Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-04-21

Ell Inks IlaL CONNECT the present
with the great fundamental truths
and principles as taught by Thomas
! jefferson, and afterwards SO Jealous
ly practiced and heroically defended
by Jackson. General Dodge has
seen great and varied service, yet he
is in the full vigor of manhood; as
a soldier, he was all that the term
General implies; as statesman, he
is all that purity, honor and wisdom
include.
MIR. DoDGE's REPLY.
GENTLEMEN: = Recent indisposi-
ton will, | foresee, deny me the
pleasure of attending the banquet to
be given by your club on the APP
preaching anniversary of the birth
lay of Andrew jackson, to which
you so kindly invite me.
Though absent in person, | shall
be with you in spirit, as the occasion
will, | am sure, be one Of unusual
enjoyment to our political friends.
lii his life, character and public
services, Jackson furnishes a fine
type of the American democrat, and
an example full of encouragement
to the young men of our country.
Born in a log cabin, of poor emf
grant parents, just arrived from Ire
land, and doomed to orphanage
when of very tender years, he was
educated "at the old field school, SO
called "A sort Of shanty covered with
slapboards, having a rude door,
swung on wooden hinges; he chop
ping and carrying wood, pulling
fodder, driving oxen, going to mill,
&C., to pay for his board and tuition"
Reared in the pine woods OF the Car
olinas, amid the exciting and bloody
scenes of the revolution, Andrew
Jackson, then not sixteen, was pur-'
sued, captured and wounded by the
myrmidons Of CORVALLIS and Tarle-
ton. All Of his brothers and many
Of his neighbors, fell in the struggle
for oW independence.
But, in the providence Of Cod, the
poor, friendless orphan boy of the
revolution was destined to be more
than avenged of his enemies, and by
his talents and genius to make him
self one of the chief figures in
American history, filling as he did
the entire cycle Of public honors.
civil and military, Of the republic
for which lie shed his young blood.
In the second war for independ-
ence-that Of 1Sl2-fought for free
trade and sailors rights" Jackson
was the most brilliant and success
full of American generals Chosen
by his fellow volunteers, he led the
brave Teunesseans, few i'll number
and poorly armed, against powerful
Indian tribes, attacking them in
their strongholds, defeating the saw
ages in a series Of desperate hand to
hand fights, and thus securing last
ing peace to our bleeding southern
| frontier.
On the Sth of January. 1915, in
front of New Orleans, at the head of
Il volunteer force not numbering one
third of the invading army, Jack
son defeated fifteen thousand British
regular troops, "the inyincibles of
Wellington" killing Packcnham,
Gibbs and Kean, the three British
generals highest III command. and
conquering the conquerors Of the
conquerel Of the world. A victory
which, in view of disparity of mum
bers, discipline and frightful slaugh-
ter inflicted on the enemy, must
forever remain in the catalogue OF
military miracles.
But great as were the services OF
this extraordinary man in the field,
his civil administration transcribed
his warlike exploits. 1t gave dignity
and character to our America abroad.
His diplomatic policy was character
istic Of the man, and bore rich fruit
for his countrymen. 1--WE will ask
nothing" said Jackson, ''of foreign
nations that is not right, and submit
to nothing that is wrong
Acting upon a policy so Just and
bold. he secured from the great and
smaller nations of the world, the
large indemnities for spoliations
committed on the property Of our
citizens; indemnities which, through
a long series Of years had been
asked i'll vain by former administra-
tons. In the memorable instance
of France, he wrung, at the point of
the bayonet, twenty-five millions of
francs for the seizure and confSca-
ton of the property OF our citizens.
They received the money so long
due, but the king never obtained the
apology he asked for the language
hurled by Jackson in his messages
against the Punic faith Of the gov
eminent Of France. He struck the
pirates Of Sumatra III their den, and
thus taught them the lesson, in
blood aud terror, that not even the
diameter of the globe could protect
them from punishment for the rob
berry and massacre of American cit
liens; whose name he made an in
violable passport to all who bore it,
whether upon land or water.
At home, his administration paid
off the entire public debt; reduced
the taritf-elimlnating therefrom ev
cry tax that squinted at the piratical
doctrine of protection; overthrow
the monster monopoly of the age,
the Bank of the United States, with
all its branches and mighty power
to Cypress the people; restored the
gold currency, (banished till then by
unwise legislation;) and crushed
notification, the old hero swearing
reverently, by the Eternal, the Fed
eral Union must and shall be pre-
served"
Jackson's heart. in all its homes