The Irish standard., 1896-01-11
old HlcK0RY's MEMORY
Eigfty-First Anniversary of the
Battle of New Or
leans. -
Andrew Jackson the Incarnation
of American Quail
tiles.
He Had Energy, Self-Reliance
Self-Will, Courage and
.. Other Traits.

Ill 81 d1llllS ri VI t14O ptICtAS VI
New Orleans, which for many years has
been celebrated as Jackson's day. At
first the celebration was confined to the
members OF the political party to which
cold Hickory belonged, but as the serv-
ice Jackson rendered his country be-
comes more fully appreciated there is a
! general observance Of the day, If not in
act at least in reviving memories OF the
old warrior and renewing interest in his
famous retreat, 'The Hermitage
Andrew Jackson was the incarnation OF
energy, self-reliance, self-will and cour-
age. Sprung from the Scotch-Irish race,
which possess those characteristics IN the
highest degree, his career illustrated al!
qualities when united in person to such
qualities when united in a person Of sin
gular narrowness and ignorance. He was
the product of his time and u country
the embodiment OF a rude democracy
which, through the power of unrestrlct-
ed suffrage, must one time rule the state
That such man must sooner or later
reach the presidency of the United States
we can now see was inevitable, but it
was entirely unforeseen by the founders
of the republic. What they would have
provided in the way OF restrictions
against such an event, had they foreseen
it, is difficult to say, but that something
would have been attempted to that end
by the statesmen who framed the consti-
tuition there can be no doubt. The six
presidents that preceded jackson, with
the exception Of Washington, We're men
of education, while Washington's breadth
and serenity of mind and self-command
more than compensated for his lack OF
education, writes John N. Crawford.
But Jackson had none of these quali-
ications-neither breadth, nor serenity,
or self-control, nor education, nor train
ing in public civil affairs-and yet he
greatly served his country, and for the
last thirty years Of his life was the most
idolized of Americans. Who can forget
how, in the closing months OF Buchanan s
presidency, the whole North cried out
with one accord, ooh, for one hour OF
Jackson ...
Born in poverty, in new country, and
left fatherless in childhood, he acquired
little more than the rudiments OF an ed
ucation. As a boy he was carried into
the fierce and almost barbarous borden
warfare that was carried on n the Caro-
linas at the close Of the revolutionary
war. The dangers he encountered de-
1;or faQT1PEGnpSC
as we'll as intensified his disposition to be
sudden and quick IN quarrel. He learned
that the first blow was the best blow,
and from the beginning to the END Of his
life he practiced upon principle
Brt he was ambitious and determined
to rise out of the class in which he was
horn. He resolved to be a lawyer, and
after acclmulating little money by
teaching school-it was but little ne
could teach-he posted off on horseback
one day to Salisbury in North Carolina
and entering himself as student OF law,
After two years of gambling, horse rae
ing, cock fighting quarreling and duel
ing. intermingled with some attention to
his law books, he received license to
practice. and soon thereafter, without
money and without friends rode Oil, With
few other adventurous spirits, across
the mountains into the valley OF the
Cumberland and hung out his shingle at
Nashville. He became first the prose-
cutine. attorney in country that was
virtually lawlass. next a Judge, then
member of congress. He made many
friends, but more enemies. and Tor years
he carried his life in his hands. Mean
time. too, the cock fighting, horse racing,
ambling, drinking and fighting contlnu-
ed also, and for years his days and nights
were wild and fiery. lie took an active
interest in the state militia, and by the
time the war. of 1912 approached he was
q major general. He had attaineo ms
fortv-ffth wear and was distinguished for
nothing bnt his courage and his quarrel
some disposition.
Then came the massacre at Fort Minis,
the Indian wars of the Southwest, and
the war with England. and Jackson S
star shot upward to the zenith. No man
of that lay could have done what he did
with such resources as he had. His ten
acity of purpose and his audacity made
his raw militia march and fight like
disciplined soldiers, and he successfully
defended the southern country not only
Ia against the Indians, but against an in
yadirg army composed Of the flower OF
Wellington's soldiers fresh from thel'
victories in Spain. Forever memorable
in our annals will be that battle, whose
anniversary is this week celebrated.
AS he did many lawless things in New
Orleans to achieve his purpose, so after
ward in Florida he made his own will
the law. Success condones crimes, and
he received the appreciation Of President
| Monroe and was eulogized by John Quin-
cey Adams.
But he had neither the culture nor the
self-restraint necessary to receive these
batteries with composure. SO that when
| Tennessee proposed for him the presi-
dencv and Pennsylvania. seconded the
motion he did not consider his want OF
| knowledge or training in civil business
but placed himself in the hands OF his
| friends The election of 1924 came on,
there being four candidates In the field.
Jackson received plurality Of the selec-
toral vote, but not q majority, and the
Ielection was thrown into the house OF
Representatives. Henry C1ay's Influence
lslected Iohn Quincy dams and rom