The sun., 1907-03-19
ANDREW JACKSON AND MOOSE.
VELT-A PARALLEL.
A Chapter From the Chronicles OG His
tOrIAn Become President,

DanQuet Tonight OF the SONS OF 81 FaITlCk
one Of the speakers was Col. George Harvey
of New York. After discussing the avowed
purpose of the Roosevelt Administration
10 bring about an increase Of the power
OF the Federal Government and referring
TO Mr.. Roosevelts Indifference to cOnstitu-
tional restrictions, as evinced in his MEM
orable despatch to Secretary Taft in Cuba,
Il do not care in the least for the fact that
such an agreement would he unconstitu-
tioDal"-referring of course, to the Cuban
Constitution-Col. Harvey said in part:
But the worst mollycoddle of all was Daniel
Webster. State rights" declared the Pres
ident At Cambridge, should be preserved
when they mean the peoples rights, but not
when they mean the peoples wrongs" What
would the great eXpOunder OF the Constitu-
tion have said to this willy and disingenuOus
declaration? What did he say to precisely
similar and equally specious assertion,
namely. that criticism of the Executive should
he subject to the restraints of truth and
Justice, contained i'm President JaCkson's
protest in 1897? But. sir. he demanded. who
Ia to he the Judge of this truth and Justice?
Are the people to Judge for Dhemselves or
are others to Judge for them?' So, who can
doubt that IL living to-day Daniel Webster
again would want TO know, not whether. for
~
South Carolina by Federal authority would
he desirable. but who should be the judge Of
it's desirability--a faraway Executive or the
people themselves concerned? One can almost
hear that mighty voice ringing again tonight:
do not wish. sir. TO impair the power OF the
President II stands written down In the ConSiI-
tuition. and as great and good mcn have hitherto
exercised II. In this as In other respects. am
for the Constitution as tits. Butt will not aCuulesce
In the reversal Of all Just ideas of government
will not degrade tho character Of popular repre-
ScntatiOn will not hlindly COnhde where all eSpe-
Hence sdmonIshes me- 10 be jealous will not trust
executive power. vested In the hands Of single
magistrate, 10 bc tho guardian Of liberty
We may. nevprt theless admit that II Daniel
Webster were now living. and could be assured
Of a continuance Of monopoly of public vir-
tue embodied in a single personality, he
would look into the future with calm conf
dencp But life however earnest, is short.
and history teaches the necessity Of consider
ing succession. Tn the ordinary course of
human events, especially in the turmoil and
excitement and msapprrhpnsion of a nstional
political contest, an error might he made and
one might bP chosen 10y the nation as its
chief Magistrate who should combine IN him
self qualities of profession 50 Inconsistent
with his practices as TO create general distrust
and constitute real menace 10 the stability
and peTmanencP Of our national institutions,
one. for instance, who, while demanding
vphemently that all should he doors and
builders, himself should he the most striking
PXpmplar Of constant ndoinR and persistent
tearing down: one who should sternly de-
nOunCe all critics. though himself the most
CensoTiOus Of persons: one who should sneer
AZ opponents for antagonizing radicalism
instead of proposing actual reforms while
himself forced to appropriate the notions OF
political antagonists one who should hold
sloft the banner Of dealsm and simultane-
Ously trade with those VIGOROUSLY corrupt:
one who. while urging the necessity Of indi-
vidual achievements should encourage So
calism by inviting attack upon accumula-
tions of wealth. which are the natural results
of the very individual endeavOrs thus ad
vocated; one whose sense OF personal right
eOusness should so far overpower his sense
of personal Charitabeness as to induce fire.
quent denunciatOn of those disagreeing with
him as wilful, malicious and unqualified
prevaricators; one who should while con-
stantly railing at trusts, vet shield with the
utmost care the sacred tariff. breeder OF them
all: one who should deplore political con-
tributions from corporations. vet raise to the
most powerful position in his Government one
who had sought and obtained them; one
quicker than any other to castigate the bene-
hciaries of a violation of trust. firmer than
any other in demanding restitution of di-
the disposition of large sums Of money taken
from pOlicyholders and used 10 insure not
the lives of the insured but the election OF
President.
Il was a ruler such as this beyond doubt
that Webster refused to constitute the guar
dian of Hberty-a ruler such as jackson,
whom he had in mind. and OF whom, in Sum-
ner's admirable biography. we find words
well worthy of prsyerful consideration at
this time:
jackson held that his reelection was a triumphant
vlndicaton OF him in all the points In which he had
been engaged in controversy with anybody. and a.
kind OF charter to him. as representative or rather
tribune. OF the people, 10 go on and govern on his
own judgment over and against everybody lnclud-
ing Congress. Ills attitude toward the Supreme
Court his discomfort with the Senate his cOnstruc-
great and small were held TO be covered and passed
upon by the voice OF the people In his reelection.
: The JefIersOnlsn non interference theories
were now all left far behind. Jacksonian democ-
racy was approaching already the Napoleonc type
of the democratic empire, In which the elect OF the
is charged To protect the State against every
body Cheny, however, against any constitutional
organs. Up to that time the Supreme
Court had not failed to pursue the organic develop
ment OF the Constitution. and 1t had every Occa-
sion on which II put to the test proved the
bulwarS Of constitutional liberty by the stcadness
with which II had established the Interpretation OF
the Constitution and checked every partial and
Interested effort to wrest the Instrument from its
true character. Jackson's appointments intro
duced the mode OF action By the Executive through
the selection OF the Judges on the Interpretation
OF the Constitution Of the supreme Court.
During Jacksons second term the growth OF the
nation In wealth and prosperity was very great
II was Just because there was an mmeasuTable
source OF national life in the physical circumstances
and IN the energy OF the people that the political
fOllleS and abuses could be endured.
SO We perceive that there is no novelty in
our present situation. In Jacksons time, as
to-day, despite the excellent general condi-
lions there we're constant manifestations of
and unrest. and the dispas-
siOnate historian does not hesitate to attribute
them to Jackson's character aud example,
He continues:
Great parties did not organize on the important
political questions. Men led on on some petty
side issue, they attached themselves 10 a great
man with whom they hoped TO come to power
One feels that there must have been desire 10 say
10 them: No doubt the thing you have taken up as
your hobby Is fairly important. but why not pursue
your refOrmAtOry and phllanthrOpic work outside
Df politics, The truth was that nearly all the
cut OF legIslationhat Is TO force other people to
DO what they convinced II was a wise thing
10 dO-and great many also wanted 10 make polIt-
cal capital out OF their causes"
1t was this condition OF affairs so preciseIy
analogous TO that Of the present, that inspired
Webster's stern denunciatiOn OF those. in
places high or low. who instead Of melting
endeavor feed the fires Of social
ism
There are persons who constantly CIamor
They complain OF oppression. speculation and the