Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-11-07
SENATOR JOHN p. HALE.
4 Picturesque fisurc Ia Aaericaa
RWblic Life.

ate he was the only member Of that /
body who de,ied the discipline Of both
the cid parties. aud dared assert his |
absolute political Independence. He I
ttcod alone until 1910. when he was
.,Si...ss lty Gas, 80, Seward, WING we're
Il-enfort Il In is5i y, Summer. There
%at something dramatic In his solitary
appearance In the Senate az an avowed ,
an,i-s,avefy man. That body then con.
tanned more able aud eminent men !
than !, had had for more than n genera.
ton. aud II was completely under the /
oomina,ion Of the slave interest. That !,
interest dictated the policy Of the Gov /
crnmcnt at home and abroad, as 1t had |,
zone from Its beginning. and made and ,
anmade politicians. Hale knew that
his single-ha nded warfare agalnN II
would Invite ridicu.c. sneers, insults
and threats. lie knew that he must
face the scorn and contempt Of the
South and the chilling neglect Of the
Worth. But he bravely stood In the
breach. He took no counsel Of his
fears. and would not be bullcd into
silence. When he was denied a place
vi vi tnc YEV,
text that he did not belong to healthy
POLITICAL organization" he ridiculed the
proceeding and made II tell In his favor.
One OF the finest exhibitions Of his
courage was given soon after he took
his scat In the Senate. when he cast
The only vote against resolution
thanking Generals Scott and Taylor for
tlcir victories In Mexico. This vote
was sure to be misunderstood and mis-.
represented. and all parties regarded It
a. suIcidal: but 1t was sufficient for
linn to know that no other honest end
consistent course was possible for those
who had condemned the Mexican war
In all its stages. lie would not belle
lis convictions to avoid any personal
consequences OF his act: and when lie
pleaded the high authority Of Chatham.
Burke and Fox. who refused to vote
'hanks to the commanders of the Brit.
;sh army for their services In America
IN our revolutionary struggle-a strict
~ analogous case--uO Senator success
fully answered him.
Mr.. lialc's humanity was equal to
his courage. While a member Of the
Asvu>V nv hivNVu w NuO
naval appropriation bill. abollshing the
spiri. ration aud prohibiting fogglng
~ the navy. The amendment prevailed.
lM, failed In the Senate. This motion
was renewed in the Senate In 1910. and
Ia 1850. after an iMpassioued appeal
10y Mr.. Hale. logging was abolished.
hut the spirit ration continued until
$500. He was Justly proud Of these
achievements. and they are appropri.
a,ely COMMUNICATED on the pedestal
t the statue recently erected In the
state house yard at Concord.
A. an aut.-slavcry leader. Hale fol.
lowed his own methods OF warfare.
While Seward. Sumner and Chase were
forging their anti-siavcry thunderbolts,
aud firing them at the enemy ut long
range through the press Of the. North.
cru States. Mr.. Hale was using his
lighter artillery On the sklrmish line.
.ud In wc,l.executed hank movements.
Ia 1850 he was prompted Ivy the pres.
cnce Of pro.slavery mob In Washing.
ton to Introduce u resolution for the re-
endorsement Of persons whose prop
crty should bc destroyed by riot0us a..
Acmb,agcs. rOotc Of Mississippi de-
isDuuced this resolution IN Intended ID
protect "negro.steailng." Addressing
Nj. Hale. he said: II invite him to visit
the good State Of Mississippi. In which
have the honor to reside. and will tell
lin, beforehand In all honesty that Id
could not so ten miles Into the intertos
s~fore he would grace one Of the TALES,
trees Of the forest with n rope around
i.,s neck. with the appreciation Of every
yirtuous and patriotic citizen; and that
II necessary. ! should myself assist Il
the operation"
Mr.. Hale answered.: The Senator H.
vites me to Visit the State Of Alissls
s:ppl. aud kindly Informs ne that III
would he one Of those who would act
the assassin aud put an end to my
career. Well. In return for lii
hospltable invitation. can only ex
press the desire that he should pene
,,ate into one Of the dark corners Of
New Hampshire: and II he do. an
much mistaken II he would Tot mud the
Ieopie In that 'benlghted region woult
I've very happy to listen to his argu
ments aud engage In an intellectual
conflict with him. In which the trutl
might he elected" The popular instinc
IT once labeled the Mississippi Senator
~ "Hangman FOote," and the epithe
u still instantly recalled by the men
ton Of his name. -Century.