Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-06-14
HENRY cLAY's "uNpoPuLARITY."

The iocofoco presses are trying to make II APP
pear that MIR Clay is very unpopular man with
the people. II such be really the case, what need
is there of resorting to your old armory of false
hood, Islander and abuse Will not his unpopular
ity Of itself be sufficient to defeat him, or have you
become distrustfu Of public sentiment and graft
ude, now that light is dspelling the thick clouds
of calumny with which the fame Of this great
statesman has been temporarily furnished!
But let us examine the two Presidential contests
in which Mr. Clay was defeated, and which are now
raked up from twenty and twelve years oblivi-
on. In 1924, he failed Of an election in the Prima'
~ Colleges, in common with Adams, Jackson, and
Crawford. So, then, il lie was unpopular because
the people did not elect him. all the other candidates
were also. He was excluded from being one of
the three highest candidates who returned TO
the House on this occasion, by being unfairly de.
prived of electoral votes in New York and louisa.
ma. II is almost certain that he would have been
elected had his name been carried before the House
With regard 10 the contest of 1892 the re-clec.
ton Of Gen. Jackson at that time cannot be con-
srued into an indication Of popular feeling against
Mr. Clay. The people were disposed to give the
Old Hero and his experiments fair trial and
many Wings thought military man should be at
the helm of State while we were menaced with
Notification and war with France power alto
gether Unprecedented was welded against Mr. Clay
by the new gang of oiiice-holdcrs, who, greedy,
INSCRIPTIONS and unrestrained fought like desper-
ADDE'S for continuance of the Treasury pap, so
sweet to their palates In addition to these circum.
stances, the party opposed to Gen. Jackson was
distracted by anti Masonry, which presented an ex-
cellent and popular candidate for President in Will
liam Writ.
Mr. Clay's i'll success in these two contests is no
dsparagement to his fame. The very fact that he
is again candidate. Enthusiastically supported, too
after lapse of twenty years from his first can
vass, bespeaks his increased hold upon the affec-
tons and respect Of the people. No man who is
not truly and deservedly popular could pass thro
the ordeal Of falsehood and vhuperation to which
Mr. Clay has been subjected since 1924, and come
out Of it brighter and more esteemed than ever
There must be very strong under current OF feel
ing in his favor in the nation-else how could his
fame outlive the malignant and brutal assaults of
the locofoco press' How could he find his services
daily becoming and more appreciated, his sup
porters daily increasing his prospects daily bright
ening, and his reputation daily growing airer -
There is such under-current, We verify believe
and il will watt The Farmer Of Ashland " into
the Presidential chair, and the Wing party into
substantial and enduring power, at the coming
election.
IN neither of the two contests referred to- did Mr.
Clay have a fair field and in both there were ex-
traordinary causes al work against hun He has
been some twenty times candidate for the sufra-
ges of the people of Kentucky, and in er'ry in
stance they gaue him maturity Who asks more
proof Of his popularity than that he has always sue
ceeded where he is best known Can James Polk
say as much Until he can let the locofocos cease
this railing accusation that Mr. Clay is what they
know both their principles and men to be-odious
to the people