The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-28
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
By FREDERIC ! HASKIM
THE REVOLUTION OF 1900

| be hired TO utter the most unspeak
able ISLANDERS. AT this distance Il APP
pears that both parties were equally
guilty. The difference was that when
Democratic pamphleteer called John
Adams the tool of the British govern
ment and the friend of monarchy. he
would be sent 10 jail: while FEEDER
alist writer might declare with impun-
ity that Jefferson was an aetheistiC
scoundrel bent upon the destruction
OF all government and property To.
ward the end OF the Adams admins.
tration and when the campaign Of
1900 was fairly launched, Hamilton
wrote a letter attacking the record OF
Adams and using language quite as
scurrilous as any that Lyon. Bache or
Calender had used. But the Federal
list administration did not dare to in.
woke the Sedition Law 10 silence Ham.
ilton. and the country had new and
striking Illustration or the fact that
the law was designed solely 10 muzzle
Democrats.
When the campaign opened. the is
sue between the two parties was Join
ed upon the Kentucky and Virginia
resolutions. The Federalists attacked
Jefferson and Madison as the authors.
and their followers as the supporters
OF these resolutions which they charg-
ed sought To disrupt the Union and
destroy the Constitution. Jefferson
and all the other Democratic leaders
defended the resolutions on the ground
that they were necessary TO preserve
the Constitution. since the rights OF
nDOnla he
had been violated by the enactment
OF the Alien and Sedition Laws multi
Tying freedom of speech and OF the
press. Notwithstanding the guarantees
OF the Constitution. Jefferson and the
Democrats at that time firmly believed
mat II was the intention and purpose
OF the Federalist party TO create a
strong central government for the
beneht or an established aristocracy
and 10 the detriment OF the interests
or the people That the Federalist
Congress and President had in fact
nuilined the guarantees OF the Bill of
Rights was TO them sufficient proof
OF the evil intent or Adams and his
followers. On the other hand, Adams
and most OF the Federalists were
equally sincere in believing that JEFF
terson and the Democrats desired
only TO overthrow all government and
TO substitute anarchic chaos for con.
stltutional order. Neither party gave
the other the slightest credit for hon
esty Of purpose or sincerity OF convic.
ton.
In 1900, for the first time. candidates
were chosen by the parties. Adams
was nominated for president by a Sc
cret caucus OF the Federalist members
OF Congress, with Charles c. Pinckney
FOR vice-president. The Democratic
members OF Congress, also In a secret
caucus. nominated Jefferson for presi-
dent and Aaron Burr for vIce-presi-
dent In those times, under the orig
inal provisions of the Constitution.
each elector cast his vote for two can
didates for president, the one receiv-
ing the greatest number. being a clear
majority, TO be president, and the one
receiving the next highest number to
be vice-president Contrary to the
practice which ever since then has
obtained, more attention was paid TO
the congressional campaign than to
the presidential election, and while
all the Democrats unquestionably were
for Jefferson for president, all of the
seventy-three Democratic electors
voted both for Jefferson and Burr and
thereby caused a tie OF course. the
election then went into the House OF
Representatives.
Whatever was left OF the vitality of
the Federalist party after the elections
in 1900 was utterly destroyed by the
apffOn of fha Epdpraligt laadara In
Congress in entering into a conspir-
acy to elect Burr president. The Fed.
eralists who had all during the cam
paign denounced the Democratic or
ganization for its desire TO break up
the Union. were now ready TO plunge
the country into civil war by prevent
ing the election OF president at all,
or by trick and chicanery controvert-
ing the manifest will OF the people
On the other hand, Jefferson did not
scruple TO promise high office In re-
turn for votes in the house. II was