Evening journal., 1910-06-23

one very warm evening in July. 1851.
several members Of President Garfield 3
cabinet went from the White House to
the lawn and stood for a while in such a
position that they we're able 10 catch
the cooling breeze that came from the
Potomac There we're two or three
friends with them. and all we're In
happier frame Of mine than they had
been for some time for the physicians
had reported but a short while before
that the President was In a more fcom-
Portable condition than AZ any .imc since
10 had been shot.
As they stood thus enjoying the coci
breeze Mr.. Blaine the Secretary OF
State, who wore a very thin and some
what frayed alpaca coat and straw
hat which had certainly seen service for
several summers. turned to his compan-
ions
This afternoon. as ] stood before the
Fireplace IN the Presidents room, there
came 20 my mind for the first time IN
years an anecdote or. rather. two anec-
dotes-of Andrew jackson that heard
on good authority when I FIRST came 10
washington" he began. "But before
tell them to you as they we're told TO me
shall remind you % the fact that an
intense animosity characterized the re-
lations that existed between Jackson and
Henry Clay. II was one of the rare cases
in which Clay permitted himself to have
personal animosity though frequently,
as we all know. he , ould be a mans
political enemy 10 the full limit Of his
powers
''wen. one day, a friend calling upon
President Jackson remarked in the
course Of the conversation: Henry Clay
is not only moral coward; he is a ply
sical coward. as we'll 2
"Thersupon Jackson got NJ. knocked
4,the ashes out of his cornoob pipe into
1the Presidential fireplace. straightened up
TO his fun height, and retorted.
" BY God. you wrong him The d-d
scoundrel Is as brave as lion. ] know
his weakness and his strength.
Now for many years Thomas H. Ben
ton for thirty successive years Senator
from Missouri. beginning in 1920, and An
drew Jackson had been bitter enemies
although they were OF the same party
They had not spoken since 1918 I believe
when Benton was thrown downstairs al
the time. when his brother put a bullet
through Jackson's shoulder down In
North Carolina. At an rate. Benton had
j not visited the White House since Jack
son had been It's chief occupant But II
so happened that day or two after
President jackson had paid his char
acteristio tribute 10 Claws bravery, the
man TO whom Jackson had delivered
1.-The tribute met Benton and told him Of
the incident Benton, clearly astonished
for an instant eagerly asked If his in.
formant was sure that Jackson had made
the remark as quoted. and the reply was
that there was no doubt about IL
Then / will call upon him myself
said Benton, with grim determination.
sure enough a day or two later tn,
senior ~,senator from Missouri present
ed himself al the White House and hi
uame was taken into his old enemy. II
a moment he was admitted 10 the Pres
idents private office. Jackson was stand
ing before the fireplace He looked
searchtngly at Benton, who remained
standing upon the threshold. Al last Jack
son spoke Is It to be war or peace? h
asked.
For answer Benton. with both hand
outstretched. went across the room. tn
next moment the differences of year
we're healed and the friendship thus ur
expectedy and suddenly re-establishe
remained unbroken until Jacksons deatl
Benton becoming Jaoksons lieutnant
many things on the floor OF the Senat
But 10 my mind" concluded NJ
Blaine. "the best part of the reconcile
ton Of those two great characters la
In the reply that Benton gave to h
friends when 'they asked him how
came to put aside his enmity toward Al
drew Jackson I could not afford 10 r.
main estranged from a man who wi
brave enough TO pay such tribute
an enemy as Andrew Jackson did
Henry Clay when ne declared he W.
as brave as a lion, said Senator Be-
tom"
Copyright. 1910. by J. Edwards. A
Rights ReservedJ
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell