The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-14
From As 81 Louis Old School Democrat
TIE HON. HENRY CLAY

| An impartial review VI the history of parties and
Of the results of National and Stale elections sncs
1924 has satisfied that majority Of the people OF
the United States have dehnitisely made up their
opinions, that Mr. Clay is an unsafe man to elevate
iothe presidency. The Wing party will be signally
defeated, " they attempt to elect him in 1874
The brief space allotted 10 ordinary editorial
will not admit Of extended view OF this subject,
bat We VIII endeavor to present such facts and argu.
menis an will satisfy every Impartial reader Of the
truth OF he foregoing premises.
In 1924, after Iaborious and energetic canvass,
aud with sincere desire the of the people 10 do
| him Justice, he the hDdmost man-haying re-
ceised but thirty electoral votes. We need not
aiiude to the unhappy events connected with the next
canvass We content Ourselves with remaIking that
the united influence of Messrs. Adams and Clay on
iy procured eighty three votes in 1923, being thirty
eight less than their united votes Ia 1924.
In 1852, after the most violent effort which had then
been made in the United States, and under circJm-
Stances which Mr.. Clay considered favorable To his
succers, he received but forty votes and of those
this votes OF the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut
and Rhode Island, were undoubtedly given him
through the aid of Mr. Webster, who openly and
ably advocated his election The principles Of large
portion OF the peoplo who gave him their SURFACES
believed to be- pure and To be consistent with the
best interests Of The people and this belief Produced
candid and thorough investigation of the causes Of
his defeat. This investigation resulted in general
conviction that Mr. Clay too mperous, over.
~
tercourse and he was, by common consent, abandon
cd in the next canvass being too ultra for the
time.
In 1886, General Harrison and other opponents Of
Mr.. Van Bnren received one hundred and twenty
four votes and 80 nearly divided The votes of several
important States voting for Mr.. Van Buren,, that all
rejecting plainly that Mr.. Van Buren, could
be def ated in 1870 il all the elements Of opposition
to him could he made 10 harmonze. With q chorsc-
terstic pronptness, which was well understood, the
l...-. l..
cided that he was the man 10 achieve the victory
But in 1885 when they attempted To transfer the fruits
of the Of 1886 10 him. the States Of Pennsyl
vanio, Ohio and Indiana turned their backs and by
their Congressional elections demonstrated thnt Mr..
Clay not their favorite. In 1893 the contest be-
exciting and such the indiscretons of the
moment, that in mos, of the cities including 50
Louis-ihe organs of Mr. Clay denounced the sup
port of General Harrison a desertion from the
Wing standard. The tone of public opinion, how
ever perceived and il pain uI TO witness
the exquisite torture which preceded The death of the
Ciy Clay cliques. The farmers and mechanics how
ever, stood firm and Clayism died. General Iiar-
rison nominated, and in 1910, Ohio, indi-
ana, and other States changed front, and raj
lied in his support by astounding majores.
Again il Ihas teen attempted, as in 1888, to
transfer TO Mr. Clay, the fruits of this achievement,
and again will it fail. The combination editors, and
city Clay cques, have essayed 10 arouse the feelings
Of lsiO in favor of their champion. Blu, the States
Connecticut, Mary land, Georgia. Louisiana and Mis-
sisspp, refaSe to submit to his rule
The madness of party zeal has gone even further
in 1912, han il veniured in 1888. The combination
editors, led by the United States Gazette have
greatly presumed the ignorance of their readers
IN publishing and coDtIas ing tabular statement of
the electlo of 1888 1910, and 1912 They say that
as The State elections in 1888 did foreshadow the
result in 1910, those of 1912 do not indicate the
probable result in 1914 But is il not obvious that
a .I.T.
ing forward Mr.. Clay and that The victory of 1910
achieved under tie auspices AMI through the in
hucnce of III ldrr men, and by advocating conserve
tive and not ultra measures Is 1t not clear that
the Wing defeats Of 1912 have been he result of,h
ecke>sness partysn ullraism, and domineelng cut
throat policy of the heading" politicians who bear
sway in Cnngress1 What less than defeat could be
expected when every Republican or cons native, has
been rudely thrus, from the Wing party by the edct
of Henry Clay
Supericill observers and ultra pariissns may at
tempt TO set aside conclusions and nscrIhe these
results To want of principle or 10 want of steadl-
in the people, or to any other cause than their
own consunnste folly, which their varied imagioa-
lions u ay conjure up for their relief. But it will be
difficult for the friends of Henry Clay to clear his
skirts of the reproach There were some few ultra
ocos indeed who had The b ldness TO attribute the
election of Gen Harrison in 1870 and the success Of
Republican measures to fraud, bribery and corrup-
ton-but that election FULL fair and free, and de
a
American people IN favor of conservative, and
opposed to ultra, measures and ultra men.
We scorn to address ourselves 10 the ufrds of Ell
the party except indeed To win them back To the sup
port Of those principles upon the prevalence OF which
the permsnency of Republican Government rests
To such a. have dftrmined TO give Their and 10 the
u ira measures Of either MIR. Clay OF Mr.. Van Buren,,
make no appeal for to such, argument Is OF no
avail and facts unimporiant as 6cbons, But we
believe large majority of the people OF the United
States love their country better than they love men,
and will rally foI principles rather than for names
Believing this We have hope for our institutions
We believe that mild and moderate man, OF any
party can and ought TO defeat ultra PARTISAN no
matter what his political complexion We believe
the people al large will sustain the administration OF
The government, in The hands Of firm and talented
men, who recommend conservative measures, and con-
due, the afs Of the country with single eye TO Hs
honor and lis prosperity. But we believe also That
II foreod 10 choose between the uraiss OF denoora-
cy mil Whgisn they will promptly embrace the for
ner az far Ices dangerous To then hbere., than The
latter. We hope they will avoid both.
The ultra measures Of Mr.. Van Buren,. and especi-
ally hi, ultra sche0 Of sub-reasury with its exclu-
sive hard money features produced his defeat in 1870
The ultra Of Henry Clay and especially his
ultra National Bank scheme, now boldly advocated
by his friends will defeat his election in 1874 Be-
tween these ultra and rival schemes some middle
ground must be selected upon which the moderate
Of all parties will rally and triumph The yIiraispt
Of Van Buren, produced his ov. rthrow Conserva-
SIN triumphcd. But the ultra-men Of both RI
val parties waging upon the conservative adj
mnisration Of President Tyler. They are fighting
for prize. That prize i. power, place, emolument
Serious reflections must fill the minds of those who
achieved the triumph Of 1910 aud who will stop to
reflect at all upon the facts and suggestions which we
have made,
We trust our reader. will pause here for a mo-
ment and reflect upon the moral which may be drawn
from the political history OF parties in the las, TWEEN
ty years. nore especially should the members Of
that party which ,riumphed in 1910 prof, by this les
SON No member Of that psrty-no man IN al the
land should permit either prejudice or passion to warp
his judgment in these reflections. The lessons OF
history are deeply instructive.