The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-09
THE FOLLOWERS OF JACKSON
Third Banquet of the Leading Demo-
cratic Organization of Central Ohio.
Ex-senator Mcdonald EulOgizes Jackson, and
Henry Watterson Kindly Furnishes Few
Points in the Science of Government.


of central Ohio gave their third Banquet this
evening There were 800 guests, including
O number of Ohio congressman. members of the
Legislature and State officials. The arrange
monts and service were complete. Hon. Il. j.
Booth, president of the club. was master of GER
emonies, and Hon. T. E. Powell master of toasts
The following telegram was read:
''YoSKERs, N. T. Jan 8, 1856.
s"ro the Committeeo Of the Jackson Club. Co
lumbus, O:-Cordialy concurripg with you in
DRY of the illustrious soldierstatesman, on the
anniversary of the victory of New Orleans, re-
greet that cannot be present at your banquet to-
night S. j. TILDEN."
Hon. Joseph E. Mcdonald, of Indiana, re-
sponded to the toast Andrew Jackson" and
spoke in substance as follows
On the roll of distinguished men our country
has furnished. few names appear more prominent
than that of Andrew Jackson. Starting in life
without fortune, and self-edueated. his
rise, even in our country, was phenom-
email. He was neither to be law
maker nor expounder of laws. He was to
be leader of men. When New Orleans. with
its booty and beauty, was about to fail into the
hands of the invader, he came to the rescue,
placed it under martial law. thus displaying the
dominant quality of his mind, which afterward
made him so famous. In maintaining the right
he was ever ready to assume the responsibility
necessary to that end. The campaign closed
with the GROWING victory of the 9Th of January,
and when the news of this great victory was re-
ceived, no bounds could be set to the popular en-
thusasm. This achievement placed jackson in
the front rank of military heroes and gave to our
country an anniversary that will never be for
gotten. Events carried him forward to broader
fields. His State returned him to the United
States Senate In 1924 he was the peoples
choice for President, but failed to receive a ma
jority in the House of Representatives and was
defeated. In 1928 the triumphant election of
Jackson to the presidency proved the strength
of that growing popularity which had attended
him from the beginning of his career. The
eight years that he was chief magistrate were
certainly the most eventful of his life. No man
has ever entered the presidential chair who en-
countered a more powerful and determined
opposition, led by the ablest men of the times.
Clay, Webster and, finally, Calhoun, formed
triumvirate whom it would have seemed impos
sible to resist. and yet jackson, backed by his
personal popularity, proved an overmatch for
them, and closed his official life without rival
in the affections of the people.
Jackson in his first message to Congress,
expressed his opposition to re-chartering the
bank Of the United States. The tariff question
was more difficult for jackson to meet. The
so-called American system had strong attrac
tions for MIN. No public man was ever more
thoroughly American than jackson. Equal
and exact justice to all men, had always been
his motto. The question which gave President
jackson the most anxiety, and which canon
nzed him in the hearts of his countrymen for
all time was the notification question. The
manner in which the government of the United
States had been formed left many questions un-
settled, especially as to the limit of
the federal government and the extent
of the reserved rights of the States. The two
soveregnties, State and national. could not claim
the right to exercise the same power, and where
the sovereign powers of the States ended and the
gavsFeisa porsess OF the United States began.
who could tell where that point was? And in
dispute between the United States and State,
was there any constitutional power to decide,
and where did that power resides On the 18th
of April, 1880. the anniversary of Jeffarson's
birthday, the friends of notification gave ban
quet at Washington. The leading spirits of
thu dangerous heresy were present jackson
was present, and was called on for volunteer
toast, and promptly responded Our Federal
Union-it must be preserved 1t fell upon that
assembly like voice from the sky, and from
that time 1t was known that jackson had taken
his stand against notification. In 1852 South
Carolina threw the gauntlet to the federal gov
eminent upon this momentous question. He
took it up. and on the 10th of December 1882. is
sued proclamation to the people of his native
country in most tender and touch.
ing manner. and closing by telling
them that he would enforce the laws as long as
they remained on the statute books. with all the
consequences be what they might. TIE procla-
nation made him second only to Washington in
the point of popularity. In concluding. let me
propose to this club its motto. the grand senti
ment Of which he was the author Our federal
Unon-it must be preserved.
Henry Watterson, OF the Louisville Courier
Journal responded to the Democratic Press"
and said, among other things:
ssLet me not confine myself to generalites. 1
T. - l.
meeting, and, bless God, am going to do it.
But want to premise that / shall speak from
the depths of perfectly disinterested Demo
cratic heart and mind. and from the stand point
OF man who would almost as leave be Sis
pected Of taking bride as of seeking an olice
which, with respect to the journalist comes to
very nearly the Same thing If shall, before
am done. say some things of the administration
which, it seems to me, friend ought TO say.
must not be misunderstood am its personal
supporter in all things personal. and it's pubic
partisan also. as far as l can agree with it. For
the President have a very strong feeling of
partlality and confidence. From him. and from
every member of his government, | have re-
ceived, the newspaper correspondents to the con-
trary, nothing but courtesy, and all the recogni-
zion aud consideration any Democrat could de-
sire. But reject the milk -soppery that, because
our Democratic administration Is the first we
have had IN quarter of century, Democrats
and the Democratic press must not freely and
fairly discuss it, This was not the Democratic
way in the days of Blair aud Richie of which
the witty Mississippian observed that our wran-
giles were like cat fights, only resulting in more
cats
II think the President has been seriously mis-
judged for his alleged hardness in turning the
rascals ont If ever an occupant of the execu-
tive marsion worked conscientiously over the
appointments. he has done So Instead Of going
500 fast he would have escaped some admitted
mistakes if he had gone still slower. With the
non office seeking classes, which embraces SO
vast majority of the people, his course in this
particular is warmly approved, and constitutes
his best hold upon the popular confidence. It
has strengthened him, and it has strengthened
the party. Nor has he merely labored upeeas-
ingly. he has brought to his task a natural
aptitude for administration, which, on his incep-
ton TO the executive Office wanted only ante
cedent knowledge of the public men of the coun-
try TO reach administrative genius of the first
order. This has shown itself in all the business
details Of his official trust. No man has axar