
sound hope for success. must enter the
field and continue there as n viriie,
progressive party. 1t may therefore,
have interest to see how the sands of
time have run in tho lives of those
distinguished Americans whom their
bers, regard as probable candidates
for the Democratic nomination, and
10 then glance at the age-record OF
Presidents since the founding OF the
Republic"
In the one hundred and twenty-five
years since Washington became Pres
ident. there have been 1--WE Presidents
lnaugurated when they were past
sixty years of age. John Adams and
Andrew jackson was each sixty-one
years old. when he took the oath
of office. James Buchanan was sixty
Eve; Zachary Taylor was sixty-four;
William Henry Harrison was sixty
eight. Eight of the twelve Presidents
in the last sixty-four years have been
between fifty and nfty-six years old
when they were inaugurated. Three
were between forty-seven and fifty, and
Roosevelt was elected President when
forty-siX years old In the last sixty
augurated who was over nifty six years
of age. Washington was fifty-seyen
Six men have been spoken Of for the
Democratic nomination for President
at the Convention to be held next
year. Governor Harmon, of Ohio, will
be sixty-siX years old next February;
Champ Clark. OF Missouri. will be
sixtytwo next March: Governor Mar
ehall. of Indiana, will be nifty seven
next March; Governor Wilson Will be
fftyfive next December; Mr.. Bryan
will be hfty-two next March, and
former Governor Folk, of Missouri.
will be forty-two years old next Oc-
tober. We do not think that Cover
nor Folk has been seriously discussed
as an available candidate by anybody
except by Senator Reed, of Missouri,
and he may, therefore. be eliminated
from present consideration.
'If woodrow wilson,. says Editor
Gonzales. should next year be the
choice OF the American people for
President. his inauguration would oc-
cur about sixty-eight days after his
fifty-sixth birthday" But Governor
Wilson is four years older than Mr.
Bryan; Governor Marshall Is five
years older; Champ Clark is ten years
Older. and Governor Harmon is four
teen years older Manifestly. there
fore. If the question is to be settled
by the actual number of years rather
than by fitness or achievement the
nomination mus, go to Mr.. Bryan.
This. at any rate, would appear to
be reasonable conclusion from the
very striking summary of birthdays
submitted by our contemporary
II Is coming out about where wo
thought 1t would come out ever since
the day after the last Presidential
election. when. with provision that
now appears to have been almost in
spired, we nominated the great Ne
braskan as the leader OF the Demo-
cratic hosts in next years great con-
test for the rescue OF the peoples
government for the benefit of the peo,,
pie.