New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-22

has not been the slightest symptom OF
any popular excuses against him.
though he has endeavored 10 excite
them in support of his whimsical pas
sion against the theatre"
At the age of twenty-seven he was
appointed Minister 10 the Netherlands,
and in a letter TO his father he wrote
at length about his abandonment Of
the profession upon which he had
hitherto depended for future sub
sistence at a time when his early
struggles were ended and he was rap
idly advancing toward eminence and
assured success AT this critical
moment. when all the materials for
valuable reputation at the bar were
collected. and had just begun 10 operate
favorably for me. | have stopped short
in my career, forsaken the path which
would have led me to independence
and security in private life. and stepped
into a totally different direction In
his view it would be impossible for
him TO return to his profession with
out re-entering the obscurity in which
he began. He would find himself out
stripped by those who were formerly
below and behind him, and in return
ing to the bar he would descend as
much below the level of his ambition
and pretensiOns as he had been raised
above it by this diplomatic appoint
ment Unpleasant however as this
perspective is" he said. 81 think 1t
infinitely preferable to that Of remain
ing in the public service to perform
duties which may be executed equally
well by any other man. and with the
consciousness of holding publc
office without confidence, without
utility, and for no other purpose than
barely to give me a subsistence. lie
therefore planned TO remain abroad
about three years and then, if no
matters Of prime importance required
his attention, to return home and re-
sumo his law practice.
His letters from abroad deal chiefly
with foreign affairs, and may be
upon his own character and his atti-
tude toward American affairs than
those which we have cited. A few OF
them, however, should be noted. In
September, 1895, he wrote to Charles
Adams from The Hague about his
fathers candidacy for the Presidency
of the United States declaring that the
most forcible wish OF his heart was
that he should not be elevated to that
office. "Who ever may be the sue
cessor of the present First Magistrate
he wrote, will hold situation so UNI
comfortable and so dangerous That
there is nothing in its possession TO
make it desirable. | am so FAR from
looking on that place as an object
worthy of ambition. that If my UNI
equivocal wishes could decide the point
on the supposition of the contingency,
which we all deprecate, the election
would be declined in the most decisive
and explicit manner"
Again, writing TO his father, he re-
ferred to his desire to be relieved from
his duties abroad. but wished not TO
have his motives misunderstood.
/ should be wretched servant of my
country, indeed. If | were capable OF
shrinking from the performance of pub
lie service. because IL may be disagree
able, or even dangerous. When | am
clearly convinced that my duty commands
me to act; If the love of ease, or the love
of life, or the love of fame itself. dear as
IL Is. could arrest my hand or give me
moments hesitation in the choice
should certainly be III for no situation of
public trust whatever. But ] may
20 q little further. The struggle against
a popular clamor is not without its
charms in my mind. Nothing great or