Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-04-22
POI|T|CS=--TO=DAY .
AND YESTERDAY

senate refused to go into Joint con-
vention for the purpose until the Ro.
publicans of the house conceded to
tnem eight of the Presidential cleo
TORS, which would have gone to JEFF
lerson had the people been permit.
yea TO vote. Such a fragrant and in
solent defiance of the people of the
state would today bring swift ami
terribte revolution; but i'm that dav
IL was deemed even a proper at
ieast an excusable, act on the navt
OF the Federal senate to steal n
number of the Presidential electors
The inner history of the Preei.
Dental contest of 1900 Is one ~
the most interesting chapters OF onr
political history. and one that verv
Few, even of intelligent American
or this time, take the trouble 10
study Although severely assailed
there Is no record OF history that
VIII lead the careful student OF Tho
present to doubt the public and pri-
vate integrity OF Jefferson. hit ba
was boldly accused of almost eyorv
possible political crime. Jeffer~o,t
and Burr received an equal vote for
president, although Burr had been
nominated distinctly as the candi-
date for vice-president. and Burr.
In violation of every attribute of hon
or, was accepted by most of the lead
ing Federalists as candidate for
President against Jefferson In the
house. II was most monstrous
violation OF every semblance of po'it
ical decency. and Il was defeated
solely by Alexander Hamilton. then
the leading Federalist. who brought
TO his support Bayard. of Delaware.
aud JEFFERSON was officially chosen
President by the house. That act
OF Hamilton cost him his life. as
Burr mover forgave him. and later
found a trivial pretext 10 challenge
him TO a duel, In which Hamilton
tell mortally wounded on the first
fire.
II Is well authenticated that the
Federal leaders, recognizing that
JEFFERSON had been unquestionab'v
chosen President by the people,
sought 10 make terms with Jeffer-
son, and proposed 10 assure his eltc-
tion I'm the house II he would consent
to retain the Federalists I'm Office
under the general government. Ief-
terson peremtorily refused TO enter
tain the proposition. and most OF the
leading Federal'sts then sought 20
compass his defeat In the house. No
political party OF today would dare
to attempt such q violent defeat OF
the popular will as was exhibited by
the opposition TO jefferson In the
struggle for the Presidency In the
hou7e of representatives.
III any President OF modern times
were 20 exhibit the Official indeconcy
that John Adams exhibited when
Jefferson became President. he
would be denounced by every repu-
table newspaper and intelligent citi-
zen In the land, II was then, as II
IS now. the accepted duty OF the re-
firing President TO receiye the I'M
coming President at the White
HcIse aud accompany him TO the i'm
auguration ceremonies; but the last
Official act of Adams as President
was the nomination OF number ~
what were called midnight judges"
fho night before the Inauguration Of
Jefferson. and during the night ne
and his family withdrew from the
White House, leaving none but the
President No man could command
the regpCct OF tha American people
who could he guilty OF such an A.
trocious violation OF the laws of
courte0y. but II was generally Just
ifiod bv the Gunnorter7 Of Adams,
II was President Polk who first
haA tho courage 20 disregard the
nOlit'cal missions OF the times by
inviting Henry Cav. who had been
his competitOT, 10 dine with him ard
Mrs. Polk in the White HOuee. "
was near the close of the Polk al
ministration. during which CLAY had
been a senator most Of the time. and
I we'll remember how II shocked the
Democratic sentiment OF the tiwe
when II was announced that CLAY
had dined with President Polk, not
on state occasion. bat had been
welcomed at the family dinner as a
friend Clay was the soul Of ehiya
ry. and Polk was a man OF unblem-
ished character and high attain
ments and his example of courtesy
10 Clay has never since been broken. /
When Cleveland was defeated bv
Harrison, In .1SSs, he wrote a yerv
kind letter 10 his successful connect
itOr. inviting him TO give his views
as 70 all the details Of the inausu-
ration, and 10 be the guest Of ths
White Horse as long before the In
as he could find conyen- F,
lent. When. in turn, Cleveland de- !
feated Harrison. the same courtesy
was exhibited, aud no retiring Pres
ident could today exhibit any meos-
ure OF discouTtesy 20 his successor
without largely forfeitlng public re-
sDect. When Garfield was inaugu-
rated in 1881, General Hancock,
who had been his competitor and re-
ceiyed within 10000 the number OF