The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-09-30

1OllOWeu lue IuSluOu VI SudIlcS JduSS
Fox and stated the adversary's case,
and so fair was he that he stated 1t
stronger than the adversary had done,
and so earnest was he in this behalf
that John Randolph on one occasion
exclaimed, "He will never be able to
answer himself" but when he turned
to his own side he made short work,
even of his own mastery statement.
His knowledge was equal to his capa-
cities, and he was "the fairest man in
congress-" He resigned his seat to
take sea voyage in search of health.
1t was all in vain, and he died at sea
and was buried in the ocean.
He was a Democrat, a strict con-
structionalist. He believed the full
duty of the citizen, whatever his sta
ton, in public Office or private life,
was to be true to obligations, faithful
to pledges, and he taught that it was
as much the duty of the government
so to speak, to be faithful to the con-
stitution as it was the duty of the
individual man to pay his debts. He
believed that it was as demoralizing
politically for the government to vio-
late the constitution as it is socially
sinful for wife to falsify her marriage
vow. That was James Buchanan's po-
litical faith. 1t was the only political
principle he had. 1t is principle enough
for any man-just so he is faithful to
it. You can't make treason out of that
sort of stuff. The raw material for
treason is not there. The gambler
that plays with marked cards is not
square; the statesman who dallies with
the constitution is not true and not
safe. He has debauched his country
and is himself debauched. What this
country needs above all other things is
that the government be faithful to
constitutional obligations and that the
people be true to personal and social
obligations.
I know that we have fallen on
times when that is old-fashioned and
out of fashion-when the question is
will it pay" not "Is it right?" and
the craftsmanship of our day pronoun-
ces anything constitutional that is in
the opinion of the majority, desirable
In 1S45 Mr.. Buchanan entered Presi-
dent Folks cabinet as secretary of
state, and continued in that office the
entire four years. 1t was the admins
tration that settled the Oregon boun-
dairy and fought the Mexican war. It
was pretty we'll understood that Blu
chanan was to have a seat on the SUI
preme bench, but the president gave it
to another because the Oregon ques-
ton was not yet settled. 1t was dis
appointment to Mr.. Buchanan, who,
successful as he had been in politics,
greatly preferred the bench or the bar
to any political station.
Elected To the White House.
When his term as Secretary of
State expired Buchanan retired to
Wheatland, and was in private life
until 1853, when he was appointed
Minister to England. He had received
flattering support for the nomination
for President in 1852, as he had in
1S4S, but it was supposed that the
mission to England was his farewell
to politics. 1t was while he was in
this position that the "Ostend mani
festo" was produced and promulgated.
1t was a great shock to certain of the
elect, and was bombarded by the truly
good. Their abuse made Buchanan
President. They called the ideas set
forth in the manifesto barbarous.
Little did they think that in less than
SO years the principle of the Ostend
manifesto would be the avowed policy
of an administration Of the party of
great moral IDEAS" and generally &C.
cepted by the statesmen of the 6. o. p.
Once there was lawyer and farmer
who discussed the case of a bull thaft