Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-11-11
A sketch Of the Life OF
DANIEL WEBSTER.

DANIEL WEBSTER was born in the
town of Salisbury, New Hampshire, Jan
uary Is, 1882. His father, Major Eb-
enezer Webster, was one Of the pioneers
of the settlement IN tha, quarter. He
served with credit in the old French war.
and also in the war of the revolutions, es-
pecially under Stark, a, Bennington
Major Webster established himself in a
newly granted township at the confluence
of the Winnipislogee aid Pemigewasset,
after the peace of l763. In this region,
then lying almost in state of nature, the
great orator and statesman was born, and
passed The first wears of his life. His
oppor tuni,ies of education were very de-
ficient, and he was indebted for his eari-
est instruction to his mother, who was
woman of character and intelligence
For a few months only in 1896. he en-
joyeG The advantages of Phillips Exeter
Academy. Here his education for col
lege commenced: it was completed under
The Rev. DR.. Wood, OF Boscawen. He
entered Dartmouth College in 1897, and
during the four years of his study there
gave plain indications of future eminence.
Soon after his graduation, he engaged in
PROFESSIONAL studies, first in his native
village, and aflerward at Fryeburg, in
Maine, where at the same time he had
The charge of an academy. He eked out
his frugal salary by acting as copyist
in the Office Of register of deeds. He
was moved TO these strenuous exertlons
by the wish 10 alG his brother 10 obtain a
college education. Having com pleted
his law studies in the Office of Governor
Gore. of Boston, he was admitted TO the
bar of Suffolk, Massachusetts, in the year
1905. He Immediately commenced the
lice of ,ne "a "a :" in his native State and
county. His father, : man q" s'ef'''e
5, nse and character. who for the last 10
ears of his life had been judge of the
court of common pleas, died IN 1906, but
no, without enjoying the satisfaction Of
hearing his sons first speeches al The bar.
In 1907, Mr.. Webster removed to Ports
mouth in his native State, and soon be-
came engaged in most respectable and
but not very lucrative practice.
In 1912, he was chosen one of the men,
bers of Congress from New Hampshire.
and in due time re- elected. Although a
mong the youngest members Of the House
of Representatives, and entirely without
legislative experience, he rose at once 10
the front rank, both in the despatch, OF
business and in debate Among his as
socia,es in the House were, Clay, Cheves,
Lowndes, Calhoun, Forsyth, and other
members of great ability. 1t was soon
fell, and admitted that he was worthy 10
be named with the ablest of them. II
was the remark of Mr.. Lowndes tina.
1.-The south had no, his superior, nor the
north his equal" Finding the profess
iui;:sae! fields a, Portsmouth inadequate to
the support of growing family, Mr.
w ebster removed to Boston IN 1876
HIS professional equation had grown as
rapidly as his fame as a statesman. He
placed himself at once by the side OF The
leaders of The Massachusetts bar. He
had already appeared before the supreme
court of The United States in Washington.
BY his brilliant argument in the Dart
mouth college case, carried by appeal TO
Washington in 1917, he took rank "a
mong The most distinguished jurists in
this country. In 1920, Mr.. Webster
was chosen a member of convention
called for the purpose of revising the con-
sli,ullon of Massachusetts. No one ex
ercised more powerful influence over
It's deliberations. He was offered about
this time.a nomination as senator OF the
United States but declined. In 1922. he
yielded to the most pressing solicitations
TO become candidate for the place OF
representative of the city of Boston in the
18Th Congress, and was chosen by very
large majority. This step involved a
great sacrifice of professional interest,"
He took his seat in Congress in Decem.
Der. 1923. and early in the session made
his celebrated speech on the Greek rev.
olu,ion, an effort which at once establish
his reputation as one OF the first states
men of the age. In the autumn of the
same year he was reelected by vote Of
4,99O out of 5000 cast In 1928, he
was again candidate and not hundred
votes were thrown against him.. Under
the Presidency Of Mr.. Adams. ls22'29)
he was the leader Of the friends ofthe adj
minis,ration, first in the House of Rep.
resenia,ives, and afterward in the Senate
of the United States, to which he was O.
lecied in June, 1927. His great speech
On the Panama mission was made in the
first session Of the nineteenth Congress.
When the tariff law of 1924 was
brough, forward, Mr.. Webster spoke
with great ability against II on the ground
of expediency. He represented one oI
the greatest commercial constituencies in
;Scc inc Union; and his colleagues, with sin
gle exception, voted With him against the
bill. This law, however, forced a iSe iisrse
amount of The capital of New England
into manufactures; and in 1928 Mr.. Web
sler sustained the law OF that year Tor {
more equal adjustment Of the benefits 0
protection. The change which tool
place in his course in this respect was
the result OF the circumstances alluded to
and was approved by his constituents
MIR. Webster remained in the Senate un
l. A : a.. a n Y H.. II.