New-York tribune., 1910-06-19
A GREAT WAR GOVERNOR
Tablet to Daniel D TompklnS To
Be Unveiled at ithaca.
REFUSED CABINET OFFICE
He Saved the Day When All
Looked Dark in the
War Of 1912.
tBy the Rev. pr. william Elliot Grifns,

Centennial celebrations of the War Of
1872, our second war for independence. Will
soon be in order. Our fathers. though long
suffering from British aggressions on the
seas rushed rather hastily into conflict
when thoroughly unprepared. Not all the
military operations on land were wholly
creditabIe 10 the American arms. Despite
brilliant single ship duels on the ocean. our
ports were bIockaded, while our financial
affairs were often at their lowest ebb.
Those who Will write anew the history Of
this war should not only be well Informed
to the facts, viewed on the other or
Canada side Of the frontier, and also be-
yond sea, but they should study carefully
the historical grouping of men and events,
go as to know who were the real heroes,
and thus award fair need OF praise and
Justice to whom justice is due
1t can hardly be expected that a civil
ruler will loom in popular appreciation as
large as do military heroes or picturesque
naval combatants, but, unless we mistake,
Daniel D Tompkins, twice vice-president
of the United States. Governor for ten
years Of New York. able and brilliant
constitutional lawyer, an unquailing advo-
cate of the abolition of slavery in the En-
pire State and public servant Of tireless
elISfSy, Will StdDu out dS one OF the emil
nent men most worthy of being rennem-
bered to-day. When he would not accept
the Office Of Secretary of War, President
Madison appointed him. although he was
civilian. commander of the Sd Military Dis
trict. Then, by mastery of detail and her
culean energies, he retrieved the situation
IN the autumn Of 1914
Raised 100000 in Sixty Days.
What this situation was can be realized
only when we recall the fact that when
Washington. the capital of the nation, lay
smoking in its ruins, Buffalo was in ashes.
the national government penniless, the
United States army pent up in Fort Erie
and New York City menaced with invasion
by a great army of British veterans in
mighty fleet. Governor Tompkins. in forty
days. without help from the central govern
ment, raised an army of fifty thousand
men, organized. armed and equipped them,
and. disposing troops at proper points. be-
came the active commander of twenty
thousand of them and saved the day. With
his own hands he prepared all his mill
tary orders. except those of a purely rou-
tine nature In sixty days he raised $1,000
600, when the credit of the United States
was at the lowest point
When 1t is considered that New England
was politically and financially controlled
by the Federalsts. so that President Madi-
son received but little military and pecun-
iary support from the six Eastern States.
while To1npkins. being a Republican Gov
ernor, was opposed by the New York As
sembly and the Council of Appointment.
both Of which were In bitter opposition TO
him, it can be understood how this young
man of thirty-eight acquitted himself
The people of Tompkins County, realiz-
ing the patriotic character of the statesman
after whom their division of their state is
named, have determined to rear in his
honor memorial tablet. 1t will be erected
within the beautiful new Federal Building
in ithaca, which is acknowledged to be one
of the most tastefully designed and ele-
gantIy finished national edi1ces in Central
New York.
Other Memorials to the Governor.
Other memorials to New Yorks great
war Governor exist There is hfe-s1zed
portrait of him, in civilians attire, In the
City Hall in New York. painted by John
Trumbull in 1905. Another one in Albany,
badly cracked and faded, has been copied
and retouched for the De Witt Historical
Society of Tompkins County. 1t shows
Tompkins in military dress. In New YORK
City Tompkins Square is named after him.
and In 1t the Free Masons intend to rear
a MAGNIFICENT marble statue of the Defen-
der of the Frontier. On the west side OF
the White Plains Road. one mile north or
the Scarsdale Road, In Westchester County,
is a granite block. with its bronze tablet
which tells us by It's inscription that near
this spot was born. June q. IVA. Dan1el
d Tonpkins." and that the stone is reared
nv the Westchester County Historical So
ciety. The ithaca tablet. made by the j. &
r. Lamb Company, gives in epitome the
more detailed story of his career His mill
tary papers. edited by the former State
Historian. Hugh Hastings, have been pub
ushed In three volumes by the state.
Daniel D Tompkins was born in little
log hut, which then stood about four hun
dred feet west of the Scarsdale monu-
ment He was the seventh son and the
BROOKLYN ADVERTISEMENTS.