The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-01-12
aARMs AND THE MAN"
The True Mission and Place of AM
drew Jackson In History.

By Mira Hesekiah sturges, Of otseso. N. Y.
Andrew jackson as the man was great
er than the hero. and the battles that
he fought in civil life were greater than
his battles in the field. The historian
who is capable of reading the life of
Andrew Jackson Alright, and who Is able
to designate his real place In the history
of the American people. will not fail
to award him higher praise for courage,
sagacity. and success as a statesman, In
the face of adverse circumstances and
greater numbers. than for his victories
on the field.
The battle Of New Orleans may Justly
claim a place among the historic battles
Of the world, not because II covered the
defenders of that city. from their great
leader to the last volunteer In the ranks
with glory. not that it was the victory
Of American fortitude and military sa-
gacity over European discipline and su-
perior knowledge OF the art of war. not
because of the great disparity between
the forces engaged on one side. and a
small. hastily gathered body OF raw vol
unteers on the other against the vet
Grams of the Peninsular war. marching
Nnclh III " " A-iiOf yct
because OF the effect which the issue
of the battle had upon the greater civil
issue Joined by the two. and put to the
arbftrament of arms between Great
Britain and the United States. We,m
say, indeed. that upon that issue II had
no effect whatever. That conflict was
virtually over; the treaty OF Client had
been signed, and had the submarine
cable then existed the battle Of New Or
leans would not have been fought; the
British troops might have exulted in an
imaginary victory. and the Western vol
unteers would have returned to their
homes, rejoicing in deliverance from the
secret fear of unsuccessful resistance to
numbers and strategic skill
In war ..., ~.
What Is II, then, which connects the
battle. of New Orleans with the patriotic
sentiment and the devotion to Demo-
cratic principles which IL must In some
manner excite and sustain. in order TO
give IL the powerful hold that 1t has
on popular feeling and to make good
its acknowledged claim TO perpetual COM
memoration?S
I answer: II is no paradox: the fame
and glory of that battle do not make
and constitute the fame and glory Of
Andrew Jackson. on the contrary. II Is
the name Of Jackson and Its association
with the great Democratic President
that is the true secret OF the prestige
that belonged to the battle-thst, as
one. and the best OF its results, gave to
the country a champion and exposition
OF Democratic principles-when he was
most needed, when, in fact, If govern
ment by the people, for the sake OF the
people. was to be reality, or even pos
sibility. such a champion and expositor
was indispensably Necessary.
Thomas Jefferson. the founder OF the
party and the formulator OF
its distinctive principles. saw the ten
dency Of power to slip from the hands
NJ the many into the hands OF the few.
He foresaw that the great danger to
our free institutions would not arise from
attempted monarchic or imperial revolu-
ton, but by the usurpation OF privileged
l mean. holding them
eslves privileged to govern In virtue OF
what they called a greater stake in the
Is to say, more property
md more money than the generality OF
and. by presumption or infer
nnce, more intelligence also. and more
capacity to rule the state and control its
lfTairs for the common benefit. which,
as human nature is constituted. must in
Fariably mean their own.
OF legislation for classes and in the
interest OF sections. under the pretext OF
a paternal and fostering care for the
people and the national interests, JEFF !
ferson had a wise suspicion and a just !
and well-founded fear. But II was when !
the body OF the great statesman and
political philosopher was dust. and when !
the spirit Of his teachings had begun to
decay in the land. that the danger took. |
as il were. visible form and tangible |
shape
T., 49,
aew avatar. and II came in the form Of |
a champion covered with glory by the |
Indaunted patriotism combined with a |
certain obstinate individuality which had
given him success where the highest |
military genius and capacity might have !
failed. Popular enthusiasm for a mill |
tary idol at first sustained him. in his |
radical and far-reaching measures for |
reform. But he had actually !
slain the dragon and the armed prog
eny of its dessimated teeth. before a
great part OF the people could see the |
Justice or reason OF his war upon the
United States Bank. in which he Is now
rs universally justified, as he was at
he time applauded when he set his feet
lpon notification.
There are men living who. in their
ooyhood. cried "Hurrah for Jackson"
who, now. as men, recognize II as a
vatchword of more meaning and power
han they supposed or could suspect
md, IL they are Democrats, they thank
he Almighty that at that period He
tent into the world and made operative
n the affairs OF this country a mighty
md inlexible will to defend and sustain
he principles OF just government enun-
lated by the mighty and almost infal-
ible intellect of Thomas Jefferson
washington CSty January 1ef3