The Daily Missoulian., 1910-11-01
After Jackson. in 1929 had promul-

After Jackson in 1929 had promul-
gated the doctrine OF rotation in Of
flee and had instituted the practice
OF rewarding political activity with
public office, the political campaigns
began more and more to take on the
aspect Of struggles for office. and to
lose their relation to actual issues
Then, too, the extension of the suf-
frage and the lure of office operated
t. make political committees neces-
sary and political machines possible.
During the Jackson regime the foui-
dations were laid FOR the present sys-
tenn of American party politics-a sys-
tenn depending more upon prejudice
than principle, more upon party name
than party platform. That the po'it-
icai party divisions OF the time did
not fairly represent the division OF
sentiment among the people upon the
pressing questions of national polity
was tacitly recognized by the leaders
Of both democratic and whig parties.
The personality OF Jackson became the
only issue upon which democrats could
unite or wings solidify. As Jackson
men or anti jackson men the people
cast their votes. chose their electors,
elected representatives and, through
the legislatures. sent men to the SEN
ate.
Three times in succession Andrew
Jackson received a plurality of the
popular vote for president. record
eaualled only by Grover Cleveland In
our history Twice he was elected by
overwhelming majorities, and when he
retired he was succeeded by Martin
Van Buren,, whom he practically had
appointed his successor In every con-
grasslonal campaign between 1926 and
1888 the democrats were victorious.
But Notwithstanding, the fact that
Jackson and van Buren, invented the
national political organization. estab-
lished national conventions and ma
tionai committees and made party
loyalty the chief test of fitness for
public service. party lines did not then
possess the power to hold individ7
uais which they have gained since the
civil war.
I Although both houses OF congress
were safely democratic during both of
Jackson's administrations, there al
ways was O sufficient number Of In
surgent democrats In the senate to
thwart the presidential will. 1t was
NOT until he had retired and his sue
cessor, van Buren. was in the White
house that the jackson men were able
to control the senate and expunge
from the Journal the resolution of GEN.
sure passed when Jackson withdrew
the deposits from the Bank Of the
United States. These insurgent demo-
Gratis worked with the whig oppOsi-
ton and made JacksoA's administra-
| ton one long and bitter fight For one
reason and another the people sup
ported Old Hickory. and not one of
the three great giants who led the
opposition was able to realize his am
hition to be president. Clay and Web
| ster were wings, Calhoun was dem
ocrat The three did not agree upon
anything except hatred of Jackson.
Yet powerful as they were when to-
| gether they were no match for jack
SsOn. 49, s5--4 s-.s.{
| On the proposition to grant new
charter to the Bank of the United
States the great triumvirate stood to-
gether. while Jackson's opposition was
championed in the senate by "Old
Bullion" Benton OF Missouri. who had
once shot jackson in a street fight
! In Nashville. When the congress
passed the tariff Of denominations" in
4 1923 It was by virtue Of a combination
OF clay and Webster wings with
isPennsylvnnia democrats. Pennsylva-
4 MIA was Jackson's strongest state and
/ he could not break with the powerful
influences behind the protective tar
iff. South Carolina was foremost in
! the war against the tariff.
John C. Calhoun was elected vice
president with Jackson, but Calhoun
resigned and was sent back to the
senate to take the lead In the tariff
| war. He preached not the doctrine
Of disunion which had been heard
many times in the senate both from
democratic and federaliet sources, but
the doctrine of notification. 1t was
asserted that state had right to
nnilify a federal law so far as its en-.
forcement within the borders of that
4 state was concerned This doctrine
was horn in the sophistical brain OF
Calhoun but IL had other defenders
One Of them was Robert Young
Hayne, senator from South Carolina
His speech now Is forgotten except
ms it is preserved in the name of the
most famous speech ever delivered IN
the United States senate-Web
reply to Hayne. In that speech Web
ster expounded the constitution as a
nationalist and laid the foundation fol
the conviction that was later to save
the union, even at the expense of 9
terrific sectional war. That debate
be 1t remembered, was not upon slav'
cry hut upon the tariff.
Henry Clay, with his genius fol
compromises. came forward with {
new Compromise tariff" passed. II
1882, whiHh was destined to save Jack
son and to confound Clay. In thu
election that year Jackson defeated
Clay for the presidency by 2ls to I!
i in the electoral colleges, II votes be-
ing cast for John Floyd of Virginit
by South Carolina. and z for William