New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-04

sition to the Jackson and Van Bnren administra-
tons was particularly bitter and persstently I'M
broken. 1t was intensified by traditions OF old
quarrels with the Washington powers, which though
long allayed, had still left a root of bitterness.
There was q trace of this in the first address which
| heard Mr.. Wendell Phillips deliver-a Fourth of
July Grafton given in our town just after he left the
Universty-1 believe in 1881. When he stood
up in the pulpit thought HIM the handsomest man
had ever seen-when he began to speak, his elocu-
ton seemed the most beautiful to which had ever
listened, and was that the oratiOns of Cicero
which | had just begun 10 thumb. were given to
the S. ?. O. r. with much smaller effect Even then
the great orator of the AbolitiOnsts an nd
mirable speaker nor did he, though scarcely past
his majority, lack the grace and force OF language
with which the whole country has since become
familiar. There was, beside. a fresh and youthful
enthusiasm which could not last forever. He had
then all the pride of State feeling, which
he had probably inherited from his Federal ances-
tors, and remember one expression which fell from
bis lips, which in the light Ofhs subsequent career,
is little curious. He was speaking of the political
history of the State and of its frequent isolation in
politics. and electrified us all by eXclaiming The
star Of Massachusetts has shone the brighter for
shining alone ~ / suspect that then Mr..
Phllipss Federal relations in rather an unccr-
tain condition.
The opposition of Massachusetts to the Jackson
and Van Buren, administrations was peculiar
in respect. The Wings claimed all
the decency and refinement and wealth and
cultivation of the State If not of the United States
Governor John II. Clifford. when a young man, in
the Legislature imprudentl spoke of the Democrats
of the town which he represented as poor IN
character and meagre in numbers" II was one OF
those unfortunate speeches frequently made by
iticans which are easily remembered,
and become stereOtypcd weapons to be
used on awkward occasions against their
uttercrs Whether Daniel Webster ever really
did gay that it was necessary for the Wings
to come down into the forum and take the people by
the hand" never could find ont but great many
voters thought that he had said and voted against
him whenever they had an opportunity. These
words which were printed over and over again III
the largest Of type in all the Democratic news
papers, contain i'll themselves the substance OF
great deal of the political discussion ut that time
Some of the Democrats of Observation-Disclosures
O. A. Brownson, Rantoul-were thorough d0ctiinares
and gave a philosophical turn to their speeches
which puzzled and profoundly impressed their au-
diences The idea was that the rich men were try
ing always and malicou>y to get the better OF the
poor men. and that in these reprchenslble designs
the autocrats of Boston were particularly malignant
their views to hold profitable offices, and they were
charged truly or falesly. with wish TO keep the
marty in the State Conveniently small" in order that
their share of the loaves and fishes might be all the
larger Mr. BrOwnson. then in the gall Of radical
ism and the bitterness Of general dissatisfaction
held some small office, not large enough TO enrich
him; so did Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne, another
Democrat upon abstract principles, whose chief
service to the party consisted in sending now ana
then. delightful paper to The Democratic Hri7c.
Dr. Brownson could do good. slashng work, upon oc-
cason and when he did not wander off into perfect
maze of speculation, ne was an excellent stump
speaker | heard HIN once raise mighty roar oil
applause by defining a Loco Foco rs man al
WAYS carving his own light" He publishing
then the first series of his Quarterly Eeroca very
different work from the last series Of that prriod-
cal issued after he became a Catholic. lie dis
cussed the SubTreasuTy and other questions IN the
light Of tie eclectic philosophy and, IN spite Of all
he knew of the Democratic party In New-iUrk
and New Hampshire and elsewhere, he always per
sisted in speaking of 1t rs party of advanced
religious views and Of specially Illuminated char
acter 1t is possible that he may have known what
he meant but that was more than conld be always
affirmed with truth of his hearers He said once in
discussing some Wing pamphlet: II this Is the
best answer which the Wings of Massachusetts can
had better set their houses In order for the day OF
tbeir departure is at hand. The people are weary
of this eternal cant, and this eternal absence OF
living principle and of manly thought" Tbs
sounded beautifully; but it really meant that Mr..
Henshaw or Mr.. Bancroft ouRht to he collector OF
the port of Boston. that Mr.. Van Buren ought to
follow General jackson III the Presidency What
did the Gallios OF New-York, the Silas WriGhts,
and the Mngs and the Mike Washes and the
Lew d. Slams care for these thiDgsf tnink that
even Mr. Van Bmren must have laughed a little IN
his sleeve at the astonishing way IN which his Mas
sachusetts philosophers defended him.
Mr. Bancroft was another Massachusetts, Demo
crat of the doctrnalre school, and he made great
deal of money in the Boston Custom House, for an
office ike that meant fortune in those days. do
not think that he much cared to deliver stump
speeches. but he had 10 choice. Every Democratic
ofice-holder who could speak and would not speak,
Was made to speak. Mr.. Hawthorne who could
no more speak than jump over wide river, was Of
course excused. Mr.. Bancroft brought the rhetoric
of his History to the platform. lie was ornate,
eilded and occasionally flaming Whatever he
might be dIscussng-and people did not discuss
much save the Sub-Ireasury in those times-he sell
dom deiqned TO descend from bis stlts. lie had
favOrite way of beginning these election harangues
lie would look with expression of establishment
at the audience, and exclaim, with the ges-
ture of Hamlet at the first sight of
the ghost "1his vast assemblage might well
appall me w This impressed those who had never
heard it more than twice before, and 1t had
the further effect of giving the audience aforesaid
good cOnceit of its own proportions / have said
that Mr. Bancroft could get off his stills but
occasionally be relaxed little his stately dig
nifty. He was speaking one night of the great
Wing procession in Boston III 1910 II undoubtedly
did rain while the Wing army was marching
10 Bunker Hill and Mr. Bancroft improved the
circumstance with surprising mixture of atitu-
dinousness and familiarity. 1--WE appeal 10