The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-18
DANIEL WEBSTER'S BIRTHDAY
Rv FREDERIC j. HAsKIxs.

On the 18th OF January, Is2, there was /
born into the world a child who was des-
tined TO be the silver tongued orator Of the
United States Senate when that body was
at the pinnacle of its golden age Men
seem 10 be raised up by an unerring
Providence to meet and determine the
problems that arise IN the affairs Of
nations. The Revolution had It's Wash
ington to lead it, just as it had its Henry.
its Hancock, and its Adams TO fire the
hearts that brought 1t about. And so
! Daniel Webster. seems TO have been raised
up TO give vitality, force, and strength
| to the Northern idea Of the Constitution
and the Union When he reached that
magnificent climax where he exclaimed;
I Liberty and union. now and forever,
one and inseparable. he gave the world
/ one Of its best examples Of thought that
! breathes and words that live, and 10 bis
party keynote 10 which the forces OF
/ the Union attuned their work.
! The parents of Daniel Webster were
poor but honest folk. Ebenezer Webster,
/ his father had been a captain IN the
patriot army Of the Revolution, and was
loved by his men and trusted by Wash
iugton. He was swarthy complexioned
man, Of whom his soldiers had always
said that no one would ever see powder
marks on his face. since the skin was as
dark as the powder marks. The son was
even darker than the father. There are
a hundred good stories Of the b0yhood Of
| Webster some of them true, and some Of
them as well touched up as the cherry tree
incident in the life Of Washington One
is the story Of his FIRST case. His brother
Zeke had caught woodchuck. He want
cd 10 kill tho rodent but Daniel did not
/ The father was a justice OF the peace and
proposed a trial Zeke made q good speech
! for the conviction Of the prisoner. playing
up the idea OF its destructiveness and
IuseIessness 10 good advantage. When It
came to Daniels time to speak he told
how that God had made the woodchuck
and had assigned 10 il the nature il
possesses, and that It had as much right
to life. liberty. and tile persuit of hap
piness as any other Of Gods creatures.
More OF this line OF argument brought
verdict before the defense had submit
ted its case. and the verdict was "Zeke,
Zeke. let that woOdchuck go" and there
were tears in the eyes Of the judge as
it was rendered.
After Daniel had been in school for
some time he wrote home that it was
not right that he, the younger brother
should be enjoying the opportunities Of
a good education while Ezekiel had none
Of those advantages, and urged that
Ezekiel be sent TO school also. A con-
ference took place in the Webster home
as result Of the letter The father re-
minded Daniel that he had mortgaged the
farm for his education. and that nothing
but selling out and trusting the future
would enable Ezekiel to go to school also
II was pointed out that the mother and
two unmarried sisters had TO be provided
for but that if they were willing to take
the chances. the farm should be sold
When the mother was approached she
said she would trust the boys
And so Ezekiel got to school. There
was a struggle for several years. Daniel
began TO study law in 1901. but gave il
up temporarily 10 take a $3.50 position as
teacher at Fryburg, Ne. paying his board
by copying deeds. In 1904 he went to Bos-
ton 10 read law in the offices Of Mr..
. Gore, refusing an appointment as clerk
r Of his fathers court, at 81 go a year to
: do so. The father did not like this move
very much. and said TO Daniel that his
mother had often said that he would
either amount TO something OF nothing.
and that she was beginning to fear that
1t would be the latter.
The war Of 1872 called into public life
T the strongest men OF both political par
ties. and Webster having adopted and
: advocated the principles Of the party op-
posed to war was elected 10 Congress
? from New Hampshire. There he began a
notable public career, and his speeches
: on the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, and on
currency and finance made him a leading
! statesman of the times. Later he re-
turned to the practice OF law in Boston.
, In his fight in the Dartmouth College
t case, in which Chief Justice Marshall
was moved to tears by his eloquence. he
: won great renOwn. He was unsuccessful
| in his great effort 10 upset the will OF
r Stephen Girard, because of the provision
= in il that no minister Of the gospel should
+ ever cross the threshold Of the institution
4 to be founded under the terms of the
} will The contention Of Mr.. Webster was
that the principles Of Christianity are sc