The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-08-24
HERO OF THE .WHIGS
An Incident In the Career Of the
First Popular Dewey.
Ne Sawed President Jsckson's Cra.
sium from the Figurehesd OF
the Glorious rriuste Com
stitutton.
Especial washington Letter.l

Every body knows that Admiral
George Dewey IL coming home; but
very few people know that Capt. Sam
uel W. Dewey has gone to his
long home. Admiral George Dewey Is
coming to his own country to he re-
ceived by the plaudits Of upwards of
20, ,O0O, 900 of patriotic people. Capt. Sam
uel W. Dewey has gone beyond the pale
of life, to that land where all distinc-
tions are lcyclcd. and the Shepherds
crook IL laid beside the sccptcr.
You probably never heard OF Capt.
Dewey before, although you have read
many columns about Admiral Dewey.
They were second cousins. Capt Dewey
was % years of age. when he recently
died in Philadelphia. lie was as strong
and robust MS any average man oi 90,
and he was well known In the national
capital and all along the Atlantic coast.
Indeed there was "A time when his name
was In all of the newspapers. II Is an
interesting story.
The old frigate Constitution was
revercd by our people. Political condi-
tions were such that many people re-
sented every deed done which would
change any part Of the old sea fighter.
But during her rcmodcling the figure
head of Andrew jackson was plnccd
upon her bow. What a storm Of po-
liticnl Indignation arose over that little
circumstances! There II where Capt.
Samuel W. Dewey comes into the
story.
1880. That Is long wny back In the
| past, isn't II? Hut io understand tho
story Of Capt. Dewey we must go back
TO that almost 10 years ago, for then IL
was that Capt. Dewey was In his prime
physically. as well Ms mentally. lie was
the embodiment of Niriliiy In every
thought and action.
lie is the man who cut the fgurchead
Of Andrew jackson from the PROV oi
the frigatc Constitution. and that deed
made him famous with the wings and
notorious with the frdcralists: so that
politicians, big and little. of both par.
ties throughout the country discussed
Capt. Dewey: and his name was uttered
on every stump in the following cam
paigns.
IL was deed which on one hand sci
the wings wild with delight and mad,
the fcderalists, who just nj this tim,
were beginning tocnll themselves 10y tn,
new and popular title Of Jrirrrsoniar
democrats. equally wild with anger
Nothing AT the time demonstrated NOR,
clearly the popularity Of jackson, an,
for this reason the affair. not know
20 this generation. aud II matter of his
tory even to the generation before, ha
o peculiar interest.
To understand the story completed,
II is necessary to go back nj least &
the year IsaO. Then u report appcare'
In the Boston Advertiser that the mn
val authorities had decided to drstro
the Constitution. together with mum
Der Of other old ships of the war u
1912. Their planks had hccomc ro'tct
and the ships were dangerous Ia thri
crews. Little did the naval authorities
however, appreciate the scntimcnta
glamour which hung around the Con
stitution: and when, two days after th
announcement, Oliver Wendell Holmes
then g. years old. Hung the poem q
cold Ironsidcs" Ia the world. and wit
the stirring lines beginning: Aye, ten
her tatterrd ensign down" struck til