Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-17
Their Only Comfort is in the Analo-
gy to the Van Buren, Case.
THE PRESENT SITUATION Is DIFFERENT
Jackson Could Name His Successor,
Cleveland Cannot.
HIS USEFULNESS IMPAIRED

Mr.. Bayard's supporters are finding their
only comfort in the Van Buren, case. Their
reasoning runs like this: Mr.. Van Buren,,
for daliverance while Secretary of State
pronounced undplomatic and unpatriotc
by his political opponents, was refused con-
firmation by the Senate as minister to Great
Britain, but subsequently was elected Presi-
dent of the United States. Ergo, the peo-
pie at the polls reversed the Senate's judg-
ment and Endorsed the delverance.
Queer Reading of History.
This is regarded as very queer reading of
very plain history. The story of the eleva-
ton of Mr.. Van Buren, to the presidency is
as familiar as any in the books. The people
did not pass upon the New Yorker an in
dividual at all. They simply accepted him
as General Jackson's choice for the office,
and, on that account. gave him their sup
port. General Jackson was an autocrat so
far as his party was concerned. There had
ceased to be any appeal from his decision
about party matters. Mr.. Calhoun had
aspired to succeed him in the presidency,
but quarrel between them had completely
snuffed out Mr.. Calhoun's hopes. This was
Mr.. Van Buren's opportunity; and ne i'm
proved 1t in the fullest measure. He was
man of undoubted talents. For one thing in
particular, he was the smoothest citizen of
HIS udS, anu tulS quality brought Into COLI
tact with the direct and somewhat rough
character of Jackson made that union of
opposition from which, in politics, as in
matrmony, SO much is promised. The two
men did get along admirably together. and
in the ond General Jackson made Mr.. Van
Buren, his successor in office
Simply Jackson's Successor.
Such, it is insisted, is the true reading of
that story. The people at the polls took no
of hat Mr. haI
failed to do in any office he had ever filled.
They knew him as the man General Jackson
had picked out as his heir, and they were
DESTROYS of seeing their old hero succeeded
by the man of his choice. The bare nomna-
ton had insured election. The democracy
under Jackson had enjoyed such phenom
email success that now at the close of his
second term as President the general was
not only able to name his successor, but to
look confidently forward to a continuation
of all of his policies.
For the true measure of Mr.. Van Buren, as
an individual and political leader in his
own right reference is made to his career as
President He was a disappointment both
to General jackson and to his party, and
after four years in the White House he had
the modification of seeing his opponents
restored to power by large majority, and
himself accused of being very largely re-
sponsible for the result. The Irresistible
democracy as led by jackson had become the
routed and discredited democracy as led by
Van Buren,. The New Yorker, with all of
his arts, could never regain his footing. and,
while keeping the boards for awhile, Jagged
supernuous on the stage.
Now, what is there in all this for Mr..
Bayard? Is it suggested that a rebuke of
him by Congress-something regarded as
altogether likely-may be followed next
year by an indor of him by the peo-
pie? Do his admirers believe that he could
successfully appeal to the people on the
que Stion of his recent utteranceS in Great
Britain respecting the policy of protection?
Is he to be the next democratic candidate
for the preSilencyr