Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-24
4 Teteran Democrat.

Among the letters sent to the great Sth
of January banquet at Cleveland, Ohio,
was the following from Hon. Fl. e. Gregg,
of New Lisbon, Ohio, a gentleman well
known in st. Paul, and who spends por-
tion of each year in caring for his prop
erty interes is here:
New LISBON, O., Jan. 6, 1888.
Hon. II. B. Payne, Chairman Committee
OF Invitation Sth of January Celebra-
tom
thank you for the invitation to the an
niversary reception of the Fifth ward An
drew Jackson club of the city of Cleye-
land. This reminds me of the old time
politics and politicians. I was in Wash
ington city when Gen. jackson came in, l
believe, in an old-fashioned stage coach,
from the city of Baltimore, and stopped at
the National hotel, corner of Sixth street
and Pennsylvania avenue. His friends
wished to get up grand reception, but
Old Hickory cared little for grand parade
and show, and came in quietly, without
noise or formality.
1t is said of Mr.. Jefferson that he rode
up to the capitol, and hitched his horse to
an cld-fashioned panel fence, and went in
to be inaugurated. l was at Washington
on the 4th of March, 1929, when Gen. Jack
son first took the oath of Office as president
of the United States, and it was almost as
simple, plain and democratic as the inau-
guration of Mr.. Jefferson. There was
great throng amounting to thousands of
people in attendance, but so simple and
plain were the proceedings that General
jackson walked on foot to the capitol, &C
companied by a few friends, in the midst
of the crowd, and took the oath of office at
the east front Of the capitol, on the eleva-
ton of the eastern portico, the surround
ing space being occupied by the senate,
house, supreme court, foreign ministers,
and ladies. From this elevation he deliv-
cred his inaugural address to the crowd of
people below, and with the exception of
some music by the Marine band, and prob
ably the firing of a salute, there was neither
parade nor ceremony. And after the ad-
ministration of the oath by the chief JUS
tice, and the delivery of his address, Old
Hickory mounted his horse, and accompa-
MED by two or three friends, rode up
Pennsylvania avenue and took possession
of the presidents house. General jackson
was fine horseman, and I recollect so
well his appearance as he rode up the
have often thought how much better it
would be if we could follow the plain, SIM
pie ceremony of Thomas Jefferson and
Andrew jackson than to have the fuss and
feathers and expense of the present day.
As centraiIsm expands, however, corrup-
ton expands and covers the land, and the
outgrowth is corrupt whisky rings and
star route steals. to apply the soap and buy
IL ~ - II.
further top out corruption and the corrupt
use of money. In fact, there is at least
twenty times the amount of money used at
the present day to corrupt and carry cleo
tons that there was in the days of Andrew
Jackson fifty years ago. Now if presi-
dent is elected there is no certainty that he
will be inaugurated, and if a candidate for
congress should be successful under an
unequal and outrageous apportionment he
has then to run the gauntlet of the can
wasting board at Columbus.
was connected with the old Globe Office
during the red hot opposition to the ad-
millistratioh of Gen. jackson, and helped
put in type not less than half dozen of
Old Hickory's messages as sent to the
Office in the handwriting of his secretary,
Major Donaldson. General Jackson was
man OF polished manners and hon.
esty of purpose, and when he
felt he was right no man could
me7e or change him. l was where I
could see the most vigorous aid to the ad-
ministration from the pens of such old and
distinguished statesmen as Thomas Fl.
Benton, F. P. Blair, as well as other emil
nent men of that period. When the United
States bank opened its full batteries upon
Old Hickory there was hot work, can as
sure you; but the people stood by him. and
he came out victorious, while the bank soon
proved to be bankrupt.
I could write columns upon this old time
subject of fifty years ago, but l will not
tire your patience to read them. Sorry I
cannot be with you to pay honors to the
memory of Old Hickory.
Respectfully, FL. H. GREGG.