The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-17
Great Men In the United States-Progress OF
Politics and Parties.

Great Men In the United States-Progress OF
Politics and Parties.
The recent death of Henry Clay. but, still moro
immediately the death Of his great compeer, Daniel
Webster, has brought down, in the commentaries Of
the English press upon his character and pub ic SER
vices, their condemnation OF the insratitude Of re-
pubcs, and especially Of the republi, and the PEG.
pie Of the United States. But they take only
superficial view Of their subject, and consequen ~
arrive at narrow and false conclusions. They are
unjust 70 the American people, in Representing them
with censuTable neglect of the superior claims to
thsir sufrsges Of such great minds those of Clay
Webster, and Calhoun; and this injustice Ia doubt
lees to be attributed to that remarkable igno-
Of our institutions which prevails in England,
than to British prejudice against the American
character and "the model republic
From the epoch of the great revolutionary move
ment of l776 down to the present day. the politics
Of the United States have undergone three distinct
transitions, resulting in the formation Of IS many
parties or re-organizations of parties, and in as
many diferen. classifcations Of the great leading
men Of the politics Of their times These three
classes of men are
1. Washington and hi, compeers
2 jefferson and his cotenporariss
3. Clay, Calhoun, Webster and others.
During the eight years Of General Washngton's
administration there we're no great hostile political
parties in the country The people were an uni; in
support of the government and the principles upon
which it was conducted. Hamilton aud Jefferson,
subsequently, one the chief of the federal, and
the other the leader of the blican party were
both in the cabinet of Washington, and ths two
leading spirits in directing the policy of his admin.
ssA~a xr Al
clans Of the day, in support Of "the Father Of his
Country arose from universal venera.ion for the
man, and from natural desire al sides to give to
the new experiment of popular government, in the
outset, that hearty cooperation and assistance 80
essential to place ii firmly upon its feet.
With the administration OF John Adams, how.
ever, Few epoch ushered in, and party politics
took their rise. The alien and ssditioa laws OK
cited the hostility Of Jefferson and his par.
tisans, who cherished the doctrines of State
rights and liberal concessions to ths people,
against Mr. Adams, Hamilton, and the con-
servaves Of that day, who were fearful Of popular
excuses, and were the advocates Of strong CEN
trslized federal government. The result was the
triumph Of Jefferson and his popular theory over
Adams, Hamilton, and the federal party. And,
upon the great elementary republican principles Of
Jefferson, the republican party SO organised msin-
tanned its ascendancy, carrying the war Of 1912
with England along with it, and the re-establish-
ment Of National Bank, till 1920, when the old
federal party died a natural death. Then came on
"the era of good feeng"-all the great party dis
tinctions we're msrged into one general voice for the
plain republican administration of Mr.. Monroe.
In 1s2I-2S, new division Of parties vas brought
about IL was commenced in 1924, when Ja ,kson,
Adams, Clay and Crawford, were candidates for the
Presidency; and when the elestion being carried up
TO the House Of Representatives at Washington,
there being no choice by majority of the people,
Mr.. Adams was elected by q concentration upon him
Of the friends Of Mr.. Clay, and Mr.. Clay was made
bis Secretary Of State. This was the ro,k upon
which Mr. Clay split. charge Of "5srgain and cor
ruption," brought against him and Mr.. Adams
defeated the latter In the canvass OF '2s,
and the former In the election OF 80, most de-
cisively. Doubtless, General Jaekson's great Wis
tory over the British, at New Orleans, had much to
do with his popularity; but in 80 bis war upon the
United States Bank, which had become an engine
Of prOdigicus powers Of corruption, was the para
mount question, as was the charge Of bargain
and corruption in 1898. The people Of the United
states are quick to rebuke their public servants,
even upon suspicion Of infdelity
From iezS we take new departure. UP 70 that
period broad nationality marked the great statesmen
Of the country; but hsre And them branching of
upon sectional issues, and class nevsm snts-op the
bank, the tariff, and other questions. Thu ovsr
whelming popularity and broad nationality Of
the pclicy Of General Jackson, however, led
, Let ely " the complete dss.sysx9n Of d /,