The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-03
Gloves.


one absorbed auditor, albeit mere lad,
the hours we're too brief by half.
From that time forth | was diligent
student of all literature relating 10 MI
Tvlcr's public course. His own speeches.
and letters still form the best sources
from which to draw a convincing KNOWN
edge of tho greatness OF his mlhd' the
honesty of his convictions, the consist
encv of his course, his fearlessness ana
unselfshness. These are to be found,
edited in loving care by one of his young
or sons \ noble memorial of him, TOO,
is that written by his ueare - friend ana
most devoted political ally, the late
General Henry A. Wise. one rises from
the perusal of either of these irreiutaDie
demonstrations of the genius OF me
statesman and the sterling worth OF the
man in wonder how his deeds ana mo-
tiVes could ever have been so saVagely
misrepresented. From his first vote In
Congress TO the last message addressed
to an Infatuated Senate the record is as
clear and as consistent as the now OF
some majestic river. The movement by
which Harrison and Tyler were CHOSEN
President and Nice-President was the
result of a combination Of political ele-
ments against the corruption in Dontics,
which, beginning under Jackson, had
found its elimination in. the admimstra-
compromises and concessions were neces-
sary. General Harrison represented the
Federal element of the Wing party, MT.
TYLER the Democratic strict-construcuoh-
lists. 1t was a coalition with definite
purpose. Both wings Of its constituent
narts were appealed to by the personnel
of the ticket "Tippecanoe" was only
sufficient to draw one faction or the
opposition; land Tyler too" was relied oil
TO attract the other.
Both before and after the convention
Mr.. Tyler wrote formal letters to the
leaders of the Wing party, defining pre-
| cisely his attitude on all the cognate ques'
lions covered by the platform, and stat
! ed explicitly that he would under no
| circumstances stultify his previous oppo-
| sition 10 a national bank and protec-
| tive tariff" ETC., etc. Passing strange u
| IS that the one man in public life whose
| record from 1872 10 1915 knew neither
variation nor shadow of turning, should
/ have been selected as the target LOT
/ alterations of inconsistency. Mr.. Gay
and BENZ. Watkins Leigh, of virginia
! were the two men most violent IN press
! Ing this charge against Mr.. Tyler. Inc
| latter announced in 1911 his opposition
10 the charter of a national bank, and
| never cast a vote nor uttered word IN
/ departure from that attitude. He also
I'm the same year declared the right OF a
/ State LEGISLATURE to instruct its repre-
sentative in the United States Senate
| and persisted in that doctrine even TO
the extent OF resigning his seat In that
| body in 1896 when unable to comply with
the Instructions of the Virginia Legisla-
/ ture Mr. Clay in 1911 voted against the
bill to charter a national bank on the
; ground that IL was unconstitutional, but
10 han ion nj
I that measure. Mr.. Leigh helped instruct
VIM. C. Rives out OF his seat in the Sen
! ate was elected to succeed him, and
then refused either to obey instructions
I or TO resign Yet out of the mouths or
these two gentlemen proceeded the de-
clarat.on that Mr.. Tyler was a turncoat
Despite the violence OF his assailants,
| the kindness Of John Tyler's nature was
! never stirred TO recrimination. He had
| little sense OF resentment for opposition
where he believed that honest difference
| of opinion guided his opponents, as wit
| ness his tender OF positions on the Su.
preme bench 10 Horace Binney and John
Sergeant, both of whom had been out
spoken in condemnation Of his bank vetos
also his appointment as Secretary OF
! State of Mr. Calhoun. Even after Clay
had yilfed him TO the verge OF indie
! cency his utteranceS concerning him were
marked by recognition OF his good quail
! ties and careful avoidance of rctallat tory
epithets. Though he emerged as victor
from the most stubborn political con
test in our history, and throughout &
long and active career never stayed
whipped" he was singularly unaggress,ve
His strength consisted In the immovablC
hrmness with which ne maintained every
position once deliberately taken. Oppo
sition beat itself out In vain against tn,
impregnable front OF his tenacity. Clay
lance was shivered to pieces like tina
OF Bois-Gllbert at Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
against the polished shield of Tyler.
strong convictions
His administration was prolific OF grea
events. and Notwithstanding that he wa:
"a President at war with his Cabne
and without a respectable following /,
either house OF Congress" he affected
many measures OF lasting benefit TO tn.
country--among them the settlement Of