Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-15
Trutns on PoIltIonl Hlstorv.

Truths OF Political History.
Andrew jackson, seventh President Of
the United States, and the first to be
nominated by q National Convention,
has figured in history as the father Of the
spoils system, and the original use in a
political sense Of the famous contention;
'"To the victors belong the spoils," has
often been credited to him. But there
is evidence that this charge is wrong, as
was the case with many other charges
preferred against this remarkable man.
In recent lecture before the students
Of Cornell University, concerning Andrew
jackson, Hon Andrew d. White, for
merly president Of that institution and
man Of high reputation for his thorough
acquaintance with political history, said
this: "Andrew Jackson, the most dam
gerous Chief Magistrate we have ever had
"a man who debauched the Civil Service
almost an autocrat--was one Of the most
popular Presidents we have ever had"
In reply 70 this assertion, which even
many students Of political history would
permit to go nchallenged, the New York
Sun calls attention 20 the fact that the
Democratic National Convention which
assembled in Baltimore on March 22d,
1892, and nominated Andrew jackson
for President and Martin Van Buren for
Vice President. inserted in its platform
the following resolution "Ihat the
indiscriminate removal Of public officers
for mere difference Of political opinion
Is gross abuse OF power; and that the
fdoctrine lately preached in the United
States Senate, that TO the victon belong
the spoils Of the vanquished,' is detri-
mental 20 the interests, corrupting 10 the
morals and dangerous to the liberties
Of the country"
So the "boot was on the other foot "
The spoils doctrine was Of whig parent
age, and not creature of Andrew Jack
son.
Further testimony in this direction
is given by the New York Sun in q decla-
ration hurled at the Wings Of the Senate
three months previous TO this pertinent
Democratic declaration, by William l..
Marcy Of New York, later Secretary Of
State in the cabinet OF President Franklin
Pierce. Mr.. Marcy said: "rhey sec
nothing wrong in the rule that 10 the vic
tons belong the spoils of the enemy"
And thus are the fond traditions Of
political history shattered by the shots
Of truth and fact.
The New York Sun further shows, by
another extract from the Democratic
national platform Of 1892, that the Demo
cratic party was then in favor OF protec.
tive tariff. The resolution quoted reads
''Ihat an adequate protection to Ameri
can industry is indispensable to the pros
perity of the country; and that an aban
donment Of the policy at this period woulC
be attended with consequences ruinou.
TO the best interests Of the nation"
Wen, this was more than seventy year
ago. Would anyone say that our In
dustrios stand in need Of protection TO
day Would Andrew Jackson approv
OF Dingley tariff Would Henry Clay
lthe great Wing apostle of protection, in
dorse our present monstrous traiff an,
its attendant evils
OF course, being dead, they canno
answer; but their opinions may well b
imagined.
Not, long, however, did the party O
Andrew jackson stand committed 10
protective tariff of any kind. Four,eei
yeas later, in 1916, being in full powe
in Congress, it determined that the nee,
Of a protective tariff had ceased to exist
and enacted the Walker tariff, the hes
purely revenue tariff that this or any othe
country ever lived under.
However. il is refreshing 70 know tina
Andrew Jackson was not the father Of tn
spoils system. Individual instances O
his opposition to il are not lacking, NOTABLY
his vigorous insistence upon retaining in
Office the old Wing postmaster at Albany
a soldier Of the War of 1912, who, 4
Jackson's picturesque language, was en-
titled 20 immunity from the spokesman
sword because; "By the Eternal. he ha
pound Of British lead in his body.
All this is very interesting. And a
tending TO establish the truth Of politics
history il is also important.
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