Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-16
JACKSON AND ROOSEVELT.

JACKSON AND ROOSEVELT.
One Stood His Ground and the Other
Backed Down.
/ United States Senator Kern Of Indi-
ana. spoke on "Jacksonian Democra-
cy" at the Jackson day banquet In
Baltimore on the night Of January 8.
He appeared in place Of Governor
Marshall, who was unable to be pres
ent because Of pressing business.
''The original subject assigned me
was Indiana Democracy said the
senator, but when the suggestion was
made at a late hour that l should
speak on 'Jacksonian Democracy l
made no objection. because the two
subjects were so exactly synonymous.
THE incident of the futile attempt
of Nicholas Biddle to cOerce General
jackson into an abandonment Of his
attack upon the United States bank,
has been related many times in recent
years upon occasions Of this kind, but
In view Of present conditions. and re-
cent events, that incident has now Pc
culiar significance"
Senator Kern then recounted the
story of Biddle's demand that Jack
sons opposition should cease.
General Jackson Biddle said, the
senator quoted, 1--WE have the power
to make and unmake presidents, and
governors and congressman. We have
the power to make prosperity or bring
ruin to the people,
"'If that be true said the old gen.
erai speaking with unchristian en-
phasis-the fire flashing from his steel
gray eyes-'if that be true, then you
have a damned sight more power than
ought to belong to any set Of men In
free country. and I shall appeal to
the people to strip you Of that power.
"And Jackson appealed to the peo-
pie and right royalty did they respond.
Freedom did ring then from every
mountain side, and regardless of the
threats of panic and disaster. the peo-
pie rallied about Jackson and re-
elected him to the presidency by a
well-nigh unanimous vote. There fol-
lowed financial revulsion, and distress
was visited upon the people. but they
gladly paid the price. for in that day
men were willing to endure financial
distress to the end that free institu-
tions might not perish from the earth.
Now, as to the significance Of the
incident. In 1908. another great mon
ey power had arisen In the land, beside
which that Of Jackson's time was the
merest pigmy. 1t had come to pass
that less than 10000 men had. under
the Republican regime Of special priv
ilege, absorbed more than half the
wealth Of the nation, that group or
men In the east, less than a hundred
in number, had through gigantic GRIM
inal trusts, organized and controlled
by them, seized upon the markets or
the country and acquired such power
that they absolutely dominated the fl
rancial, commercial and industrial af-
fairs of the nation.
Having furnished the money to
buy the election of Mckinley In 1895,
and thus preserve the national honor.
they were granted these concessions
to violate the law. to the end that they
might recoup their princely contribu-
tions from the people whose honor
they had saved"
Senator Kern then sketched the ne
gotlations that led to the absorption
of the Tennessee Coal and Iron COM
pany by the United States Steel cor
poration. He referred to the call of
certain officials at the White House.
Theodore Roosevelt, then president
of the United States" he said. was
reputed to be a man OF courage and
patriotism. but it was resolved that an
exhibition of their power should be
given him, coupled with the impond-
ent demand that they should receive
executive sanction of their plan to
crown their career of lawlessness by
the commission of another unlawful
act, more reprehensible than any yet
committed, which would give them
the coveted prize and make their mo-
nopoly complete. The demand was
carefully timed. A run was being
made on a great financial institution
in New York, and a panic. nation
wide, freely predicted
| 1T was then that these two modern
Nicholas Riddles came before the
president Of the United States. pointed
out to him the danger Of panic. and
the widespread ruin and distress which
would follow, and Informed him OF
that which he already knew-the pow
er of the little band they represented
to make panics or to stop them.
And that president of the United
States, the representative Of more
than ninety millions Of people, recog-
nizing this mighty power which mad
come to this handful Of men as the In
evitable result Of the special privilege
Legislation of his party, convinced
that to attempt to thwart their Will
meant ruin and distress to millions, sur
rendered to their lawless demands and
granted to them the concession to still
further plunder a patient and long suf-
fering people.
"Oh, that there had been an Andrew
Jackson in the presidential chair In
that year 1908, backed up by the same
fearless and patriotic citizenship which
rallied to his support in 1892"