Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-25

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.,kSlln&&L3rh lot of those placed I'm
hfNESTTT MG the executive chair
HMt tH1X to offend some of
WV" fSHY TW their own party. and
WI1H to be the target of
abuse or condemna-
ton from those who have sailed with them
politically He expects condemnation from
his political enemies, and even abuse from
that quarter is not looked upon as any
thing cut of the ordinary course of events,
but being publicly pilloried by members Of
his own party is entirely a different thing.
and always takes President somewhat at
a disadvantage, as he cannot reply back
He has no voice in either house. nor would
1t be dignified for him to rush into print
upon such occasions, therefore the wounds
OF his political friends always sink the
deeper.
In the days of Washington there was no
division OF parties Party dividing lines had
not then been marked out. There had been
fierce opposition to the adoption of the Con-
sutution, and that opposition had not al
together died away, but the people had not
DIVIDED yet on party or policy lines. Wash
ington had been chosen President by
unanimous vote, and the members of Con-
gress had been elected practically by the
tricts. Where there had been opposing cam
didates II had been more a choice between
men than between certain well-defined poll
cles. IL was to be expected there would be
some friction in starting the new machinery
OF the government, as various opinions
were held upon many questions likely to
come up, but from the high character of
Washington, his eminent services to the
new nation, and the unanimity by which
he had been chosen its first executive. It
could hardly have been supposed he would
be the target OF vehement attack and VI
Imperative abuse by members of Congress
yet such was the case. He had been the
subject of newspaper attack, and Mr. JEFF
ferson, a member of his cabinet had been
one OF his fieIcest assatlants but his in
huence with Cor gress was supposed TO be
supreme.
The First President Assaulted,
His proclaim alton OF neutrality In the
war between England and France aroused
the first antagonism, and he was at once
bitterly assailed. He was accused of being
under the pay of Great Britain and willing
to make his country a dependent of that
government. He was derisivcly spoken of
as the 'stepfGthcr' CT his country and
that name was applied TO him on the floor
OF Congress. Jays treaty furnished anoth-
er subject OF attack, and for its negotia-
ton he was rouudly abused. The warfare
between jefferson and Hamilton supplied
arother occasion for attacks upon Wash
lngton- Hamilton was Secretary of the
Treasury, and IL was his wonderful finan-
ciai skill that brought the country out of
ruin and established its credit His en-
trancing eloquence and powers OF per-
srasion gave him immense influence both
with Congress and with the people. Against
IL jefferson could not successfully struggle
Washington was the steadfast friend of
Hamilton, and the Secretary had greater
Influence with the President than even
with Congress.
jefferson believed, affected to believe,
that Washington was conniving to make
his influence in the administration Of af-
fairs perpetual and was working TO name
his SUCCESSORS for many years TO come first
Adams and then Hamilton. To defeat
Hamilton il was necessary to destroy the
influence of Washington. Mr.. Giles.
member of Congress from Virginia and a
warm friend Of Jefferson, led in the attack
by introducing series of resolutions os
tensibly against Hamilton, but in reality
aimed al Washington Under cover of them
Madison and other adherents of jefferson
opened out their batteries upon the Secre-
tary and President but they made a Ia
mentable failure of it.
term the new republican or democratic
party began to show its head and its teeth,
ard party lines began to be drawn. The
new party grew stronger. but the innCehce
of Washington was great enough to secure
the election of Adams as President, though
jefferson. the head of the new party. was
chosen Vice President. Adams had a
con- plications with France WEI -
ing more serious and the hotheads OF the
country were bent upon driving the nation
TITO war in support OF Tey0,uu isms
were passed There Is nothing on record
TIC show that the President by any act at
tempted to influence the enactment OF those
laws or that he even suggested them, put
they served as a text for the opposition
and alienated from him some of those who
had formerly been federalists
Adams and Jefferson.
At the beginning Of mis- administration
the fedcralists had quite majority In both
houses of Congress and he had been elected
as the best representative of that party.
To destroy him was to destroy his party
SO the republicans made war upon him. His
nerso,,al manners had Offended some of his
own party. and they. too Joined in the at
tack His appointment of commissioners TO
France opened the flood gates, but he had
revival of popularity. when those commits
sicners were ANONYMOUSLY and insult!ngly
driven out of France, but the revival was
only for a short time, and before the close
Of his four years lie was practically in
minority in Congress.
jefferson the father of the new party, and
the best politician Of the day, after his
election over Burr, had hard time of 1t
for two or three years. To secure the with
drawal of the opPcs ition to him IN some or
the states, he pledged that there should be
no removals from office. The pledge was
kept only in part, and its violation, in part
arrayed against him some of those who had
secured his election. and he was charged on
the floor of Congress with duplicity. Burr
and his immediate friends kept alive this
opposition and in the discussions parlia-
nentary courtesy was thrown to the winds
and the President assailed bitterly as
some Of his adherents had asSailed Wash
ington and Adams. Washington had on
more than one occasion, when worn out by
attacks. talked of resicning. but Jeff srson
was made of other stuff, and fought back
and to such purpose, too, that before the
end of his first term he had driven most of
his enemies out of Congress, and at the be
ginning of his second tenn had large
iority in his favor. He was not destined to
have peace long; Inl his first assalant was
John Randolph. He attacked jefferson with
his usual vehemence and bitterness, and
created schism in the republican party.
All efforts to placate him were unavailing
jefferson favored Mr.. Madison as his sue
cessor. and to counteract him Randolph
brought out Monroe. Mr.. jefferson ffanked
the move by bringing about n reconciliation
between Madison and Monroe, and the
party abandoned the name of republican
and took that of democrat.
Era of Good Feeling.
The triumph of jefferson over the federal
lists and the Randolph faction was COM
plete in the election of Madison, and for
a,rhi he