The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-23
WHY IL IT sOi

where triumphant, are now routed, dispirited
and beaten? 1t has been well said that "Histo
ry is experience, teaching by example,"
That the Wing party was last year every
where triumphant, and that it is now every
where defeated is recorded history. There
must be some cause for this, and it becomes the
People, especially those who approve the prlncl-
pies on which the Wing party lately triumphed,
to ask, why is this?
| Ii will be remembered that in the summer OF
1889, Mr.. Clay made his electioneering tour
All remember his progress through Ohio, New
York, and Pennsylvania-that at Buffalo he
boosted of what he had done, Of the services he
had rendered, of the dangers he had encoun-
tered, and that he plead the cruelty and njus-
tice Of superseding him as the head of the par
ty. He went so far as to declare, that every
soldier who had fought the battles of his country
was entitled to an honorable discharge" and
more than intimated, that to overlook his claims,
and to put Harrison. or Scott, or any one else,
in nomination, would be to deny him that to
which he was entitled. The consequence was,
that Mr.. Clay was considered and treated as
the candidate of the Wing party, and behold
the result. In 1889, the election every where
ran against them. The Wings were defeated,
routed, horse, foot, and dragoons!!!
Well, let us turn to the next page of history.
The Wings met at Harrisburg. After delibe-
rate consultation, they nominated Gen. Harri-
son. The result of 1899 was reversed !! No
sooner was it ascertained that Mr.. Clay was not
the candidate Of the Wing party, than the peo-
lions Of 1910 were carried by overwhelming
majorities. No sooner was the flag of ''Tippe-
canoe and Tyler too" unfurled, than the People
came forth in the majesty of their strength, and
in despite of the power and patronage Of the Go
vernment, bore them on by triumphant, over
whelming majorities. This is the second page
Of history. The third is present-1s4l.
No sooner was he elected, than Gen. Harri-
son went to Lexngton-there in concert with
Mr. Clay he arranged, in part, his Cabinet; and if
the late Cabinet and Mr.. Clay are to be believed,
he arranged the measures OF his administration
resulting in the Extra Session. Congress met,
and Mr.. Clay again appears as the leader of the
Wing party. The party caucus-the party
leaders, and the party press, are all regulated by
his impulse. MIR. Clay is the burden of Wing
praise-and such prominence is given to his
pretensions and his merits-such is the language
of the Wing Congressional Circular, and of the
Indignation meetings, got up at Syracuse and
elsewhere, that the determination TO make Mr.
Clay the candidate of the Wing party, is ma
nifest-and what follows? The same party
which in 1889 was every where defeated, when
it was believed that Mr. Clay was to be its can
didate, and which, under the banner of ''Tippe-
canoe and Tyler too," were every where trium-
plant in 1910, and now, in 1s4l, every where
routed, overwhelmed again.!
Is this accident, or is it because the People OF
this country are so much opposed to Mr.. Clay
that they cannot be driven to support him fo
the Presidency If it be true that ''History i:
experience teaching by example," we would ask
| why it is that these Lessons do not admonish thu
heated partisans of this aspirant for the Presi
dency, that his pretensons have been already
goal of his ambition
1t is admitted that the Wing party was trium
plant in 1910. 1t is admitted that Mr. Clay
was the leader of the Wing party in Congress
and it is admitted that the party are now routed
and overthrown. If MIR. Clay cannot preserv,
power when he is in a triumphant majority
how can it be expected that he can work up
minority into ma jority. We have seen ma
jorites sink before the magic influence of hi
name. How, then, is it to be expected that an,
party can triumph under his lead2
Was there ever any thing so truly despicabl
as the course of the Wing Clay newspapers
and especially that of one of the most scurrilou
among them, the Richmond Wing 1t would nov
have the family quarrel to cease;"-" they hav
proved their honor and independence" quoth il
and that is enough. And then it quotes an
adopts an article from the Warrenton Times
full of most sage saws. These editors no,
offer advice to the President, and desire to coun
sci him as to what his honor and fair fame re
quire! Was there ever impudence so unblush
ing They advise him, forsooth, as to what his he
nor requires, who have jealousy set themseve
to work TO strip him of all claim TO honorable stand
ing among men who have sought to blacke
his heretofore unsullied name; and who hav
prosecuted him for months past with malignit
untiring and scarcely equalled! ."Traitor,
"wretch," treason" 4" lnfamy"-these are tn
epthets with which they have attempted to tel
rify and destroy him, because he would not L
fact become infamous by the commission of tn
crime of perjury. The President, withou
doubt, fully appreciates the motives which no,
prompt these unreenting foes, recprocates thei
scorn, and spurns their proffered advice. The
owe the ruin of the Wing party to their ow
blind and perfdious course; they made the issu
with the President of Bank or no Bank, and tn
People have given their astounding verdic
Awaking at last to sense of their danger an