The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-01-20
AN0REM JACKSON
bIA!!!!lIKRAEER
rAE oFFiclAN sioeRAPHEs SAYS
THAT He WOULD BE oNEsiF He
WE'RE LIVING TODAY.

-
WERE LIVING TODAY.
l--i
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. Jan. 2Q.-T
II Andrew Jackson we're on earth to-
day he would, believe. be muck
raker..,'
This is the statement Of Prof. John
Spencer Bassett, the authorized bog
rapher OF the former president whose
"day" VAS recently celebrated.
His biographer was asked: IF An
drew jackson should come back to
earth, What would he do; where would
.he stand.
u am no phophet," he replied, and
! | am NOT discussing politics, but ] viii
tell You think he would feel about
modern conditions, judging from my
study Of his life.
"Jackson's keenest impulse was
against political iobbery and he would
be in sympathy with the present day
muck raker. He opposed internal i'm
proyements because he thought local..
ties were taking advantage Of the gov
eminent to get roads built. There
was a group Of road contractors in
Philadelphia whom he thought were
promoting the demands for roads for
private profit. He opposed the United
States Bank because the men behind
| il. were TO profit from It's liberal char
ter. He did NOT ask what service the
bank would render, but what It would
make out Of the common man. To
day, therefore, Andrew Jackson might
be expected to oppose any special
privilege and Of course this has avery
broad meaning now"
"How did conditions in Jaekson's
time compare with ours?n was asked.
There are some similarltles be-
tween political conditions in our day
and In Jacksof,s," replied the his
torian. THE people feel the same as
regards monopoly, they have the same
suspicion OF what is called money
trust" and there is the same demand
for stronger leader whom special
Interests cannot control or corrupt.
The tariff was also as live an issue
In Jaakson's day as at present. Pro.
lection has had two palny days in our
hlstory-from 1916 to 1888 and from
1865 to date. In Jackson's day 1t was
checked by compromise which pro-
yided for a reduction SO gradual that
1t did not damage industry, and when
.,he schedule had been brought down
10 a revenue basis there followed near,
ly 20 years Oh public economy and
business prosperity.
zone OF Jackson's principles which
seems to have. no COUNTERPART In pres
ent politics, was his deepseated aver
sion to a national debt. He not only,
wished that the debt should NOT in
crease, but he astually worked to pay
it off. : He. believed the nation was
happy when out Of debt. Today with
our bonds for the Panama Canal issu-
ing in large quantities and with the
country looking to advance the inter
nal system OF interior waterways, to
follow the construction, we seem to
have come to consider a national debt
a harmless thing. If Jackson had
lived In, our. day he would probably
have desired to make the annual
revenues contribute a large part Of
such expenses, -
when Jackson opened his fight on
the bank, his leading advisers object;
ed. He ignored their objections and
rested his case with the people. When
the returns came in, the politicians
were pleased enough 20 give ia their
submission. p.
"ln his fight on the bank, Jackson
committed some, errors. Some of his
charges were not true, and the people
could see It. Sometimes he was need
lessly harsh toward opponents, aud the
people could see this. But ior all thai,
they supported him, and these were
not merely the ignorant, stupid por:
ton Of the communities, but the aver.
age people, small merchants. farmers
and planters, and intelligent employees
Of oil classes. They were concerned
with one chief purpose, and on that
they we're satisfied with the leader.
They thought some Of the charges
against him tie mere eSageratlon Of
craftsmanship, ana others. II true, Of
such minor Importance that they could
be Ignored in view oil the grand ppr,
pose" -