Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-26

days OF the republic" as we so often hear them
spoken of, contained some most bitter and
virulent members Of the press, whose writings
teemed with the most violent abuse Of the first
President and his immediate successor, Mr..
| John Adams. The first in that line was Philip
Freneau, whose paper, the National Gazette, the
organ of the democratic party, of which Jeffer-
son was thee recognized head. was daily filed
with abuse and lampoons Of Washington, while
the editor held the position of translator In the
| Department of State, under Mr. Jefferson at a
salary of $3.50 per annum. He sent to the
| President daily three copies of his paper con-
| tanning his abuse, of which Washington COM
planned to Mr.. Jefferson, alluding to him as
| THAT RASCAL FRENEAU."
Some hot words passed between the Pres
ident and Mr.. Jefferson, the President claim
ing he had nc right to keep on the pay rolls Of
his department a man who was so constant in
| his abuse Of the administration. Hamilton
| commented very severely on Jeffersons official
support of this editor and charged him with
| controlling the paper and using the patronage
| OF his office IN its support. That Jefferson up
| held Freneau, while disclaimng any respon-
sibility for the articles filled with bitter abuse
| Of Washington and his administration, of
which he was a member, is evidenced by an
| extract from his diary, where he says: Ere
| neau's paper has saved our Constitution that
| was fast galloping into monarchy. 1t checked
the career OF the monocrats."
ANOTHER OPPONENT OF WASHINGTON,
and one of his most vindictive enemies, who
rivaled Freneau in his personal abuse of the
Father of His Country, was Duane, the editor
of the aurora, published in Philadelphia. His
| daily assaults. personal and political, against
Washington and John Adams and other friends
OF the administration, with which his paper
teemed, can be judged by this extract from the
aurora of March G, 1897:
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart
| in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy saliva
ton, was the pious ejaculation of a man who
beheld flood of happiness rushing on man
KIND. II ever there was q time which would
license the reiteration of that exclamation that
time has now arrived, for the man who is the
source OF all the misfortunes Of our country is
this day reduced to q level with his fellow
citizens and is no longer possessed of the
power to multiply evils upon the United States.
Ii there was period for rejoicing this is the
moment-every heart in unison with the
freedom and happiness of the people ought to
beat high with exultation that the name of
Washington from this day ceases to give cur
rency to political inequality and to Iegalize
corruption" Duane like Treneau, was the es-
pecial friend of Jefferson and enjoyed what
ofhcial patronage he could bestow.
''THE INFAMOUS CALENDER"
Another editor Of that period, whom Dr.
Caustic speaks Of as 'the infamous Calender,
tool and hireling of Jefferson" thus speaks
OF John Adams: .'This heavy incendiary
bawlS, TO arms" Alas, he is not an object Of
envy, but of compassionate horror" Again
he says: John Adams, that scourge that
scum that outcast of America. We
have been governed by the most execrable of
all scoundrels. He is in private life one of the
most egregious fools in the cabinet The fu-
ture historian will inquire by what species of
madness America submitted to accept as Presi-
dent person without abilities and without
virtue; II being alike incapable of attracting
either tenderness or esteem"
Washington was not without stanch defend
| ers IN his day and among them was one of the
most noted characters of that age-Thomas
Green FesSenden of Vermont He was a man
OF considerable power. He clothed his defense
OF Washington and his attacks on Jefferson in
verse. He edited the Weekly Inspector and
other Journals and wrote under the nom de
plume of christopher Caustic, d." In 1904
he returned from England and published his
DEMOCRACY UNVEILED"
In verse, but with such copious foot notes that
they fill more than half the volume and con-
tain the bitterest portion of his attacks
Duane and Jefferson furnished the burden of
his song, which was explained by these foot
notes. An example will serve to show the free
dom with which the politicians of that day dis
cussed each other:
Step forward. Demagogue Duane,
1. Ihou whom a greater rogue ingram
burst Dld the powers that be defiance.
As ever coined the ready lie;
Few good and great men can be named
Your scoundrel shot has not DETAINED.
Ana scarce u rogue who ought to hang
|. Who is not numbered with your gang"
On Jefferson he devotes pages of abuse.
Inc bitter enmlty between Hamilton and
Jefferson led to violent personal aItercations
and Hamilton was unsparing in his language
against his colleague in the cabinet of Wash
ington.
The contest for the presidency between
Burr, Adams and Jefferson was the occasan for
Hamilton exhibiting his animosity toward ali
three OF the candidates. Despite his dislike of
JEFFERSON nc ADVISED his friends to vote for him
In preference to Burr or Adams and wrote: II
admit his politics are touched with fanaticism.
that he is crafty and perseverinp in
his objects; that he is not scrupulous about the
means OF success nor very mindful of truth
ana that he is contemplate hypocrite."
hamilton continued to pursue Burr whom he
denounced 'as true Cataline as ever met in
midnight conclave. He is bankrunt
beyond redemption, except by the plumber Of
MS country. Every step in his carees
proves that he has formed himself upon the
model Of Catalina"
STATESMEN WHO WERE POLITICAL ENEMIES, BUT
PERSONAL FRIENDS.
In striking contrast with such denunciatorv
attacks on political antag onists the present age
-. 'AS A&S' NV years OueEb WOBL
pleasing evidences that the days of personal
abuse by the press and the men in public life
during that period left their bitterness with
rare exceptions in the arena where their polit-
zeal battles were fought. Mr.. Webster and Col.
Benton were warm personal friends. Mr.. CAL
noun and Mr. Webster held the kindest rela-
tions in private life, and Mr.. Peter Harvey, in
his memoirs OF Mr.. Webster, relates that not
long before Mr.. Webster's death he asked him
who he regarded as the greatest statesman he
had met in his long public career. After mo-
ment or two reflection he said: "John c. CAL
houn; he was the longest-headed man and the
purest public man ever met" Mr. Clay and
MIR. Van Buren,, the very antipodes in political
life. were warm personal friends, Mr.. Clay
visiting Undertook and Mr.. Van Buren, visit
ing Ashland.
My first memories Of political strife are of
the contests waged by Mr.. Francis T. Blair and
Amos Kendall in the Globe aud Gales and
Seaton in tho National Intelligencer. Their
broadsides fred into each other resounded
throughout the whole country, but they were
models Of editorial dignity and statesmanlike
presentation of their respective party meas
ures; pungent and full Of fire as they we're the
trenchant pens welded by those editorial
giants never descended to personal abuse, and
their contests were political only. An illustra-
ton Of the kindliness which prevailed in those
days Is worth relating.
PRESS coURTEsIEs TO POLITICAL OPPONENTS.
H.. .s~lA