Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-10
B / o G lR .A p LEI y
From Baldwlns Party Leaders.
COMPARISON BETWEEN JCAK.
SON AND CLAY.
[CO N TIN U l. d. i

We consider Jackson and Clay as in.
contestably the greatest men Of their re.
spec,ive parties. In this estimate, we
Judge of men as we judge Of a machine,
by what it can accomplish. That there
were men Of greater intellectual calibre
than either, we are willing to concede
that in some departments Of human &C.
tivity, these would have far outshone the
two leaders-(or instance, as professors
of colleges, or in literature-we readily
allow; but in the practical business OF
craftsmanship. or in any other business
requiring the same sort Of ablitleS-for
whatever things energy, perseverance
and courage can accomplish, they were
the most efficient men of tbeil time.-
Those who differ with us in the result,
most probably differ in the premses.-
We regard the wiH ss the man; as not
so much giving individuality as being it.
The strong will, therefore is the strong
man. The intellect is but the servant Of
the will, not controlling it more than
any other servant may its master, but
controlled by it or, at most, is but the
light by which the will may work /; and
is as inferior TO it in true dignity, as the
lanp is inferior 10 the man tha, reads or
walks by its rays.
What better evidence have we Of Ma.
poleon's greatness, than that, in an age
Of great men, his pre-emi inent greatness
was unchallenged and that, among the
strifes Of rivalry, the point Of precedence
strugsled for was beLOID him!
Who. in the Democratic party, could
have carried away from Jackson. in
political contest, ten thousand votes i
Who, in his time, could have made q
respectable schism in the Democratic
; party? Much more, who would have
ventured to lead policy in the House
or the Senate, before it had the Execu
tive imprimatur? And at what period o
: the Whig struggle, would not Clay's de
lection have been equivalent TO striking
:, the flag?
d 1t is a mistake to suppose that Gener
= al jackson owed his popularity to hi
n military services. Unquestionably, hi
IT military exploits were an element Of tha
o popularity. 1t could scarcely be 9th
e erwise among SO warlike people es
ID pecially with the soldiers he led to ba,
lie, and those whom they could influ
l. ence, was this peculiarly true AMI it
t. also true that, in the states in which hi
at battles were fought, the mere circun
m stance OF his fighting them made him
IS popular favorite. But mere admiratio
I'd of a military chie(tain as such, and mel
Of gratitude for military services, could NJ
* have so impressed the heart or the ina
or gination Of the nation. We see an illu
n, alton Of this truth in the case Of Il
rs, conquerer of Mexico, the first Of livir
e. generals, at once in the length Of his C
- reer, and the number, Importance, ar
n brilliancy Of his victories. The natio
ey although it appreciates and acknow
ke edees his services, and feels proud
nd him, vet admires him coldly and at
%, dista nee admirss him as ne admir-
Or. the swords presented 10 him by legisl
M; lures, or as they admire the Paixh
". guns he fred at the castle o! San Jus
ty. There is no personality in their idea
ad him they seem TO regard him as but
ss, curious and. effective military machil
ry,l The deeds Of the warrior were effecti
an in Jsckson's popularity, in drawing
ew tention to, and in unfolding the char
led ter Of the man and it was that char
ON ter, . knowledge Of which was SO ev
IN. we'd, that was popular.
Of We have already indicated in W
ped this popularity consisted !; in what P
ere ticular he stood forth pictorially, 50
ou speak, before the people. He was ma