Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1910-03-12
Andrew jackson, Lawyer, Sol
der. Statesman and Great
President.
Iron Will and Indomitable
Courage Overcame All
Obstacles.
WAS son OF PILGRIM PARENTS

Democracy, that is American
Democracy, owes it's origin and its
name TO an Irish-American, Andrew
jackson. The orphan of an Irish
pilgrim, he sowed the seed that
would strengthen the American ma
tion. With his heroic character he
nodded the path of duty and left a
name as imperishable as the republic
which he loved.
In 1867, amidst the ancient for
ests of one of the Carolina's, there
was born child of an Irish emil
grant,. one of the rarest souls in the
annals of American history. His
name was Andrew Jackson. At that
time America was nothing but a
body of dependent colonists,
scarcely two million in number,
scattered along an immense coast
with no army, navy or union. Eng
land was attempting to control
America with the aid of military
force. Jackson grew up in the midst
of the conflict with England, and the
first great political truth that
reached his heart was that all men
are born free and equal; and from
This minds eye he could CLEAN his
country's independence.
Valor was a natural trait with him,
for at fourteen he shouldered his
musl1et and marched to the front.
His father had passed away, the
Revolution swept his two young
brothers into eternity. and grief
sent his mother to the grave. When
peace came he was alone, with no
kindred, no inheritance, but the
qualities that nature had bestowed
upon him.
America was emancipated from
English rule, and the Federation
which she had formed gave way to
a constitution, the grand event in
History. When the republic was
formed this youth, with heroism
| that braved all dangers, filled with
hope for the future, went forth to
the valley of the Mississippi, to lay
the foundation of society and to in
stitute a free State. Many hardy
sons there were that followed the
same course. They had the spirit of
freedom, if they lacked the dead
letter erudition. They had the liv-
ing ideas of the age and made their
home in the wilderness. At this
time European society was being
rocked to pieces, and scene was be-
ing enacted in Tennessee, where the
children of the wilds were to rear a
structure of government for the
peaceful abode of American free
men. Foremost among the brave sons
/ of Tennessee was Andrew Jackson
modest, bold, determined-dem
ing nothing for himself and shrink
ing from nothing that his heart APP
proved.
In twenty-five days the people OF
Tennessee erected fabric of gov
ernment, which in its essential form
was to last for all time. These men
were confident of truth, loved hu-
manity, had faith and reverence. In
the simplicity of wisdom they con-
structed a government, acting under
influences of which they were not
lconscious. They embodied their
faith in God, and in the immortal
nature of man. They gave the right
of suffrage 30 every freeman. They
declared for freedom of speech and
of the press. They set forth that
all might worship God according to
! conscience. Freedom and equality OF
elections was demanded. They de-
clared that every legislator should
take solemn oath never to do any
thing that would lessen the rights of
the people. In this constitution they
set forth sublime truths, and the
foremost among their law-givers was
that genius--Andrew Jackson. They
~ A. II. 4. - n. -
Representative and later to the Sen.
ate. He was then scarcely more than
thirty years of age. He had risen
high in the counsels of the nation
and became the friend and com
panion of Jefferson.
Jackson had confidence in human.
: ity, as his votes and opinions
showed. This child OF the woodland
was always firm on the side of lib
: erty He never doubted the right oil
J imam to the free development of his
) powers. He did not think the PEG
ple needed guardian over them
: And to make popular institution.
, endure he did not think it necessar,
TO have any authority outside of the
popular will. He was attached L
the doctrine of popular power ans
the policy that favored it.
jackson was elected Major Genera
: LOT the militia of Tennessee: he re
, Isigned his place in the United State
r lSenate to become Judge on tn
: bench Of the Supreme Court of hi
Estate, and later became President o
the United States. With grea
lnatural powers and the character
istics of the backwoodsm8n, Jaclssol
!. was never modest. He had win 0
e iron and never shrank from an
9 duty, whether it required physical 0
Z moral courage. Clearly did he pei
u ceiye the beautiful system of tn
Il republic. He saw organized life i
I Fall parts Of the body politic-the ma
: fion with its power. the state wit
n its government and the town wit
its rule. He knew that our Govern