Life — March 1, 1888 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VOL. XI. MARCH 1, 1888. No. 270, 28 West TWENTY-THIRD STREET, NEW York. Published every Thursday, $5.00 a year in advance, postage free. Single copies, 10 cents, Back numbers can be had by applying to this office. Vol. 1., bound, $15.00; Vol. II., bound, $10.00 ; Vols. III., IV., V., VI., VIL, VIII, IX. and X., bound or in flat numbers, at regular rates. Rejected contributions will be destroyed unless accompanied by a stamped and directed envelope. Subscribers wishing address changed will greatly facilitate matters by sending old address as well as new. DISCUSSION that goes on without any diminution on account of Lent, is naming candidates. It was strengthened by the withdrawal of Mr. Blaine from the race for the Presidency, and Mr. Hewitt’s refusal to be re-elected Mayor. It thrives on the unwillingness of General Sheridan and Mr. Childs to be Mr. Blaine’s successors, and on the sug- gestion that the Hon. Amos Cummings might make a good mayor for New York. It is an interesting circumstance that, of the three candi- dates whom New York newspapers have prated about the most, two have explicitly declined to run, and the third talks of the situation with such jocularity as to justify doubt if he would be willing to run either. It has been the habit of the American mind to consider that no one can help wishing to be President, and if any citizen says that he doesn’t care to try, it is the custom of the country to look upon him as an artful person, who is lying low to let possibility ripen into assurance. But Gen- eral Sheridan and Mr. Childs know what it is to be President. Sheridan saw President Arthur blossom, bloom and fade ; and he, as well as Mr. Childs, have seen from near at hand Cleveland's sturdy but laborious administration. They may both have recognized that the presidency is a long, exhaust- ing strain, not to be undertaken by any but iron men, from any but altruistic motives. That Sheridan should say, “I prefer to be a general,” and that Childs should say, “I want to be an editor,” should not surprise any one. Both these gentlemen have excellent situations, known to be adapted to their tastes and to their powers. They are in great measure their own bosses, and undoubtedly have more fun as they are than they would as servants of the people. * * * ND in this connection (as our neighbor the Sw would say) LIFE wishes to protest against throwing the nomination any more at Mr. Childs. Mr. Cleveland is (practically) Mr. Childs’ candidate. If the Philadelphia editor is to be disturbed any more by the importunities of his friends, let it be to decline an e/ectzon, or at least a nom- ination actually achieved. It is a shame that the valuable space of the estimable Philadelphia Ledger should be clogged by repeated repudiations of mere nugatory proposals, No one should be allowed to‘nominate Mr. Childs any more until the Convention meets. * * * AS for the Hon. Amos Cummings, the possibility of mak- ing him Mayor is an interesting matter for discussion. Of course there is no question about Colonel Cummings’ fitness for that or any other office. As a letter-writer he is professionally qualified to compete with our present Mayor ; as a ready speaker on his feet, he need not fear to drink champagne from the same bottle as the effervescent Depew. Does any one know the city better than he? Notone. Of course he would make an able and discriminating Mayor, and is peculiarly available because the City Hall is so con- veniently near his place of business. * * * HERE are always iconoclastic legislators who are ready to smash a bill merely because some one else approves it. Let us hope that these gentry, whether they lurk in Congress or in the State Legislatures, may spare the bill to change inauguration day from the 4th of March to the 3oth of April. In addition to the circumstance that this bill, if passed, will add eight weeks to Mr. Cleveland’s administration, there is every reason to favor it, and nothing of importance to be said against it. It does away with the short session of Congress, and gives that illustrious body time to finish up its business in a workmanlike manner, which is an important gain, and it gives the American people a fair chance to see their presidents inaugurated without wading knee-deep in slush and catching their deaths of cold. It has been amply demonstrated that for historical pur- poses the 3oth of April is as good a day as the 4th of March. For all other purposes it is a vastly better day. Let us have it! * * * STRONG testimonial to the fairness of the British Treaty is the condemnation it meets with among the fishermen of both countries. Concessions by each had to be made, and a burst of in- dignation was to be expected from both sides at first. Calm reflection will show that the Treaty is the best and most satisfactory solution of the difficulty that could be reached. comicbooks.com ‘