New-York tribune., 1904-10-25

f~10f. Solder Eolt1Cl2u, President. BY Augustus
q Smell. With Portraits. IN Two Volumes.
Svo. pp. \. sSS: viz So Charles scribners Sons.
sEr. BueIIs remark 70 his publishers that his
ne OF jackson. which he did not live TO see
through the press. would be at least Amer
ioan book-nOt an English one like Par
TONS" prepares the reader for the glorihcation
OF those traits OF his hero which have commonly
been the subject OF apology. II Parton's admir-
ing work is 20 be classed as Angiomanlac be-
cause il did not and admirable the lawless and
uncultured features incident to the democratic
spirit which pushed jackson 70 the front, to
What length. in order TO be patriotic must be
carried the praises Of the crudity inevitably
found on the rough edges OF society? The au-
tbor's answer Is a Wholehearted proclamation OK
pioneer virtues and strenuous jingoism-a term
which would not be reprOach 20 him, or, he
would say. 20 his countrymen, but for "a pc
culiaEity OF the American mind which makes
men who would face the mouth OF a hostile
cannon without hinching, run like rabbits from
an epithet." Yet his biography OF Jackson is
by no means undiscriminating. On the con-
trary Il is a keen analysis OF character. an hon
est if not always successfully impartial. presen-
fation OF facts, without any attempt at blinking
JRcksOn's violent temper, his arbitrary methods
and his ignorance OF craftsmanship. Rather all
these things are frankly set forth and made 10
contribute to the picture OF this type OF the
popular navO OF the rising democracy this "hrst
President OF the plain people"
Il Go vivid picture and IN its broad outlines
a true one. Mr.. Buell. believed that for many
years after its foundation our government dif-
sersd from the parent realm in little except the
election OF its monarch every four years The
country was ruled by 4 small circle OF states
men, ana the great body OF the people had no
voice IN politics. In 1870 about one person In
Shirty-three had vote. whereas with manhood
suffrage there is about voter to every hVe
81 the population The logic Of republican IN
stitutions deInarded open doors for this non
participating class. but the practical conditions
Of pioneer society operated more powerfully to
secure it. and the reaching out of politicians for
new voters completed the process coincident
with the passing OF the Revolutionary leaders
in 1924 the new democracy had just come TO
Eelf-consciousness ard was ready TO resent the
leadership Of conservative New-England and
Virginia tradition. Adams did not represent the
dominant popular feeling. though ii is entirely
unjust TO speak Of him as having been counted
in." In this and other respects. especially his
supposed blindness 10 English Vaccinations.
this volume is unfair 20 one OF the most ag-
gressively and automatically unyielding Amer
scans among American statesmen In 1928 the
Democracy. stin further enlarged by more lib
ersl suffrage laws in the older States. and united
on one candidate. overwhelmed all opposition
and placed its idol in the Presidential chair.
Jackson is frequently spoken of as a political
accident q mere military hero, elevated by
unressoning popular enthusiasm In fact, he
was the true representative Of the dominant
sDiTit OF his time. forceful leader and a polit-
seal boss" OF uncommon ability. There was
straight thread Of method in all his alleged
madness He traded OF his own reputation for
violence ana was never so calculatingly cool as
when he appeared in al uagovernahle rage. He
won his mastery because he did things which
people wanted done. His hard experience as a
boy with the savage warfare OF the Revolution
IN the Carolinas gave intensity 20 natural
Celtic tendency and filed him with a bitter and
lasting hatred Of England This amounted to
a personal animosity and It created dangerous
situations which only good fortune prevented
from being disastrous 10 the country. But un-
doubtedly that very trait strengthened him
with people who could not yet take an i'm
partial view % international relations. He was
Nan Of sentiment. The key TO his policy is
20 be found in the realization that he was ruled
by loves and hates and knew no middle grouni
n dealing with individuals or nations.
Yet It Is a mistake 10 think Of Jackson es
merely the sport % fortune and his own pas
sions Ee was keen Hit.ed, ambitious man.
who had the gift Of managing other men, and
drove straight for what lie wanted. Going into
a
young and peaullass iaHyer, he almost inne-
diately made himself Influential and had been
q Representative and Senator IN Congress and
a Judge CT the supreme Court % Tennessee Ia
1le9 He bought large tracts Of land ard was
an enlightened planter. Though lie always
protested that he was rot politician, he really
built the Democratic political machine in Ten
nessee, one Of The hrst OF its KIND and one Of
me most ruthlessly dictatoriaL An early mani
testaton Of his power was. In 1900 TO make
himself Major General OF milita,-in order 10
defeat his enemy, Governor Sewer. AT that
1.lsle he was utterly inexperienced IN warfare,
having never commanded anything hut twenty
men and boys in chase for a dozen Indians.
whom he let sip through IFS hands, as his
rival veteran Of Ioutiac's war and Kings
Mountain. bitterly complained.
Though he took this Office as an Incident OF a
political and personal struggle. he made the
most Of il for the country. lie believed war
with England would come and ardentIy de-
sired 10 have a hand IN IL. so he studied mill
tar affairs and saw TO il that the Tennessee
troops were IN state Of efficiency The mas
Fsers O Fort Minis gave him his first real milf
'ary experience, and he improved It with char
ertei1stic energy by the destruction of the Creek
nation. This brought him his commission as
major general IA the regular army. notwith-
standing Madisou's dread or a general who did
rot hesitate 10 disobey positive orders ,yitbo1r
military necessity. but merely because he would
rot have his Tennessee boys" iI treated and
who had already acquired the trick OF invading
Spanish territories While major general in the
regular army, Jackson stiH Was The political
"boHs" of Tennessee IN "A fashion which would
now be thought indecent. He was a stern dis
ciplinsrisn. hanged and shot offenders among
MS own soldiers. and later Englishmen whom
ne caught IN FLORIDA on his lawless but ius-
Unable invasion. Yet he showed little defer