Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-23


April ., 1910.
For many years the Chicago Historical
Society has had the original diary kept
by James X. Polk while he was Presi-
dent of the United States, from March
1, 1S45. to 1919, and it has been fire.
quently consulted by historians and
scholars, who regard it as one of the
most important political manuscripts in
existence, becaus, it covers the period
of the Oregon excitement, the annexation
of Texas, the Mexican war, the annexa-
ton of California and New Mexico, the
tariff agitation of 1916, and the many
diplomatic and political controversies and
complications that were involved in those
events A. c. McClurg & Company of
Chicago are, therefore, doing great
public service when they put this manu-
script into print. Its publication is an
nounceu in four large octave volumes,
with three photOgravure reproductions of
portraits by Healey and other artists,
a fac-simile of President Folks man
L3cript.
The text has been carefully edited and
Illuminated for the better understanding
of the reader, with historical notes and
references by Prof. Milo Milton Quaife
Of the Lewis Institute of Technology, and
the introduction Is written by Prof An
department of history of the University
of Chicago.
Dickinson Owns Manuscript.
Some weeks ago / gave review of
President Folks visit to New England,
which was recorded in the form of
journal by Mr.. Appleton, chief clerk of
the Navy Department, who accompanied
him on that journey and acted as his
secretary. That manuscript belongs to
Judge Dickinson, the Secretary of War.
and should be published as a fifth vol
ume. or supplement, to the private diary
of the President in order to make the
story of his life in the White House COM
plete. There is a reference to this mar
rative in the diary and the notes sug
gest the Inference that the editor was
not aware of its whereabouts. / am
sure that Judge Dickinson will be glad
to furnish the manuscript for publica-
ton.
President Folks diary throws search
light upon the character of several emf
nent men whose regulations will suffer
because of his representations. At the
same time 1t shows him to have been
narrow-minded, querulous and hyper
critical person, entirely bereft OF that
saving grace, a sense of humor, and sus-
piciouS Of the motives Of all the persons
with whom he came in contact The only
CLEANS Of human in the entire book are
his satirical references to the Office seek
ers, and the only symptom of a joke is
remark he made to the British minister
when the latter appeared at the White
House in full diplomatic regalia to in
form him that Queen Victoria had given
birth to another child.
This ceremony, which has been often
repeated since l have been President by
representatives of foreign governments,
is to plain American citizen a most
ridiculous one"
He said to Mr.. Bodisco, the Russian
minister who delivered an official letter
from the emperor, his sovereign, announc-
ing the important event of the birth of 4
grandchild, that he was sorry he could
not reciprocate the civility by making
similar announcement on his part, and
when Mr.. Packenham announced that
Victoria had given birth to another child
Mr.. Polk says in his diary:
Similar Announcement Yearly.
Il congratulated him upon the fact that
there was no likelihood of a failure in the
direct line of a successor to the throne.
He smiled humorously. oh. no, sir! l
have made similar announcements to this
government every year since her majesty
has been married I have, of course,
to sign StereOtyped answer to all sucn
communications. Had | not found such
to be the settled practice l would never
President Polk was a poor speller, and
while he might have been able, possibly,
to pass the civil service examination, he
was careless. like some other great men,
and slovenly in his writings
The larger part Of the diary is devoted
to recording what occurred at cabinet
meetings and interviews with members
of his cabinet and senator's and repre-
sentatives on public questions. James
Buchanan, afterward President, who
was his Secretary of State, occupies the
largest degree OF attention, and was the
cause of the greatest amount of anxiety
and mental distress suffered by Mr..
Polk during the four years of his ad-
ministration. Indeed, his accounts of the
behavior of Mr.. Buchanan, his weak,
vacillating disposition, his vanity, the
evidences of his dislOyalty, and his SCI
fish ambition, will not elevate that emil
nent gentleman in the estimation of the
public. Gen. Washington, Mr.. Lincoln,
President Mckinley, President Harrison
and other of our executives have had
difficulty with their Secretaries of State,
but Mr. Polk seems to have suffered
more than his share.
Ambitious to Be President.
Mr.. Buchanan wanted to run the gov
eminent and control the patronage; he
was ambitious to be President and was
never satisfied with anything. He shifted
on matters of public policy very fire.
quently, to the annoyance and embar-
rassment of his chief, for the latter
never knew where to find him. Indeed.
it was his lack of confidence in Mr..
Buchanan which caused him to keen this
diary, in order that he might have writ
ten evidence to support his own opinion
When questions of veracity arose be-
tween them, as was frequently the case
During the first year of his official re-
lations with Mr.. buchanan the President
vas in the habit of making notes of
their conversations upon loose slips of
paper, but they were easily mislaid and
he concluded to put them into more
permanent shape. So. August rs. 1916,
he bought book and began it with
the following memorandum:
Twelve months ago this day a very
important conversation took place in cab
met between myself and Mr. Buchanan
en- the Oregon question. This conversa-
ton was of SO important a characte.
that / deemed it proper on the same
evening to reduce the substance of ii to
writing for the purpose of retaining it
more distinctly In my memory. This l
did on separate sheets. 1t was this cir
cumstance which first suggested to me
the idea, If not the necessity, of keeping
a journal or diary of events and transac-
lions which might occur during my pres-
dency. l resolved to do so, and accord
ingly procured a blank book for that
purpose on the next day. in which I have
every day since noted whatever occurred