The Meeker herald., 1897-03-20


dissensions of the Democratic party
defeated him. He was the only Michi-
gan man that got so far as the nomi-
nation. New Yorks Democracy killed
his hopes Of election Martin Van
Buren,, who may justly be called the
father of the "spoils system" was the
Democrat most responsible for his de-
feat. Cass did more for the develop
ment Of the "Old Northwest" than any
other man. He was born in 1889, and
the spirit of the times was born in him.
The opposition to Great Britain that
the revolutionary times infused into
his blood never left him. 1t stirred him
when he was secretary of state at the
breaking out of the war. 1t killed the
famous Quintuple treaty when he was
minister to France. He was New
Hampshire, lad and when years old
witnessed the celebration that lighted
the New Hampshire hills at the birth
of the federal government in 1883. New
Hampshire was the ninth state to rat
ify the constitution and give it life.
Said Cass to James A. Garfield in 1861:
You remember, young man, that the
constitution did not take effect until
nine states had ratified it. My native
state was the ninth. 1t hung a long
time In doubtful scale whether nine
would agree. but when, at last, New
Hampshire ratified the constitution, It
was day Of great rejoicing. My
mother held me, little boy of years,
In her arms at window, and pointed
hat hlo1 ~ n
the streets of Exeter This birthplace)
and told me that the people were cele-
brating the adoption of the constitu-
ton. So l saw the constitution born,
and" he concluded, in the anguish of
spirit that possessed him at the out
break of the civil war, Il fear / may
see it die"
1t was fortunate for Michigan that
Lewis Cass found his way to the west
He was colonel in the war of 1872,
and, 1t is said, stood in the bow of the
first boat that crossed the Detroit river
into the hostile territory of the Brit
ish. Whether the story is true or not,
1t illustrates the zeal and energy OF the
man. He was a Democrat OF Jenerson
ideas, and It was Jefferson who first
put him into national politics. He
made him United States marshal in
1872, though Madison made the ap-
pointment. Cass got into politics be-
fore he was scarcely of age. He was
an Ohio legislator before he arrived
at the statutory age of "a: but that did
not deter him, for he served his term.
Cass became governor of the territory
of Michigan in 1913. Prof. A. C. Nc
Laughlin, of the University of Michi-
gan, who has written critical biog-
raphy of Cass for the American States
man Series. gives him great credit for
Americanizing the state, which was
under French influence. He was bold,
active, quick and unrelenting in oppos-
ing British intrusion. He was Michi-
gan's territorial governor until 1881.
In that year he became secretary of
war by the nomination of President
Andrew Jackson. HCass was Jackson
ian Democrat. The circumstances of
his entry to the cabinet are interesting.
Jonn H. Eaton WIS a-kEoa's first ap-
pointee. But Eaton's wife brought
some sort of scandal with her into
Washington society and it disrupted
the cabinet, aided by the Calhoun in
f1uence, of which Jackson was suspi-
cious. Mrs. Calhoun refused to recog-
niZe Mrs. Secretary Eaton as her social
equal. and refused to meet her as such
Other cabinet wives did likewise. Mar
tin Van Buren. the bachelor secretary