The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-06

Martin Van Buren,, whom Polk had
always loyalty supported and, as the
Candidate OF Cancellation" POLK was
unanimousy nominated on the ninth
ballot. In his letter of acceptance
Polk said: II enter upon the high and
solemn duties or the office with the
settled purpose OF not being can
didate for reelection" This decision
he reiterated near the close OF his
term, and during his administration lie
did no act that might be Interpreted
as looking to a second term. lie per-
formed his duty with the purpose OF
keeping his word Unswervingly. ne
kept the charted ana consistent course
In the selection of his Cabinet Pres
ident Polk was 'singularly fortunate
1t consisted of James Buchanan, Robert
IN. Walker, William i. Marcy, George
bancroft, Cave Johnson and John y.
Mason.
In the short span OF one term, Polk
accomplished as much as any prede-
cessor In office in n like time and much
more than many of them put together.
1.-The results of his administration were
brilliant in the extreme. He was 10y
ally upheld by the votes of all parties
in Congress, abundantly supplied with
the sinews OF war and seconded by
gallant and competent officers in the
field" The successful elimination oil
the War with Mexico covered Polk's
administration with glory. The south
western boundary of the country was
carried to the Rio Grande, while the
provinces of New Mexico and upper
California were added to the national
domain. what that cession meant
in increased wealth it is perhaps even
vet too soon to compute"
The chief event of Folks internal
administration was the enactment OF
a tariff law in 1916, which was based
on the principle of a tariff for rev
enue only. In his first annual message
to Congress- Polk made his position
on the tariff clear:
"The terms protection to Amer
lean industry are Of popular I'M
port, but they should apply un-
der a Just system to all the various
branches of industry in our country.
The farmer or planter, who Tolls year
ly in his field, is engaged in domestic
| Industry and is as much entitled 10
have his labor protected as the man
| ~, - nny ,arra
navigator or the mechanic, who are
engaged also In domestic industry in
their different pursuits. The Joint Ia
| bors OF all these classes constitute the
aggregate of the domestic industry
| OF the nation. and they are equally
| entitled to the nations protection
| No one OF them can justly claim to be
| the exclusive recipients of protection,
which can only be afforded by increas-
! ing burdens on the domestic Industry
of Others"
Under his administration. Texas,
Iowa and Wisconsin We're admitted to
the Union; and all necessary acts for
the addition of oregon We're done In
his term of office. Many other import
ant acts are recorded within the COM
pass of the four years that Polk was
President.
Faithful to his declaration, Polk re-
tired to private life when his term was
rounded out He did not allow him
self to be even thought of as a can
didate for second term. His name
was not presented at the convention
4 of his party In little more than two
months after he had laid down the re-
sponsibilities of the Presidency, he
died. He left Office with the deter
mination not to re.enter public life.'
Had he lived. it would have been ir
peace and privacy.
In his four years In the chief masis-
!, tracy of the nation he hewed straight
! to the line. "Time and time again his
enemies sought for grounds on which
to convict him of inconsistency, but sc
consistent had been his public career
that the charge was never even made
He was "steadfast to opinions once
formed, and not easily moved by popu-
!, lar opinion These qualities of his
!, character did not permit him to drift
from the path which he had marked
$ out for himself: and when he left the
White House. it was with the con-
+ seriousness of duty fully done, of un
changed and high devotion to the pub.
lie veal.
. No wonder, then, that an eminent
historian recently spoke of him a.
"an ideal President" as he reflected or
8 present conditions in this republic
Here was a man who did not seek tn,
: Presidency, and who at the outse
Q deliberately put aside the thought o
y a second term, who was not swaye,
g by party Or pride or prejudice. and VIII,
served the people with remarkable sue
o cess. His administration was one of tn
S most constructive in American history
d Where was in this lofty man no lust 70
: office or for the applause of the popu
6 lace. He was a great President.
2
MIR. ROOSEVELT INSUITED.
The incident at Fargo yesterday
a when q crazy fool insulted Mr. Roosa
G NV n1 Inc t,t u,tlr I1o