Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-08-25

Inc disputes OF party leaders Tor the
last three-quarters of century in the
old states would make a wonderful
volume, but those OF New York would
surpass all others. As L recur to the
bitter contest between Burr and Hamil-
ton, / find how many others have flowed
from that early example, and how
strangely history repeats itself. There
was period in the history of New York
filed with duels produced by these con-
ficts. From 1897 to 1901, and from
1901 to 1904, the utmost violence marked
the politics of New York. Not only ink
but blood was freely shed by both
parties / count dozen serious duels
in that interval Of eight years. The
rivals were Alexander Hamilton and
Aaron Burr, but long before the first
was killed by the bullet of the latter,
there were other fatal affairs. In 1898
Mr. Henderson killed Mr.. Jones in New
York city for writing q political squib.
Jefferson and Burr were both Democrats,
and in 1900 both received the same
number of votes for president, and some
of the federalists, eager to defeat their
ablest foe, Jefferson, were disposed to
throw their electoral votes for Burr, but
Alexander Hamilton, the federal leader,
bitterly opposed that alternative, and no
doubt his opposition to that scheme led
to his death at the hands of Burr, less
than four years after. Il trust" wrote
Hamilton, ''New England viii not so far
lose its head as TO fall into this snare,
there is no doubt that upon every per-
manent and virtuous calculation Jefferson
is to be preferred. He Is by far not so
dangerous man, and he has pretensions
to character. As to Burr, there is moth
ing in his favor. His private character
is not defended by his most partial
friends. He is bankrupt beyond re-
demptiOn, except by the plunder of his
country" And Jefferson was elected
over Burr. Then began the reign of the
Democrats in New York, and other
duels. First, the death of Philip
Hamilton, the eldest son of the great
financier, Alexander Hamilton, in 1902,
in a political duel with a Democrat
named Eacker; then the quarrel between
Cheetham, the Jefferson editor, and
Coleman, the Hamilton editor, which
resulted in the duel which ended in
Coleman's death. This was followed by
the fierce conflict between De Witt
Clinton, afterward governor of New
York, Federalist, and John Sartwout,
Democrat, and friend of Burr. They
fired five shots, and Swartwout was
terribly wounded. This followed by
challenge from De Witt Clinton to
Senator Dayton of New Jersey, after
ward arranged, and this by another duel
between Robert Swartwout, in which
Richard Riker was severely wounded.
Matters were shaping for the mortal
combat between Burr and Hamilton.
Jefferson was nominated for reelection
as president in 1904, but Burr was de-
feated for vice-president, and Governor
Clinton selected as the Democratic
candidate in his place. Indignant at
this new outrage on his pride, and fail
ing to get the regular Democratic nomi-
nation for governor of New York, Burr
ran as stump candidate for that Office
against Morgan Lewis, regular Demo-
cratic candidate. Hamilton was fierce
in his hostility to Burr, and Burr was
badly defeated in the same year that
saw Jefferson chosen president second
time. There is no doubt that from this
moment Burr resolved to fight Hamilton.
The latter had been unsparing in his
assaults upon his rival, and Burr, hear
ing of these comments, sent him a
challenge, and refused all compromise
but an abject apology. This was refused
by Hamilton, and on the 18th of July,
1904, they fought at Weehawken, near
New York, and Hamilton was killed,
leaving widow and seven children, his
beautiful daughter Angelica, made a
maniac by the fearful tragedy. Such is
the skeleton of New York politics over
three quarters of century ago. The
future, if less tragical, has not been less
quarrelsome. Both parties have been
almost equally afflicted by able and
ambitious rivals. George Clinton, De
Witt Clinton, Governor Morris, the
Livingstons, the Van Rensselaers, the
Hofmans, the Wrights, the Van Burens,
the Dickinsons, the Stewards, Weeds,
Talmadges, the Jays and the Marcys
have been on both sides of various
factions in the Democratic, Federal,
Wing, Anti-masonic and Republican
parties.
Home Pretty.