The Washington herald., 1908-01-08
CELEBRATING JACKSON DAY
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKElSI.

Ninety three years ago to-day Andrew
Jackson gained the victory over the
British at New Orleans which forever
placed the United States in the list Of
truly sovereign nations. The day is more
generally celebrated than is the ami
versary Of any other battle which Ameri-
can soldiers have fought. But, curiOusly
enough. the celebrations are more often
political than otherwise, and the day is
devoted 10 recalling Gen. JacksoHs civil
career rather than to a glorihcati0n Of
his military prowess.
In Louisiana the day is legal holiday,
and in New Orleans IL Is always cele-
brated with patriotic zeal. The cessation
Of many kinds Of business, the meeting
the devout celebration at the shrine Of
Our Lady Of Prompt Succor-these are
some Of the features Of the ordinary
Jackson Day IN f5ew Orleans. In Nash
vile tonight as on the sth of January
for many years. there viii be a great
ball and many a pretty young girl Will
achieve that long hoped-for honor OF her
first Jackson ball"
New Orleans celebrates the victory on
the field Of Chalmette. Nashville cele-
brates the signal day in the life of its
greatest tOWnsman. Ohio, Nebraska
Massachusetts,, and the others celebrate a
day writ red IN the calendar Of the Demo-
cratic party. In Ohio tonight there will
be q score OF Jackson banquets. and at
each board the Democrats will stand and
pledge themselves to battle TO bring their
party into Its old-time prominence and
power. IN many other States the same
thing will go on.
Not since the civil war has there been
time when the spirit OF Andrew Jack
son was so potent in American politics
as to-day. The financial question has
again brought TO the surface the
proposition for a central bank OF ;ssue.
but no argument advanced fer it has
been able TO face the ghost OF the hero
OF New orleans. The present struggle
between the special interests" and the
Federal government has been Iikened 70
that between the money power and
Jackson in the '3Gs. President Roosevelt
at The Hermitage, Jackson's home and
tomb on the day when the recent panic
was most acute, declared he intended to
stand to his guns "All / did" he said
was to turn on the light l am respon-
sible for turning on the light, but I am
not responsible for what the light
showed"
For that Nashville speech President
Roosevelt was most severely criticised
The conservatives Of the country thought
Jackson was deliberate wrecker and de-
stroyer Of business when he withdrew the
deposits from the banks. One-third OF
the people of the United States thought
andrew Jackson was the worst man alive;
the other two-thirdS believed him 10 be
the greatst man who ever lived. And
who, to-day, will gainsay the popularity
Of Theodore Roosevelt? Against Andrew
Jackson was pitted that remarkable tri-
umvirate Webster, Calhoun, and Clay.
The giants went down 20 defeat. The
President of the United States to-day has
opposed to him many political giants Of
his party, albiet they are not of the stat
ure Of that great three. Thus far Mr.
Roosevelt is still in the saddle Andrew
jackson went out of the White House
and left Martin Van BuTen there. He
had dictated the name Of his successor
and the people ratified his dictation.
That some Of these remarkable paral-
lelisms have suggested themselves 10 Mr..
Roosevelt Is quite evident The first
statue erected by order Of the Congress
OF the United States 10 any man was the
Mills equestrian statue Of Andrew Jack
son, which stands in the center Of Lafay-
ette Square. directly In front of the White
House. The statue has been severely
criticised by artists, and several times
efforts have been made TO have il re-
moved from its most commanding posi-
tlon 10 some obscure corner Of (ie Capt.
tai City. The last attempt 20 SO dis
grace Old Hickory was made about a
year ago The President sat down on the
movement so hard that it is now quite
dead. And then he hastened 70 assure
some Tennessee friends that as long as
be was President, and as long as his
eyes could see across the street, no mans
hand should ever be put out to disturb
the statue of Andrew Jackson.
Another and more important incident is
the fact that the President is insisting
that Congress provide for the care and
maintenance Of Jackson's old home-The
Hermitage. He has recommended such
action IN his message TO Congress, and
is actiye in the propaganda. John Wes-
lev Gaines, the Democratic member OF
Congress from the Hermitage district, is
the author Of the bill embodying the
Presidents suggestions. and it probably
viii pass at this session. The Hermitage
is a fine old place, ten miles from Nash
VILE. Jackson acquired il early in his
career in Tennessee, and IL was home
for most Of his married life After he
left the White House he retired 10 the
Hermitage, and from that retreat die
tated the politics of the country, COM
mitted the people to the Oregon policy,
and did such yeoman service in the cause
of the annexation Of Texas that history
has accorded him the lions share Of
credit for the election of Polk over Clay,
and the subsequent events which sent our
haE to the Rio Grande and the Pacific.
In 1886 the State Of Tennessee bought
The Hermitage, intending 10 present it
10 the United States government as
site for military academy Events
prevented that, and the State still owns
the land. The mansion and grounds are
kept up by the Ladies' Hermitage Asso-
citation. On the farm is the Confederate
Soldiers Home of the State. President
proposes that the Federal
shall undertake 10 pay for
the care OF the house and tomb. leaving
the administration in the hands of the
patriotic ladies who have done so much
and spent so much in the cause Mr.
poospt-pIt declared that eyarv president