Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-13
Circulation Circulate si,',e+s, Every 1890
MONDAY JANUARY Is. 1919
A Forgotten Anniversary.

jackson DAY, the luith anniversary ol
notable triumph of American arms IN the
militant victory Of General Andrew Jack
ecn over the British forces at the Battle
o New Orleans, January :. 1918, IN the
closing DAYS Of the War of 1912. Indeed,
II was n battle fought after the war had
heen formally ended The commissioners
al Great Britain and the United states
had concluded a Treaty oi Peace a Ghcnt,
Hclsium, which was signed on Christmas
dav, 1914 But. owing 20 the slow methods
a communication then available, the
news vt this formal ending Of the war did
no, reach this country until after the
Battle Of New Orleans had been fought
and won.
The War Of 1912 was the last ebulh-
fion oi anger and fighting disposition be-
tween the United States and the mother
country. Since then, now more than
century We have hccn AZ peace. Flurrles
there have been occasionally, notably
during our Civil War, but always diplo-
macy stepped IN 10 avert the drawing OF
IGt sRNTN. anu AtAnNA Mal Wa tAh'tN'N''
Now. thank the Lord II Nations the re-
lations between the two countries are
such that there i no probability that
even thought q war will bc entertained
bv either acains, the otlcr ior III time 70
come
Still, there are memories connected
with the Battle az New Orleans that make
its recurring anniversaries peculiarly
pleasing to the pcople Of our country
During that mos; unfortunate disagree
uent- which, We nov know, could easily
have been settled hN arbitration without
resort 10 war--Wc did little N our mih-
tarv operations that Iedoundcd q he
credit al our country Our Nar Depart
ment i i now adnrtcd ~ nI~cra TN
inetfcient The Brush force although
they were invaders and had to he trans
ported across III, Atlantic Ocean, were
generally successful With the exception
of few engagements IN which American
valor was conspicuous, cur military op-
erations were almost o succession Of dis
asters
Fortunately, however our navy showed
It's mettle during that war Cur victories
1t sea were notable, and some Of them,
espeoislly the victory OF the old Constitu-
taon over the Guerrero, form the most
honorable chapters OF the history Of
The American Navy. They made great
amends for the altogethcr miserable show
ms We made on land.
But jackson and New Orleans saved
our national military credit, OF at least
retrieved us from close approach 10 dis
grace. The British forces comprised
veterans Of the Peninsula Campaign,
vic,ors over Nspoleons marshals trained
20 the limit for effective fighting Against
then jackson arrayed his Iaw militia,
BIZ frontier backwoodsmen and sharp
shooters, and q motley aggregation OF
Others whose only recommendation was
that they could tight With Incompatible
skill and effectiveness he directed their
operations, and the result was one OF the
most signal and conclusive victories on
the field Of battle ever known in the his
tor, OF the world.
New On leans made jackson President
OF the United States for two terms, and
for yeais the honored and undisputed lead
or Of the Democratic party Of the coun-
try. For this reason, the celebration Of
Jacksons Day has been confined almost
exclusively to Democratic agencies Tam
many Hall. IN New York City, for many
yeais made a great speciality Of observing
Jackson DAY
This was All wrong Although an
intense partisan Andrew Jackson was a
fine fighting soldier, and, above all else,
sn ardent patIiOt He loved our country,
and fought for IL al times under cir
cumstances most dlscomaging Also,
he was no meie military man. holding
the civil authority IN contempt He
believed IL the supremacy oi law, and was
ever ready 20 submit 20 i Altogether.
he was fine old American citizen
This year, owing 10 the stIess Of the
extraordinary conditions arising from
'he Great War IN Europe, Jackson's Day
was practically forgotten in our coun-
Try II may not be amiss, therefore u
pve toit belated reference Itstillh has its
potent lessons