The New York herald., 1876-12-01
[From the HERALD, July S, 1873.
New Ltass OF Political Departure
How History Repeats Itself-What


us mark the growth Of the very earth upon
which we live Scandinavian philosophers
are marking the different stages of the
seas recession from the Swedish high
lands and will tell us how many GEN.
turies must pass before the vast inland
spaces hidden by shallow lakes are dry
and fresh for the furrow. In the United
States those who look at politics from lofty
point of view will note certain changes and
formations We shall in after days note by
these indications the real growth Of the Re-
public. Compared with this other consid-
erations ap vain and Indifferent What
issue excites Pennsylvania or New York or
what will result from the ambition of any
man, however famous, or any party, however
strong, are oflittle value compared with the
graver questions now commanding our atten-
tion.
The marked periods in American history
are associated with tho names of Washing
ton, jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln. WASH
ington founded tho Republic, jefferson
created the party which SO long represented
the democratic sentiment that arose out of
the French Revolution. Jackson first made
the government serve the aims of party
and taught our earlier politicians the fas-
cinating and dangerous prerogatives of the
Presidential Office. Lincoln destroyed the
slave power, and, had be lived. would prob
ably have finally reconstructed the Union.
These are the landmarks of our history,
and nll political successes and experiments,
tho rise md fall of parties. the aims and
plans OF our public men. are subordinate to
them These men stamped their names
upon their epoch they had exceptional
power. Washington. with that cxtraor-
dinary prescience nnd sclf-denial which
make his name shine through the ages with
tho lustre of Aristides and Phocion, de-
clined to use his power. No two were more
apart in their character, more diverse in
their purposes, than Hamilton and Jefferson.
Washington made them serve his purpose,
which was the national security. Jefferson
was not permitted this independence of
action, and perhaps did not crave it. lie
was the leader of party, and had positive
radical views on political and social ques-
tions. He had lived in the flame and beauty
of the early days of the French Revolution,
when "Lberty, fraternity and equality r
were shouted in Paris streets by men not
yet maddened with blood. He had a
passionate, almost personal hatred of kings.
He made war upon ancestral rights,
primogeniture, the aristocracy, On es-
tablished church, standing army
all the forms and expedients by which
the monarchs strengthened their thrones.
He felt that no government was greater than
a people He was the father Of Monroe
doctrines-manifest destinies He gave US
an empire in Louisiana and tried to open
the Western road to the Pacific. He was an
American representing the best ideas of the
best age of France When he was in power
his sway was absolute; when he retired his
power remained. He named Madison as
successor to Monroe as successor
to Madison. Even his opponents abandoned
their opposition, and we had what histori-
ans have called ''the era of good feeling"
and he may be said to have dominated
American politics from the death of WASH
ington to the advent of jackson.
Whether the influence of Jackson upon
our country was for good or evil has never
been determined. He made lasting i'm
preston upon the country and was a ruler
of ever-mastering will. He realized the
saying "that degenerate courage makes one
n majority" He showed the country the
power which Hamilton and Jay really con-
cealed in the Presidential Office In time
of peace he assumed prerogatives which
Lincoln never assumed in time of war.
He made politics q profession. With
absolute convictions on all subj ects arising
more frequently from prejudice than reason,
he used his office as he used his pistols and
his horsewhip-to remove oil opposition to
his will. lie taught us the debasing custom
that when party wins power its duty is to
reward its followers by pillaging the public
revenues. 1t was then we learned the
famous political axiom, that ''to the victors
belong the spoils. Nor have we re-
formed this altogether, although Gen
eral Grant thinks that the country
believes he has seriously attempted to do
so. That truculent, inglorious Mexican war
was one of the results of the Jackson policy.
Then came the Nebraska bill and the trans
actions in Kansas. Notwithstanding these
consequences the power of jackson was as
great as that of jefferson. He named his
successor. He influenced democratic poll
tics so long as there was u democratic party.
He made i. impossible for Clay, Calhoun or
Webster, his colossal antagonists to win the
supreme fame of the Presidency. Until
,,,,l &c ko1;.
in our politics. Nor is the spell broken
The awful events Of the volcanic
tremendous time have not destroyed
the name of Jackson. His rugged, imperi-
ous. honest. frank nature made that name n