The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-05-26
AN AMERICAN STATESMAN.

renown as any ever acquired by an
American was that of the late VIM. L.
Marcy, of New York. A politician of
the Jackson-Van Burep school, he be-
came the most distinguished exampler
of that republican simplicity which
constituted its faith, but which was the
unsupported pretence of many of its
eminent followers. In all Mr.. Marcy's
actions, whether as a citizen in the So
cial relations of life, or exercising the
great functions which during so many
years devolved on him in high places
of honor and trust, his rule of conduct
was founded in the charter of our lib
erties-the equality of men. Hostile
to caste, and to exclusiveness IN every
form, he almost failed to concede the
postulate of the poet,
.Order is Natures first law and this confessed
Some are and must be greater than the rest"
In person he was erect, tall and
massive, in appearance plain, in de-
meanor simplicity itself. No grander
model could be found of the American
farmer and statesman the former
was all his pride and happiness, in the
latter all his study and care. He was
the equal, as he was the contemporary
of the great men of our Republic.
When Mr.. Marcy, as Secretary of
State directed foreign affairs, he was
led by his contempt for the shows and
ceremonies of princes to interpose an
American regulation in their affairs of
State, which signally failed. 1t was
known in that day as the "Clothes
Question" "You will appear he
wrote officially to Minister Mason, at
the court of St. Cloud, ION all occa-
sions in the plain dress of an American
citizen" and the same order perplexed
all our diplomats abroad. Mr.. Bu-
chanan, afterward President, sought at
St. James, to reconcile with the COM
mands of his superior at Washington
the memorable requirements of court
etiquette, SO he arrayed his dignifed
form in suit of shiny black with a
snowy vest and white choker. But
while the others were denied admit
lance to the ceremonies and entertain
ments of their respective Courts, Mr..
Buchanan was mistaken by one of the
effete aristocracy for an upper servant,
and told to make himself lively with
his overcoat and umbrella.
We have not an example now Of a
statesman of the Marcy school. We
have eloquent men with abundant ca
pacity and plenty of patriotism. We
have men that are not corrupt and are
incorruptible. But where is that grasp
of mind that took in all the great bear
ings of every question it approached
and in its treatment of them grated
unfailing axioms of international law
upon the diplomacy of his times The
Northwestern Boundary and Martin
Koosta questions are testimonies of
the power, rather than skill, with which
he handled the weapons Of controver.
sy and will long remain in International
annals as monuments of his renown.
1t is not remarkable that in times
like the present we should call to mind
the great men of the republic, and lift
them up to public view that as warm
ings and guides they may be contrasted
with the pigmies we have exalted into
their places and honored with their
robes ofpower.
Description of American House Property.
The American House, owned by Mrs. E.
Barr, is situated in the town of Boerne, Texas,
famous q health resort The hotel &c bui1t