The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-12

many years in Washington, while he occu-
pied positions of honor and fame and finally
became an inmate of the White House itself
and the head of the Nation. During his
administration Mrs. Polk was his
Prime Minister in everything in coun-
sci, and was such a helpmeet as was
fitted to stand by the side of the
first man in the Nation. 1t was her custom
to daily read the newspapers, interesting
herself in all matters pertaining to national
affairs, and such articles as she felt that her
husband should note personally she marked
for his perusal, in this way keeping up with
all the political issues of the day and uniting
herself to her husband by all the ties of con-
geniality which loving, noble and intelli
gent woman could form for herself.
Mrs James X. Polk passed her eighty-6rst
birthday in September last and still has left
to her that mental vigor which has always
characterized her. In health she is some
what feeble, though she occupied her pew
yesterday in the First Presbytrian Church
of this city, of which she is a mem
ber, and united with the congregation
in the communion OF the Lords Sup
her in perfect health and the probabilities
are that her days will yet be long. She
has horror to be interviewed, though she
will always talk readily to your correspond.
ent whenever asked to discuss any i'm
portant questions of the day. She entered
a
step when your correspondent called on her
that Iefuted her fourscore years, and ex-
tended her hand in hearty greeting that
told of the warm cordiality that won her
friends in the White House and wherever
she Is known.
In answer to a question relative to the
political excitement now and that of the
canvass which preceded Mr.. Folks election,
she said: so many years have elapsed since
that important event that the facts have
almost faded from my memory, and then.
too, being the wife OF one OF the parties most
interested, the excitement was kept far
away from me. You are aware at that time
our home was in Columbia, Tenn, a small
village, and We had no railroads and no tele-
graph system"
What were the questions then sgitated;
do you now remem berP
'Oh, yes; the question then, as now, was
largely about the tariff. In that particular,
the two canvasses forty years apart are very
similar. Then, another point OF similarity
I remember was that without the vote OF
New York Mr.. Polk could not have been
elected, and we were naturally yer anxious
to hear from that State. The ticket was
Polk and Dallas and the battle cry was
'Polk, Dallas and Texas"
Texas"
"Yes, the acquisition Of Texas was an
other issue of the canvass. OF course there
were some opposed to it-there is always
somebody opposed to everything. There
was never another canvass, save perhaps that
Immediately preceding the war, that equaled
il in fervor."
"Was there more excitement than at the
present timer
well, all the information l have of the
present canvass is what / CLEAN from the
newspapers and from what my friends tell
me, and judge that the feeling now is as q
calm May morning to the turbulent, restless
storm of excitement in those days. Every
district had its political military company of
organized troops, which, if seen now, would
alarm the people TO the ver5sverge of mad
anan the canvass has always .oeen too one
sided to create any xcitsment, except
when Mr.. Tilden and Mr.. Hendricks were
candidates and perhaps now.
You see, my increasing age has toned
down my aTd0r in such matters, though l
always take an interest, a deep interest, in
State and National affairs.
NEW YORK HAS TO BE CARRIED.
"Even then it was necessary to the success
of the ticket to carry New Yerk. Pennsyl-
vania was secured by the nomination of Mr..
George NJ. Dallas for Vice President, and he
carried his own State. l regard the acduisi-
tion of Texas and the results following the
Mexican War-that is, the adding of Cali.
fornia and New Mexico in the territory of
portant events in the history OF this coun-
try, aad that fact is becoming more and
more apparent. The country was advanced
by these acquisitions, and has ever since
resped benefit from them"
"Was the tariff the leading question in
that canvass
THAT was one of the questions; a tariff for
revenue only was what the Democrats de-
sired, while the Wings contehde1 that the
higher the tariff the cheaper the goods. An
other question was concerning United States
Banks, which it was desired TO dispense with
in favor of State Banks "
"How di6 Mr.. Polk receive the news of
his election"
There being neither railroad nor tele-
graph, naturally the news was not flashed to
US nor known all over the Union as soon as
would now be the case. The news was re-
ceived here at Nashville at night, and a
party of friends took buggies and drove to
Columbia, distance of forty miles, and ar
rived there about o'clock In the morning.
Mr.. Polk was at home when he received the
intelligence, and there was afterward a
grand demonstration; of course, not at that
hour as it was so late.n