Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-13
c,Dvr,sht by The Macmillan Company.

The names OF Ahuiem 'Oii'''' '''e
n.vd 1sraels are linked as those OF the
,,,o Presidents of the United States who
30 bsen impeached. Fate. could moi
s.ye selected for the same dubious dis
,,.,,Jon two men whose characters were
1,o dfssinnilar or two politicians whose
,.,sors we're in greater contrast
1ndrev Johnson not only was humbly
49,, hut was raised In such sordid
.vsr,v that 1t was left to his wife to
ls.sb him to write and to cipher; and
..sns he undoubtedly showed certain
,,nsrsth in clinging to his Ideas of right
srd Justice, he was coarse and intem-
sa,ote in his personal habits and fire.
r,ently indiscreet not to say violent, In
speech. s,..
-, gsnerations of wealth and culture.
d. onnearance was as distinguished as
t,s bsaring was courtly; he habitually ex-
-.ssed elevated thoughts in low voice,
IA his personal habits were abstemious
=, ,bs point of being austere. A lawyer
-. nrnfession and a publicist by avoca-
,Ion before he became politician by
calling, he was an accomplished amateur
musician and connolsseur anu pa'roh Vi
the arts in general.
aeaco in his States service only through
Snsoed purpose and reached the White
uouse only because he happened to hold
tha comparatively obscure Office OF vice
president when Abraham Lincoln was
M, on the other hand, David 1sraels
nsyer lifted finger to gain nomination
for a public office. Not even his worst
snsmles can believe that when he re-
sIrned the office OF United States Senator
. af York he waQ
tdrIowine his own inclination; and If he
dd ANYTHING to stimulate the public SEN
timent that led 10 his nomination for the
presidency 1t was done without my
knowledge and / was his secretary
throughout his public career.
The fact is that Mr.. Israels had diss
taste for the hurly-burly of politics such
a. could be possessed only by man
whose reserve and punctilious courtesy
we're largely forced upon him by the
necessity he was under of protecting
nature almost as sensitive as nigh
strung woman's. Mr.. Mcintosh" he once
said TO me, "do you remember how Ma
poleon defined fame? He called 1t big
noise.'
am aware that this statement as to
Mr. Israels' sensitiveness may we'll as
tonish the general public, in view of the
yigor of all his writings and addresses
and especially in view of the fact that he
never went out of his way to correct mis-
representation and never was known TO
lisp syllable in protest against vitupera-
tlon even when, during that tumultuous
period preceding his impeachment by the
House of Representatives. vituperation
rose to heights of frenzy never before
Witnessed in this country.
But, lest any be deceived as to the
keenness of his suffering even under the
mlsconstruction of motives that can be
ranked among the ordinary vicissitudes of
public life, l may say that l do not be-
lleye that. as President, he ever went
over newspaper clippings without having
to nerve himself to the task, and that
frequently saw him palpably vince at
statements that. to my way of thinking
he could have afforded to dismiss with
a smile. Once, when 1 returned to the
room after being called out by an urgent
efrand, found him with his head buried
In his arms which rested folded among
the clippings on the table.
More than one person has traced a re-
semblance between Mr.. Israels' political
principles and those of Justice Hughes.
who was one OF his predecessors as Gov
srnor Of New York. From what we know
Of Mr.. Hughes short career as a politi-
can, Mr.. Israels must have been like
him In his refusal to make any compro-
mises with his high ideals, in his con-
sutltional inability to play the you-tickle-
me-and-I'll-tickle-you game of politics
and IN his invariable appeal on the stump
10 the intelligence of his audiences.
But. while Justice Hughes doubtless was
n,hrm believer in democracy, / know
mat In Mr. Israels' case democracy was
not held as a political principle-it was
his religion.
only by this religious devotion to the
cause OF mankind, with its accompanying
seal Tor righteousness in general, can we
sccount 1t seems to me, for the success
n politics made by this man who may
pe SAID to have been handicapped, not
eSniy by the widespread prejudice against
aus race. but by the fact that he was
sps possessor OF an inherited fortune OF
many millions. When Mr.. Israels was
sseted Governor OF New York, an active
psfty worker, after denouncing him to
ne ~ Tor his lack OF access, ility to the
poys' finished by saying:
however, Mack, we must give the
sofernor credit for one thing. and that
=, ne Is the best campaigner the party
eYer had"
How do you suppose he does it?" I
E.Asd with real curiosity.
We'll, / dunno" was the reply, "ex-
~. mat when he speaks he somehow
EHeys gives people the idea that he
= on the level
Nhen l say that. as a Jew and a mil
eo9Aire, Mr.. Israels was somewhat han
e4spped In national politics. l would not
80 80 70 Ignore the fact that 1t was partly
- ts1slns 10 these very things that he got
4. ~ start In politics. In other words, when
- New York County party leaders hrst
s.onsht sa. him to the front they, Of course,
sfesnt TO take advantage. not only OF
equation as writer on international
ana as a citizen whose time and
ICY ever were freely given TO move
~ ,,slss Tor the public good. but OF the
.spospllity that he would be a help in
4nalng up for the ticket the thousands
y sshish voters In the county and would
i liberal contributor to the party war
fhe ehagrin OF these leaders may
~ i''assinsd when, as their candidate. he
me people OF his race that, II they
: ~ as Jews they should be ashamed
: ~ ssasnselves; but this chagrin was as
is.sns as compared with the pain these
las-els 1elt when to the party funds
- sss. sieh candidate OF theirs contributed
one Of the boys" had inelegantly
tpFeefully put 1t. Mr.. Israels was
-, airty with money and needed a
~. mouse cleaning; but, owing TO Mr.
view that, as long as he gave
~, s-1s-ily all OF his time 10 politics. so
"a should he reserve his money for
~ purposes. this houseeleaning never
ts1ee, q fact no doubt, that con-
81 ~ strengthened his position with
tsepls, as indeed. he himself with
n4tye sagaelty. presumably reasoned
Z would from The bsainnlng.l
= - I. So