New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-08
AN AMERICAN THERS1TES.
A NEW FOUNDER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY

On 4 Co.
Thc Journal Of William Maclay' has been
withheld from publication for 100 years. The
editor states that portions of it were privately
printed in $50, and limited edition distributed
among the members and friends of the family.
MANY passages however, were suppressed, as
being too caustic in their structures on eminent
personaces whom we are accustomed to regard
with the highest veneraton." This tenderness
toward the memories Of eminent personages" has
at last yielded to the suppositOn that IAN unre-
served publication is called for in the interest
of history" the remarkable implication being that
the opinions of one singularly censorious man,
who was an Ishmaelte in the Senate, are to be
accepted as evidence sufficient TO upset the ludg-
ments formed by the American people upon full
examination, concerning such men as Washington,
John Adams, Alexander Hamilton Schuyler and
many Others. The fact is that the historical
value of this journal has been altogether over
rated by the descendants of William Maclay, IL
indeed they are to be held accountable for the
Withholding of it from pubication~lnd the maj
issue of 1t under circumstances of such fictitious
soemnity. As to whether William Maclay had
better right than Thomas Jefferson to be con-
sidered the founder of the Democratic party, that
is a question which may well be left for the
Democratic party to determine for itself. Those
who do not affiliate with that organization will
possibly think that the alleged honor thus brought
in issue is doubtful one at the best.
Yet it certainly would he a mistake to suppose
that the journal" of William Maclay is without
value From literary point of view it is de-
cidedly important, and it is also historically
interesting in that it furnishes at least some in
sight to the proceedings of the United States Senate
during the period in which the public and press
were excluded from its sessions. But we are In
clined to think that the most important aspect
Of this journal" is psychological. IL is a
revelation of peculiarly constituted mind. and
oil the fuller for being an unconscious revelation
William Maclay appears TO have been sort OF
American Thersites. Scarcely an entry In his
journal is free from detraction and abuse. lie
habitually mputes the worst motives to all who
differ from him, and as scarce any one agrees
with him he has ample opportunities for INDUCING
his atrabilious humor. He is a most venomous
and persistent hater, as witness his unceasmg
utilization of John Adams, whom he pursues
from the first PAGE Of his bitter diary to the
last and whom he invests with all kinds of
attributes the existence of which seems to have
been wholly unsupported by any other of his
contemporaries But no man of the time was
above the censurc of this cantankerOus diarist.
George Washington comes in frequently for de-
probation is accused Of seeking to establish
monarchy ono day. of thinking too much of form
and ceremonies another day. and on third OF
writing n heavy speech. Hamilton was another
of Maclay's pet antpathies, and he finds no abuse
TOO strong for him. As to the measures OF the
Administration, one is more vile" than another;
and ms 10 the diarist's Senatorial colleagues. they
are all toadies. sycophants, knaves or traitors
Robert Norris Maclay's colleague from PennsyL
vania, never has his confidence, is always under
suspicion of being engaged in corrupt intrlgues,
and is forever misbchaving himself in some way
NIaclay lives through his two years-fortunately
for the Senate he drew the short term-Ln cease
less conflict Surely TO him than to any
successor belongs the nickname. The Great Cd
icctor" No matter what the subject OF new
bill this paragon of virtue was certain to regard
il with an evil eye, to consider it-reversing
the common-law principc-as guilty until proved
innocent: and TO challenge it with vim which,
in the ma orty of cases, appears to have peeh us
own reward. Had his reasons been sounder
one could not but admire the logged persistence
with which this contrary old man opposed every
thing he disapproved of, regardless Of the strength
Of the opposition against which he kicked with 50
much futile vigOr. He was exceedingly narrow
in his views and Of course, prOporronately dog
matte. He called himself a republican. but III
reality he was only a leveller. Every formal
recognition of superiority acted upon him like
red flag OH IL bull. Titles he had, indeed, con-
stitutiGnal grounds for opposing but all cere.
monies. even such as were adopted at the opening
of Congress- at the swearingn of the Executive,
at the Presidential levees. in connection with for
eign diplomacy or what not he stormed against
ierccly. He was perpetually in fear of mon
archy, and when that phantom danger did not
disturb HIM he was in agony lest a policy Of
Capitalization should be carried out. Washington
and his court" in Macay's chronically jaundiced
eyes, were ever plotting to destroy the rights of
the States. Hamilton was an arch-offender III
this direction. The Assumption, the Excise, the
National Bank bills, were each and all crafty
measures designed to parayze and destroy.the
State governments, and to pave the way for
consolidation.
Maclay was lawyer, and evidently had some
skill in debate. He seems to have been often on
his legs, and to have possessed facility as
speaker, but it cannot be perceived that he fire.
auently produced convictions among his hearers
On financial problems he clearly considered him
self eminently sound, yet he talked "a vast deal
Of nonsense the Funding bill. and committed
himself TO predictions of disaster which events
have made quite comical Thus he declared that
the ruin of England was certain 10 follow her
funding operations. Thus the establishment OF
a regular army of 1000 men was sure TO bring
about the destruction of the Onion Considering
the light in which Maclay regarded his colleagues
and the Government, it is not surprising that he
should have been left very much to himself. In
one place he speaks with characteristic AGILITY of
the people of New-York. They had not been
hospitable to him, no door of any citizen having
been opened to him during a residence of six
months. II the NEWCOMERS had heard that the
Senator talked as he wrote, it is just conceivable
that they may have feared to admit TO their
homes one who, on his own showing, has set down
almost every man with whom he came in contact
as either knave or a fool. or both together.
That his colleagues had some particular reason
for leaving him alone is perfectly apparent and
the presumption must be that his character was
not such to endear him to his associates. His
IA ~ L.