Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-05-30

The SD anniversary Of the nomina,
ton of Lewis Cass to the presidency
which took place on May % reminds
US of the period when annexation was
an issue in American politics. General
Cass was one Of those great Ameri-
cans whose fate it was to be first IN
their day in the hearts and esteem of
their countrymen and yet who were
never destined to reach the presi,
dency. He was a candidate in 1914
for the presidential nomination which
| fell to James X. Polk; again when the
annexation of Texas was the issue and
once more in. 1852 while representing
Michigan in the United States senate.
| The northwest is said to be the fos-
ter child of the republic, and if SO,
| General Cass was it's putative father
A great portion of his life was devoted
to introducing settlers, popular gov
| eminent, modern habits of life and
! legal methods Of procedure into the
| five states north of the Ohio river. In
| AmericaniZing this immense region he
| deserves an abiding place in the his
| tory of American statesmen.
Politically considered Cass like Hen,
ry Clay and James G. Blaine was from
the standpoint of the statesman better
qualified by experience and attain
ments for the executive Office than any
man of his day. He was also the man
for whom the people would doubtless
| g
| theirs, but he was apparently too
timid, too fine grained and too scholar
~ man &c ind favor with the caucus
and the ring. He was a jurist and
pleader OF national reputation, a sol
der who had seen service in the war
with England under General Hull, an
dministrator of affairs first as gov
ernor of Michigan and later as secre-
tary of war and finally as minister TO
France. AS a statesman whom Lord
Brougham thought it necessary to
cross swords with in his day and
| throughout an extended career proved
to be a prudent, cautious legislator he
could have brought ripe experience
and rare attainments to the presi-
/
The defeat of Cass and the election
of Taylor are principally interesting
now because the annexation of new
territory and the desire Of the people
for expansion and for a foreign policy
different to that of the wings, was the
chief cause which told in the national
democratic convention. Cass was a
man Of argument and Of peace. Tay-
lor was rather a man of action than of
argument who favored the Texas war
and who despised metaphysical nice
ties and ethical principles. Cass had
negotiated no fewer than twenty-five
treaties through which were secured
the cession to the United States by the
, various Indian tribes what is now the
great northwest Taylor, too had led
the Texas campaign and had brought
into the union but in the opposite di-
rectiOn, viz, the southwest, country
as large as France. Southern inter
ests were men predominant and
though Cass was the plumed knight of
peace chiefly from the circumstance
that he had made effective reply to
Lord Brougham in the senate, and had
resisted the English right to search
American vessels, nevertheless Gen
eral TaylOr's policy won the day and
he was elected. On the first attempt
of Cass to reach the presidency he was
not an active candidate. His name had
: been put forward by his friends, and
everywhere throughout the union there
was a general acquiescence as to his
/ fitness, but FOLK triumphed at the con
vention. Cass then took the stump
: vigorously for him throughout the can
1 vass. In the following January Cass
was elected to the senate But pre-
0 vious to the second attempt Mr. Cass
D made no secret Of his presidential in
e tentions and in order to fit himself fol
Y the campaign he resigned as senator
; for Michigan to thus meet his fate Z
{ second time. He was then Sc years Of
t age and had accumulated a large pri
:. vate fortune. Cass was then probably
= the richest man in the union and haC
S fer an American attracted unusual at
2, tention in Paris by the sumptuous ma
< ture of his living, and by his social en-
d tertainment. Seeing the failure of hi.
earlier attempt, and how by follow
d ing the weakened foreign policy o
d the wings he had been superseded b,
b a dark horse like Polk on the previou
E. occasion, Cass now made himself tn
y special champion Of the famous fifty
II four, forty or fight" demand whicI
n tickled the hearts and aroused tn
N highest patriotism Of the peopl
throughout the homes of the north
swest. He had early seen the impol
e lance Of Americans possessing Canad
j. and in December, 1S45, Senator Gas