Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-20

sYF. H. RICHARDSON.


F the average. citizen had been
asked 50 years ago to name the
three greatest American states
men he would have answered in
stantIy: webster. Calhoun and
Clay
Put the same question to the average
citizen today and you would evoke the
same reply.
The hold which these three mighty
men obtAined and have kept on the
interest and admiration OF the people
OF this country for upwards OF three
quarters OF century has no parallel
in our political history.
They were known as THE Great
Triumvirate' in the early years Of the
century now gone. and that distinction
stu clings to them with apparently no
prospect OF being lost or modified.
Many men OF might have Numbered
IN the forum since the potent voices Of
these three were hushed; many mas
tiers OF statecraft have swayed the
public, shaped legislation. made and
unmade policies since these leaders Of
men rested from their labors, and still
there Is no name that we couple with
theirs.
The passing Of several generations,
the agitations and achievements OF
many years that included the. most
heroic and most tragic era of the ma
tons history have not availed either
20 remove one OF them from the pre-
emfnence which his contemporaries ac-
corded him and in which succeeding
generations have acquiesced, or to ele-
waite any other statesman to a place In
that select company.
Why is this SO?
Since Webster. Calhoun and Clay
passed away conditions for the deveI-
opment OF great powers OF leadership
have been even more favorable than
they were at any time during their
lives.
Opportunities for the exercise of
these powers have surely been far
more frequent for their successors
than they were for them, and there
have been in every section Of the coun-
e try political leaders who rose superbly
to these occasions. but why is II that
not one OF them has made so deep and
lasting an impression upon the minds
and hearts OF his fellow-citizens2
II Il were proposed now to enlarge.
The Great Triumvate" into a Great
Quartette of American statesmen
MOuAu We lllQ a GOnEENcuS VI ORllAOn
IN favor OF any candidate for the
fourth placer ...-
tt would assuredIy be an election
with long list OF competitors and the
scattering vote would go far beyond
It's usual proportions.
And yet Il would be a rash asser-
tion TO declare that since the days Of
the three Statesmen whom the masses
OF our people hold TO be unrivalled
still we have had none who equalled
any one OF them IN intellectual
strength. constructive skill. or the
power OF eloquence.
There have been arms that could
bend the bow OF Ulysses long after he
laid Il down and went on HIS wander
ings, but the popular estimation per-
sists in refusing to concede so much
10 the best OF them.
This continued association and seq
regation of Webster. Calhoun and Clay
Is undoubtedly due in large measure to
the fact that they wete contemporaries
who were brought into direct and
strenuous contention with and sharp
antagOnism 10 each other.
Each OF them represented a different
school OF politics. a different theory OF
the constitution. and advocated diff
ferent general policies for the govern
ment. Each was the idol OF a great con-
stituency and all were held in high
honor and admiration by the country.
Some OF Webster's former followers, IL
is true, maddened by the poison of IA
naticism. would at one time have cru
CITED him for defending the highest
law OF the republic against their blind
fury, but their assaults neither shook
the faith Of the country in him then
nor diminished his historic stature.
Webster, Calhoun and Clay had an
other great advantage in living when