The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-11
A REPUDIATED LEADER.

A REPUDIATED LEADER.
Review of the Life Work Of the Great
Statesman-COmpar 10 Jefferson
and Jackson.
A good deal of political history, or
what is received as such, finds repro
ductiou i'm campaign literature. The
advantages i. utilized, and what
ever is derogatory is, of course, passed
by. Men and measures are brought
into view by writers and orators to
show the ancestry and records that
have given their party distinction.
We must confront the past: Bygones
will not be bygones. There ls no
power in the will to relegate them.
An unsmirched reputation Is priceless,
and SO is its inheritance. There Is an,
individuality in political parties inher-
ent in the men composing them. The
principles of their construction nave
been the means of shifting and assort-
ing and bringing together minds OF
like conviction. They are not numer-
Gus, and have undergone but little
change. yet under varying conditions
have given rise to many issues. And
some of these are as old as the govern
ment. This shows that those are fund
amental, and that while the republic
lasts they will not be eradicated.
From the beginning, or at least from
the first presidential Inauguration,
there have been two paramount and
conflicting ideas as to the constitution
the one making its authority as
effective as possible and the other as
far as possible neutralizing it. Incl
dental and subsequent to this came
the issue of protection to avert the
hardship and pauperism of the old
lmonarchies. The genius Of the repu5I
| lie was and is to strengthen all though
the arteries that lead from a central
source and equalize so far as legisla-
ton can the conditions Of the people
On these two issues the political par
ties trace their lineage and illustrious
leadership. They have kept perpetu-
ally fresh all history relating to them.
One of them, that of protection, is
embodied In both platforms of to-day,
and the other, relating to the respect
live rights of the state and the general
government, is treated seriously In the
national Democratic declaration OF
principles. Thus the old measures are
kept alive and made to distinguish; the
one side from the other. Men, too,
| are brought down to US by the politi-
cal platform, and thus enshrined are
held up as authorities of infallible wis
dom. 49, =, y.
TO JEFFERSON AND JACKSON ARE Ac-
CORDED POLITICAL sAINTsHIPs.
It is a high tribute to one to
put his name in declaration that
represents the conviction of q party.
It is a generous recognition of his gen.
ius and inspiration. Thomas Jeffer-
son is repeatedly thus honored, and so
lis Andrew Jackson. There seems TO
be nothing in the lives of these men
that their followers wish to repudiate.
They are accorded political saintship.,
Anything that either Of them did ls
swallowed at q gulp. "That was the
position of Jefferson" or "That was
| the position of Jackson" is like the
argument of the profession and the
laity. In the galaxy of democracy no
other names stand forth with the
prominence that these do. Monroe
and Madison are lopked upon as pupils
and Van Buren, as favorite. Hut
make no mistake here. Van Buren
sat at the feet of no man. He was the
counterpart of Jefferson. Since that
leaders, exit no'rival had appeared be-
fore Van Buren. And as with Jefter-
son, his efficiency was manifest prior
to his dministration.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BUREN.
Neither Madison, Monroe nor Van
Buren, did anything that specially
calls for Reputation from his party
followers, nor, on the other hand, any
thing hat entities him to the distinc'
ton of being mentioned In his party,s
platform. To this, 1t Is understood,
Monroe is an exception on account Of
his doctrine, which makes him accesi'
bic to all platforms. Here we have
some of the different degrees of leader.
! ship afforded by the Democratic party
From Jefferson to Bryan they are
naturally many. A great diversity q
talent has been drawn upon to demon
strate the advantage of making s
party's interests paramount to those o
the whole people. Jackson is pu
forth as O. great national character
and Jefferson is venerated because h'
proclaimed the gospel of license ant
| responsibility. But he wrote th'
! Declaration OF Independence and wa
loyal man.
CALHoUN's MASTER HAND.
An ugly feature disclosed b,
[. the adulation of Jefferson ant
Jackson by their diciples is thei
ingratitude or inability to understand
their greatest man. Hc was not Jeffer
son nor Jackson, but was the highes
IAexpression ofdemocraGy as set forth b.
the Sssrty claiming that as its mission
The culnSinaticn- of Democratic princi
nles is see}n in John G.. Calhoun. Tha
Is q stern and repelEing fact. Aud
looks down upon US from but yester
day. so short is the time that inter
&nVenes. There is nothing in Calhoun
- to >deplore or renounce by thos
hold his opinions. With mas
tEfaf hand he held the glass.to natur
Saafdsmade true and terrible revela
SRut to men who Thought an
.MaM nelusions there was nothing 9
lstsig in his exposition. Fl
stsss{ {sRQnsA f7o5EEs s>and followed
almost t0 che END ana Se,nuld point bu
a.1,ad little wsS sAsaa He