The Placer herald., 1870-06-04
Growth and Political Power of the West

nhp INV 'bo S'O"bh VI tue lfoItlH cN'. Ous
hundred and one years sgo-viz: in 1860 =
Daniel Boone, Of North Carolina. inspired
by love OF sdst tnture, journeyed across the
Alleghsnies, and, as the first white man,
saw the beautiful fivds Of Central Kentucky.
The war Of the Revolution followed, pre-
venting any emigration to that ssciion.-
When it ended favorsb,y for the colonists it
was opan for settlement. The Constitution
OF the United States was adopted By a con
stitutiona majority of the States in 1887.
| There WAS then, save few settlements in
Kentucky, nothing like political orgsniza-
lion near the Ohio river. - =. ..n.
In 1887 or 'S8 few people crossed The
Aileghanles and came to Marietta and Go
cnnati. That was the germ Of this State.
Beyond, in The Western d.recliou, there was
nothing. Ohio was admitted into the Union
IN 1902, with population of As 000. That
was less than three quarters Of ceDiury
ago. There was then no West 10 The sd-
ministJation of the government. 1t had 1T
tie more influence than Abyssinia has AT
present. The frst man who gave ecidt to
the West. and who convinced the people
that there was \ West, was IIenry Clay Of
Kentucky. AS far back as 1898 be was a
| United States Senator 10 fill vacancy io
the Stale Of Kentucky. Ia 1911, before The
war of 1912. be was chosen, the first day he
ever oiiicia'ed in that body, Speaker of the
Democratic House Of Representatives That
was trbule to bis private and political
character. To him more than any other, to
his energy and ability, The war declaration
of 1912 against Great Btitain was due.
The West then began TO loom up in the
view Of the country. 1t had few represen-
tatives in Congress, but they wete unan-
mously upon the side OF The Administration.
They exercised great influence upon its
decisions. From il had been chosen the
presiding oflicer Of the lower branch OF Com
gress. They had no maierls! interest 10 the
strife. Their sailors wsre not imprisoned ;
their ships were not seized under the orders
in council, or the Berlin and Mllan DEGREES
Their only complaint was .he outrage to the
na,ionalily-to the flag that waved over
them. The result Of the war was in the
highes' degree complimentary to the etf1rts
of the West. The only generals who par
ticularly distinguished themselves were
Western men-Andrew Jackson and VIII
liam Henry Harrison.
The greatest naval victory was won upon
the Western waters-Lake Erie-by Com
modore Perry. The. defence by Col. Crog
han of a small and Uconsiderabe fort it
Northern Ohio had immortallzed him with
glory. A Western man-Mr. Clay had
been tie principal negolialor Of The Treaty
of Ghent with Great Britain, which couc I'd.
ed the war.
The New England States, the East of the
cont nfederaoy, had rendered Itself unpopular
thy its impoIitic course taken during the war
The West became tho general toast. Its
settlements rapidly increased. Ohio became
large and popuIous State. Indiana was
admitted into The Union in 1917; Ilinoia 10
1919, and Missouri 10 1920 Shortly after
ward The two most conspicuous persons in
lbe political arena were Andrew jackson
md Henry Clay, both Western men When
Mr. Clay, in 1928, was appointed Secretary
st State. he WAS the fist person selected as
the bead Of the Cabinet who resided west Of
the A Ilrghanies. -Four years afterwatd Gen.
Jackson became President. and the West
ern il fuence received still higbera acknowl
edgment. From that time the political ten
denotes have all been in this direction.
After jackson, with brief inierfegnum,
came General Harrison, aud hen Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Polk, am! General Taylor and Gen
Cass, as Presidential candidates. ST AT every
apportionmsut under the ten. year census the
West steadily gained, wble the East lost.
The West at the beginning bad formed an
alliance with The South, in consequence Uf
heir mutual interests lhen came / be i'm
r ~; l..
OF one political party, the Democracy. upon
Mr. Douglas and Mr.. breckenridge, aud The
Republicans upon Mr.. Lincoln, all Western
men. taf F..Ut. -t. E0f
In 1864 Mr.. Lincoln was again elected,
and it is whrihy Of note that The President
and Vice President nominated against HIM
were both esdents Of the largest Western
city, Cincinnati, when tue war commenced
10 1868 Western GsDeral u. 5. Grant,
was the nominee OF one party, aud nearly a
majority OF the Democrat C Convention al
New York voted for Mr. Pendeton, OF Ohio,
as his compsliior. Before ,ha. we had the
practical administration of Andrew Johnson,
ano,her Western man, as PRESIDENT ~"
The time has long since passed when the
West could be ignored with satsty or ad
vantage TO the Ignoring party. The census
to be taken this year, and the apport comment
TO be based upon it, will give us immense
advantage Cincinnati Enquirer. etl "a.
-----------s- - - r---------- VIVA sfdI
MERIT REwARpEp.---It must be a source
Of qualification and pride 10 the inventor,
after years OF stndy and toll to Lave success
crown bis efforts, and know bis laboSs are
appreciated. :, This is peculiarly the case
wi b Or. Walkers Vegetabe Vinegar Bitters.
which is. comp sed Of purely vegetable prep
araliops, making The mos. etfestual alters
live that is possible for The medical intsli
gence and sklI Of our times 10 produce. 50.
''WnLL. Aleck, how's brother Ike getting
along2 "Oh, first rate; 90: a good start in
the world married widow who has got
nine children"