The Irish standard., 1899-12-16
AN.lGNoRANr OLD FRESHMAN

The above name was applied to An
drew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans,
by British correspondent of the Chi
cago Tribune. That paper Immediately
took cognizance Of the offensive appel
lation and made the following editorial
comments thereon:
Before being asked to do so and to
anticipate flood OF communications
from indignant readers, the Tribune
wishes to make the amende honorable
for the admission to its columns yester-
day morning of communication in
which Andrew Jackson was incidentally
characterized by a passionate subscriber
as an Ignorant old Irishnlan." The
Tribune does not think this was prop
er expression, and if it had fallen under
the eye OF the editor it would have
been stricken out Not even in a com
munication should any man in an Amer
lean newspaper be permitted to apply
such eptlcts to Andrew Jackson.
The Tribune would be the last paper
to use the word freshman" as term
OF rcproacl1. Many OF its own editors
have been old or young Irishlnen or Of
Scotch-lrish descent. 1t is not disposed
to raise racial or religious question
with reference TO any American citizen.
or to speak contenptuously of them be-
cause they are Irishmen, Germans,
Frcnchmen, Spaniards,. Scandinavians,
Russians, Poles, Prcsbytcrians, Roman
Catholics, Jews or Gcntiles. The an
ccstry or creed OF an American citizen
counts neither for nor against him.
Certainly the Tribune would not
knowingly characterize Andrew Jack
son, one OF the most patriotic Ameri-
cans that ever breatled, as an Ignorant
old 1rishman," nor even Willingly per-
init him to be so characterized in a
communication. The Tribune is quite
aware Of the great services Andrew
Jackson rendered to his country. He
was a patriot. 1t remembers that his
devotion to the Union was so strong
that he put down without minutes
hesitation the incipient rebellion OF the
South Carolina nullifers. He fought
and won for his country one of the
famous battles in its history-that of
New Orleans. AS for the memorable
war he carried on With the United
States Bank the Tribune is not entirely
out OF sympathy with him.
President Jackson was not an "igno-
rant man in the broader sense of the
term. His early education was defect
i've from scholars point OF view, for
it was that Of the backwoods. So was
that OF Abraham Lincoln. But his
strong natural abilities made amends for
poor schooling. AS he advanced in
years, and as the rough backwoods law
yer mingled with men in the courts,
the camps and the senate, he acquired a
practical education by no means to be
despised in that day or in this, and he
put it to good use. 1t is true his preju-
dices often overruled his judgment. His
violent passions, often inhamcd by in
terested advisers, caused him to. commit
unwisc acts before and after he was
president. Hence there is much to find
fault with in his record. The doctrine
that ito the victors belong the spoils"
entered the White House with him.
Though an unlaltering supporter OF the
Union, he was firm believer in slavery
and all advocate OF the interests OF the
shareholders.
But with all his imperfections and
errors he was noteworthy man and a
true American. He was for years the
idol of millions OF Americans, the alb
solute master Of great national party.
What he willed it did. No Ignorant"
man could have exercised the power he
exercised. Now that the savage ami
.I..t ~. b.