The Irish standard., 1896-01-11
that day Jackson became the bitter en-
envy of the great Kentuckian;


emy of the great kentuckian.
Filled with wrath he returned to len
nessee and at once commenced an active
canvass for the succession IN 1928. II he
did not Invent he, was at lsast active IN
circulating the Char gain and corruption
slander against Adams and Clay, and
though it was utterly disproved- Jackson
to the close OF his life refused to DIS
believe it. After political campaign Of
unparalleled rancer and slander, jack
son was elected and went to Washington
full of resentment against his enemies
and gratitude to his friends.
He fell into the hands of the Willy Van
Buren,, who became his seer etary ef state
and he was enraptured by the New York
spoils system, which the crafty secretary
explained to him. Here was a rare meth
oo of rewarding his friends aad Furnishing
his enemies, and Jackson seized upon it
with eagerness. He fastened that system
upon the national government, and thus
wrought untold mischief to the civil se1v-
ice This was the chief evil OF his two ad-
ministrations, but as president he was an
autocrat, and his lesentments governed
him as they had always done. 1t is no
misnoner to speak Of the reign of And
rev Jackson" for few sovereigns have
exercised more power than he.
Two of his acts of policy stand ont in
historic relief, his war against the United
States bank and his war against disunlon.
And yet he undertook these more from
personal hatred than any other feeling.
He hated Nicholas Biddle and he hated
John c. Calhoun, and he would hanged
them both if he could.
He overthrow the bank, and few people
now doubt but that he was right. He so
struck at the dislxion spirit that he
crushed it for quarter Of "a century, and
until the government grew powerful
enough to destroy it forever.
Trained statesmen are not capable OF
these supreme acts of audacity and couf-
age. It is the unframed men, the Jack
sons, and the Lincolns, that rise to these
great heights. Coming from the people,
and ever sympathetic with them, they
know their wishes and give them form
and character. We need our sta tesmen,
educated and slzlIful in affairs, to con-
duct the business of the nation With de-
corum and prumptitude. They are in
deed Indispensable. but in times when
precedent will not serve, when dull rou-
tine is at it's wits end, when storms are
threatening and the vessel Is drifting to-
ward the rocks, then we must have cap
tain With trumpet voice and will to do
and dare. He may do some doubt
full things, he may throw overheard
some precious merchandise, nay, he may
brush into the sea some protesting pas
senger or sailor, burt he brings his ship
into port. 1t is at such crises that we
must have the Iacksons and the Lincofns
or the nation is doomed
Jackson's Indian policy and public land
policy have long been affirmed, but he
knew nothing Of finance or Of the tariff
He was at first a protectionist and after
ward for low tariff, adopting the latter
policy as much from hostility to Clay. as
from any other cause. HIS financial pol
lev and the imitation caused by the public
deposits in the ''pet bamks'' brought on
the crash of 1887. He was then, how
ever, safely at the Hermitage, and his
successor had to bear the brunt of that
storm.
jackson was warrior, a fighting man,
a. leader of men, and It was because Of
his heroic qualities that the people loved
and honored him. He never shrank be-
fore any obstacle, and his indomitable
will carried him safely through many a
dangerous pass.
He was man of action, but not OF
books, and it is said that the only volume
ever read through, except the Bible, was
:The Vicar of Wakefield
Rude and firm frontiersman that ne
was. his manners were polished and
cou1tly, and at Washington, New York
and Boston receptions he charmed every
one by his grace and geq1tleness and dig
nifty.
Two years before his death he united
with the Presbyterian church, as he had
years before promised his wife he would
do as soon as he got out OF politics. lie
had lived a stormy life, lie had witnessed
the overthrow of all of his enemies, he
had successfully barred Clay's pathway
to the presidency, and he was now will
ing to forgive everybody and make his
peace with God. He was received on
profession of faith and his last days We're
spent in reading the Bible and the last
exercise Of piety and devotion. He suf-
ferea from his old wounds and from DIS
ease, but he suffered in patience. He
died June 8, 1916, and the whole nation
mourned.