Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-06-10
characteristics of the Presidents of
the United States.

the United States.
Washington was austere, dignified
and thougtful; he was an eminently
fortunate man, and, because fortunate,
an unusually comfortable man. He
was fortunate in his temperament, in
his opportunities, in his incorruptibili
ty, his wisdom and his unselfishness;
fortunate in his life and in his death.
He had his moments Of passion and
his dependency, but be passed out
through life like great sun in the
armament, sometimes obscured by
passing clouds, but bright and lumin-
Gus to the last.
John Adams, who Immediately sue
ceeded him, man of different mold,
pronounced by some of his best friends
vain and irritable, yet pure-as one of
his great contemporaries said, pure as
the God who made him-roused the
passion Of party, and left the govern
ment after four years. administration
to spend more than twenty in the tran
guilty of his home in the bosom of a
delighted family.
The third President was singularly
we'll equipped for public life. Thomas
Jefferson was born for leadership, and
he liked to lead. Literature, art, mu-
sic, science, society, conversation and
craftsmanship in its highest sense,
were his chosen instruments. lie was
ono of the few men who even lived and
proved his preoepts like a gentleman.
They were apostles of different schools
of politics. Mr.. Jefferson always op.
posed presidential levees, as unworthy
of republican government; and now let
me enter my protest against this occa-
sional mob at the white house. 1t is
an intolerable abuse and an unspeaka-
BILE nuisance.
The two Virginia statesmen who
succeeded Thomas Jefferson in the
Presidency, James Madison and James
Monroe, served peaceful terms, and no
scandal attended their administrations.
They were the disciples of Thomas
Jefferson, types of the best men OF
their day-thinkers, patriots and schol-
ars. May the time soon come when
the South shall be represented by men
of equal ability and character,
John Quincy Adams was witness
of the most interesting scenes of the
revolution, and was capable of retain
ing the most accurate recollections OF
the men of that period. He presents
a character at once varied and com,
plete. Reared to craftsmanship by a
careful father and a gifted mother, he
was a master of diplomacy. To him
the Presidency was filing theater for
his remarkable qualities, and none
more enjoyed or more criticised his
great advantages. lie was fortunate
in his father and fortunate in his son
fortunate in him who led him along
the paths of fame, and unspeakably
fortunate in the fact that his fame can
be safely trusted in the tender care OF
a highly cultivated posterity.
Andrew Jackson was in all respects
the exact opposite Of John Quincy
Adams. His school was that Of a rug
ged Western frontier, his teachers the
pioneers. Permeated by an honesty
born of his early hardships, confirmed
by contempt of money because he
had SO often done without it, he be
came the embodiment of indomitablC
force. He rarely failed in any under
taking, and to deny that he was {
happy President would be to deny tht
proof of his marvellous trlumphs over
all opposition.
Martin Van Buren, was what might
be called comfortable and complacen
executive, the pleasant and polished
courier of his age, who made of The
Presidency sort of Chesterfeldiar
interval.
Gen. Harrison's time was too brief
He was 90 when he was elected-toc
old for his great responsibilities, anC
therefore an easy prey to the hungr.
pacemen who hunted him to death
His term was filled out by John Ty
Ter, curious mixture of vanity, hon
esty and ability. He was happy il
his own conceit, and had plenty o
Virginia pluck He quarreled will
the Wings, and did not conclliate tn
Democrats. But he thought he wa
right.
James J. Polk had a comparatively
quiet administration, owing to tn
skill with which he selected his cabi
net, and the grace and dignity Of hi
accomplished wife. Gen. Taylor reacf
ed the highest Office at too great an age
and after sixteen months of worr
with the politicians, died, giving wa
, to MiIlard Fillmore, who seized a
, early opportunity to seperate himse
: from his party, but without maxim
much of a reputation for himself c
making animosities. Sol Forney.