Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-31
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But. unfortunately for Clay, there were
important political questions which could
not be compromised and which. in the
minds Of great majority OF the people.
were more important than the economic
and fiscal questions which clay thought
to make the paramount issues In state
after state the ruling classes had been
compelled 10y popular revolutions to grant
new constitutions which extended the
right OF suffrage, which abolished or re-
duced property qualifications and which
embodied reforms demanded by tho new
democracy. The ollgarchies ovcrthrown
in the states were not clearly different in
form from that small number Of men at
Washington who had assumed the power
and authority 10 select presidents and adj
minister the affairs OF the government
II was inevitable that this general demo-
cratic revolution should attack tho ma
uonal government. Defeated in 1926 by
what they were pleased TO believe a cor
rupt bargain, the new democrats, with =
war hero for their leader, gained control
OF congress In 1896, and Of the presidency
two years letter
The whiFs under Adams and Clay un-
able to combat openly the democratic de-
mand for popular participation in govern
mcnt. sought to create a diversion by a
strong South American policy In pur-
suanCe OF the Monroe doctrine. and In
sisted upon a protective tariff and inter-
nal improvements The protective doctrine
alienatod the south, but as the democrats
were careful not to commit themselves on
the tariff, It did not succeed in uniting
the north
Although at this distance It Is clear that
the administration of the second Adams
made most excellent record for Itself
the people OF that day looked upon Adams
as federast in disguise. who sought to
build up an aristocracy and to do by
indirection what his father had failed to
do by direct methods The Adams admin.
istration was without its own voliton
forced into the position OF representing the
aristocratic idea as opposed to the demo-
cratic conception OF government. 1t was
a remarkable coincidence that in 1923 John
quincy Adams received electoral votes
only from the same states which were
carried for his father in 1900 while Jack
son carried all the jefferson states OF 1900
and all Of the new states which ha6 bSrSr
added to the union, with the exception OF
Maine, which was, Of course. included in
Massachusetts in 1900
1t is Furthermore remarkable that while
the Adam whig party was successful only
In New England. New Jersey, DeloWHpe
Maryland and a part of New York the
sectional division Of the parties was not
yet apparent Both Jackson and Calhoun
were from slave states and both WIRE
large slave holders, yet the democratic
ticket carried Pennsylvania by more than
two TO one and received seventy three OF
IFS 17S at los
received a total Of eighty-three electoral
votes Of which nine were from slave states,
so that the Free states the wings cast
but one more ELECTORAL vote than the demo
Gratis. This fact was cited by Thomas II.
Benton to show that ia 1923, almost q de-
cade after the Missouri compromise, there
was no hostile sentiment at the north
toward the slave holding states.
The new democracy did not intend to
limit its demand for control over the offices
to those chosen by vote. They demanded
that the representatives of the "oligachy''
holding federal offices by appointment,
) should be removed and that their places
be filled by representatives OF the people"
Before the end Of Adams administration,
and after 1t was known that Jackson GER
tainly would succeed to the presidency,
the democratic senate refused to confirm
, nominations made by Adams and every
place possible was held open for the incom-
ing administration. When General Jackson
, got to Washington before his Inaugural
ton he was literally beselged by hungry
office seekers. More because of the temper
OF his party and outside pressure than be-
cause Of his own desires, Jackson turned
out the old office holders and appointed
his own partsans In their place. Thus
was created the spoils system and thus
was established the influence OF federal
I patronage in national politics, which has
; been used by every president since that
7 time.
! But there was trouble ahead. The tariff
question was becoming acute, and threat
ened to assume the form of a sectional dis
, pute. The agitation for the purchase of
, Texas was bringing the slavery question
p into public attention. One or the other OF
, these purely sectional issues must have
become the principal issue II II had not
been for a personal conviction OF General
Jackson. In his first message TO congress
against the advice and in opposition to
! the will OF his cabinet and OF his most
trusted advisors, he made an attack upon
the Bank OF the United States The bank
: was not at that time a political issue, but
Jaclksons attack made It so. Instantly the
country was plunged into a great political
, struggle between Jackson, backed by the
new democracy and by the machines" Of
) New York and Pennsylvania on the one
T hand and the bank OF the United States.
: backed by money power on the other.
ny RHHDHRIO J. RABEu.