The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-02-02

down from his high place and bowed
to the South, who received him only
to throw him aside. In wrath of |
spirit he advised his friends to support
the party he has always resisted, the
party of slavery and secession. The
waters Of bitterness went over him.
and the sun of his greatness set in
clouds.
In private life Webster had all the
qualities which make such man pc
culiarly attractive. Cold, dignifed,
in his later days solemn even. IN pub
lie and before the world, in the midst
of his family, or with his intimate
friends, he unbent completely, pushed
politics and Cares of state aside, and
gave trin t" Ia,ents for conversation
which corresponded with the richness
nd strength of his mind Wit, wis
dom, anecdotr. lrarning, humor, and
4 boyish fun all mingled in his talk
In the field with his farmers, on the
shore. or on the sea, fishing or shoot
ing, with his boatman or with some
congenial companion, he had large.
unstudled ease of manner; and with
the simple country people who lived
about his home, with his servants or
dependents, in his letters and iu his
talk, there is a constant flow Of hu-
NOR and pleasant grace which per-
vades even the dry instructions as to
the management of the farm. In the
close intimacy Of the family circle
these qualities were displayed in even
greater measure, and upon all con-
nected with him by ties Of blood or
friendship he poured out the wealth of
his affection. He was called upon to
bear much sorrow. Grief for the
death Of his first wife, the wife of his
love and youth, and for the loss Of his
children, stirred to their depths his
strong emotions, and shook him in a
way which we are told was terrible to
witness.
1t would be pleasanter to every one
to stop here, with his generosity, his
fascination of talk and manner, and
his warm affections, but his admiraers
and biographers, by denial or silence,
compel US to glance at darker shades
nf character. It has been considered
fitting and wise to deal in this way
with the notorious fact of Webster's
occasional excessive indulgence in
wine, ,and with his reputation in respect
to the other sex, which popular report,
at least, stamped as far from pure and
honest. No one wishes to rake among
the failings of a great man in these
dii ections, and there is very rarely any
reaaon to do so, but it is even less
fitting to seek to cloak them
with silence or vain denials. The
proper and manly way is to mention
them, admit them if they should be
admitted, regret them and have done.
Webster had, however, one grievous
failing, which cannot be passed over
in this way, and which his principal
biographer felt called upon to discuss
at length, as it had been openly as
sailed IN Congress. This was his con-
stant acceptance from personal or po-
litical friends Of large gifts of money.
At one time it was an annuity, at an
other few thousands for the expenses
of his table; private subscriptions to
pay his debts were at all times pain
fully common, and. unless he is fear
fully belied, he would not unfrequent-
ly draw upon his friends for large
sums, which soon after appeared
among the debts to be paid again by
subscription. But putting aside eve
rything that is not susceptible Of i'm
mediate and absolute proof, when we
read in the pages Of foreign histo-
rian of the acceptance of check for
ten thousand dollars from WASH
ington banker, as token Of admira-
ton for the 7th of March speech, and
then think who and what Mr.. Web
ster was, it makes us shudder. 1t was
not only neither delicate nor high
minded, but it was ut erly wrong.
Mr.. Webster made enough money as
lawyer to live as became him. If he
could not continue in public life ex-
cept as the pensioner of State street,
then he had no business to be in pub
lie life; and the decision of the ques-
ton was with Mr.. Webster alone,
and cannot be foisted off on State
street. It is said that he was not in
fuenced by these gifts, and this we
believe to be perfectly true. Mr..
Webster's attitude, with the modifca-
tions of civilization, was that of a
feudal baron. He protected his sup
porters' interests as the baron did his
peasantry, and then levied tribute
from them. The baron took what he
wanted with the armed hand. Web
ster took what he wanted by his over
shadowing personality, and his great
intellect, and at fitting moment &C
knowledged the aid by magnificent
compliment to the donors, individu-
ally or collectively. The principle in
the two cases was about the same 1t
was rather predatory and very wrong
and unbecoming, but it was not a
question of improper influence; it
was simply stain upon the charac-
ter of a great man.
When Webster failed, it was a
moral failure. Moral weakness was
the cause of the acceptance of money
and Of the fall Of the 7th of March