The National tribune., 1900-11-01

SIN Abigail, daughter of Ih0maS BoylSt01
Adams. and Miss Mary Helen, who it hai
been said, spent Il week in the arrange
ments for the decorations of the ball room
The Adams house was a double house. anC
the ball room was in the second house
The floor was chalked with representa-
tionS of the American eagle and flags BORE
this legend:
Welcome to the Hero of New Or
leans"
The pillars were trimmed with laure
and wintergreen, and all the rooms were
wreathed in greenery and roses and light
ed with small glass lamps in color, which
gave 4 beautiful effect.
Mrs. Adams was seated in the hall be
tween the two houses, and Gen. Jackson
stood by her side. a semi-circle of distin-
guished guests was arranged around the
two, into which each one had to enter and
make their bow. There was no handshak-
ing in those days.
Jackson was the hero of the night, and
it proved n great boon for him, for it soon
after followed that the name of John C..
Calhoun was withdrawn from the Prcsi-
dental ticket and Andrew Jackson's took
its place, and he was running against
John Quincy Adams, his host.
Most human affairs have Il good and a
bad side, and politics is not an exception.
The election of the heads of the Govern
ment determines the general policy of the
State and the class of men who shall be
appointed to the various offices under the
control of the Administration. Those who
feel Il strong interest in certain policies
which in their judgment are for the good of
the country, those who desire to promote
certain measures are usually the ones
found ready TO work for such interests:
they divide into parties according to their
views, and use all their powers to bring
about the desired result. Party influence
is useful and is beneficial if properly used;
it stimulates the people to study their in
stitutions and the principles of Govern
ment and the effect which certain meas
ures might have, and this should Undue
the minds of voters with ideas of high
statcsmanship-tha would be the better
side of politics; but the dark side is that
too often it awakens an undue degree of
passion and prejudice. and then they seek
to destroy each others influence. Some
times it enters the Sanctity of the home
This led Andrew Jackson's wife to say: II
assure you that | would rather be a door
keeper in the house of my God than TO live
in that palace at Washington"
President Monroe gave lcyee after the
electoral court was over and Mr.. Adams
was elected by the House. Mr., Goodrich
writes of this leyee:
I'm the course of the evening Mr..
Adams and Mr.. Jackson unconsciously ap-
preached each other. Gen. Jackson had
handsome lady on his arm; the two looked
at each ether for a moment, and then Gen.
Jackson moved forward, stretched out his
long arm and said: Glow do you do Mr.
Adams? | give you my left hand, fog my
right is devoted to the fair, you see. |
hope you are well, sir"
Mr.. Adams, with accustomed dignity,
replied: Very well, sir; hope Gen. Jack
son is we'll"
A few hours only had elapsed since both
were struggling for the highest place in
the gift of the people. They met as victor
and yanquished, but as men; both in earn
est for what they believed was for their
rountry's good.
The family life at the White House dur
ing the John Quincy Adams Administra-
lion was ideally complete
There was the romance of wooings and
for their son John carried off
he beautiful cousin at the White House,
Mary Helen. There was the old-fashioncd
wedding which took place in the blue
room, February, 1923, and in the same
yellow old diary in which we are told all
his romance is a silhouette of dear lit
lie baby, Mary Louise Adams, the first
girl ever born in the White House. So
here must have been baby life and chris
Jennings and nursery rhymes.
After La Fayette returned from his trip
through the South, Mrs. Adams was the
presiding genius of the White House, and
ne spent the last week of his stay in the
Executive Mansion. 1t was from the
Presidents House, Sept. Z, that he bade
he land of his adoption adicu. Three
quarters of a century has passed since the
asst words of his farewell address were
but no true child of America can
'ead them to-day and recall the scenes
hat followed without the deepest emo
ion. As the last words were spoken he
advanced and took Mr. Adams in his arms.
while tears flowed down his venerable |
'heeks. After advancing a few steps to-
ward the carriage he again returned and
ell upon Mr.. Adams'S neck, and exclaimed
Il broken accents, God bless you" There
vas many manly cheek wet with tears
Is they pressed forward to take for the
asst time the hand that had so generously |
for our aid and which was
aised in the defense of our young and |
eeble Republic. The friend of Washing |
on seemingly fingered with mournful de- |
light among the children Of his adopted |
ountry. AS he stepped into the barouche. |
accompanied by the Secretary of State, |
Henry Clay; of the Treasury, Richard |
tush, and of the Navy, Samuel l.. South |
Ird, and passed down PENNSYLVANIA ave |
lue, out Of the Capital, the music of mill |
ary bands, the peals of artillery, the large |
rowd of citizens, produced the most pro- |
ound effect upon La Fayette. And this |
vas his triumph for having given his |
money, his services and almost his life for |
he liberty of the sons of men.
John Quincy AdamS's Administration |
vas remarkable for the prosperity and |
,eace that peryaded the country. 1t is |
ecorded that there was no crisis in Ma |
ional affairs, no imminent peril from with |
'ut or danger within threatened the well |
icing of the country. Quictness rcigned |
throughout the world, nations were once |
more allowed to cultivate the arts of peace. |
o enlarge the operations of commerce, and |
o hX their attention TO domestic interests |
he only true fountain of national prosper
ty. During no Presidential term since the |
organization of the Government was more |
lone to consolidate the Union and deyel- |
p its resources and lay the foundations of |
atiOnal strength and prosperity.
The time in this Government had not !
'et arrived for arraying class against class |
or political aspiration, a species of old |
world politics brought over here by an e1e- |
nent that Europe could well spare, and |
hat are in conflict with American insti- |
utions.
Mr.. and Mrs. Adams left the White
House to enjoy the pleasures of their |
quincy home but one year, when MIR. |
Adams returned to Congress, and from
hat time until his death he represented |
he Plymouth District with unswerying
ldelity and distinguished honor.
Upon their return they resided on |
treet until Mr.. Adamss death. /
His remains were conveyed to Quincy,
ccompanied by a committee of one from