The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-09
"THE WORLD !&&%&%J
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
AGO TODAY"s1St%A
copyright, 1900. by II. E. Hughes, LOUIS
ville.l


INDICATIONS now pointed to an amicable ad-
l justment OF the political differences in the
Il United States presidential muddle caused by
the tying Of Jefferson and Burr, the Republi.
can candidates for president and vice.president,
with vote Of seventy'three in the electoral
college. Settled that the house OF representa-.
tives was to make the choice and that Adams
with sixty.fve votes and Pinkney with sixty-four,
the Federasts candidates, could not win, the
more rabid Federalsts who had suggested the
election of Marshall or Jay to the presidency as
a compromise and party victory at the same
time, began to see the wisdom of Hamitons ap.
peals in behalf Of jefferson as man far better
suited to the office than Burr, though both were
of opposing party. Strcaks OF light began
to fall across the dark of the horizon Of the
young republic and by the time congress took the
matter out OF the electoral college a full flood
Of sunshine was beaming on the nation. The
Constitution, sorely tried, had passed through
its baptism of fre Civil war was averted.
better feeling pervaded all factions and the gov
ernment at Washington still lived On the sew
enth day of the balloting. Feb, II, the long
anxiety was brought TO an end and very happily.
The Federalist representative from, Vermont abb
sentcd himself and the two Federalsts from
Maryland put in blank ballots. Thus two states,
sufficient number, voted for Jefferson
for president, No one had changed sides,
but the result had been achieved not by apostatc
votes, but by the agreeable process OF alb.
sention. The recurrence Of the danger soon
ayerted by an amendment providing that hence
forth the electors should designate in their bal.
lots their choice for president and vice.president
Burr was elected ce.presdcnt. but unlike
jefferson, had come out Of the fight with soiled
hands, having been willing to acquire the presi.
dency by the foulmean Of a Federal alliance
He entered upon the duties Of his Office with
neither the respect OF his party nor that Of the
Fejeraliss. Before his term was at an end he
accepted the nomination OF the Federalists for
governor of New York, and laying his defeat
to the active work Alexander Hamilton did
against him. he challenged the great American
to a. duel which resulted in the latter's death.
Burr, now thoroughly despised by nearly the en-
tire nation, attempted to establish an indcpend-
ent empire ia Northern Mexico with himself as
emperor. Suspected of the design Of trying
10 separate the country west Of the Allegheny
mountains from the Union, he was arrested and
taken to Richmond. Va, for trial. but his
guilt not being proved he was acquitted.
Tie frst horseless carriage "a father Of the
automobile later) was successfully operated in
Maryland by Oliver Evans, a mechanic. Several
years prior to this Evans had endeavored to
secure patents in Pennsy lyania, on the applica.
| tioD OF steam to land carriages. but failed lie
then sent drawings to England, but the same in
| creduity met it there Thoroughly disg1isted at
| this lack OF appreciation OF ingenuity, he worked
| the machine on highways few DAYS and then
made use Of 1t in connection with his -four mill.
| 1t was the first engine constructed on the high.
| pressure principle. Evans now turned his at.
| tcntion 10 a steam dredging machine, which he
made to also propel itself on land. Had every.
| body not believed Evans inventions too absurd
| to merit consideration, the world might have
had railway trains twenty-five years earlier, and
| automobiles nearly century before they did.
| Big improvements in bridge building were
made. The bridge erected by Ieford at Craige,