The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-09
a. Brown University in 1915. the follow

IRON the very nrbt ne also look Al
active interest In politics and became a
TO the columns of the Troy
budget, an anti-Federslist organ. II
was an age OF warm political contro-
versy. In which foreign questions doomed
comparatively as large as they do to-
day. Marcy early espoused the princi-
pies OF the Republican or, as II was
afterward called, tho Democratic party.
II was a fsvorite story Of an old friend
of mine, the late Francis Wharton, that
the Supreme judicial Court of Massa-
chusetts once formally decided that JEFF
Republicans were Jerg rat
pro and might be shot on sight. have
never sought to verify this tale by an
examination OF the reports OF that ex-
allied tribunal. but Its humorous exag-
geration perhaps scarcely overempha-
sizes the antagonism and the horror for
merly excited In csrtain quarters by
what appeared to be the subversive and
impious creed Of the Jeffersonian sect
When war with Great Britain broke
out in 1914 Marcy volunteered, and be-
came Lieutenant Of company which
was soon sent to the front. The COM
pany was subsequently despatched to
French Mills, later known as Fort Cow
inston. On the night Of october ~, 1912, a
detachment under Colonel Young, of
which Marcy was a member. was sent
out to capture 4 company Of Canadian
militia at St. Regis. At the head Of a file
Of men. Marcy approached the house in
which the militia lodged. and himself
broke open the door. In the autobio-
graphical memorandum. to which I have
heretofore adverted, Marcy humorously
confesses that when he broke open the
door he regarded himself as "un enfant
perdu'; and wo must concede that, II
he did not lose his life. II was not for
want OF inclination to risk II. The in
mates Of the house were, however, cap
tured and disarmed. These were, with
the exception of some troops captured by
General Cass In Michigan but after
ward recaptured, the first British troops
taken on land during the war. Their
nag, which also was captured. was the
hrst standard taken on land. Marcy
with his company subsequently Joined
tho main army under General Dearborn.
When his first enlistment expired he
returned TO Troy: but later. when the
city of New York was threatened, he
volunteered q second time and was again
In service.
recite these facts, not for the pur-
pose of reviving reoollections Of tho War
Of 1919. but merely for the purpose OF
exemplifyins the quality and temper OF
the man and the patriotic ardor that
characterised his career from nrst to
last To guard the memory Of such men
against forgetfulness or slight Is duty
which the present owes to tho past nc
less than to itself. q duty too sacred
to be gagged by lapse OF time or by the
fluctuations Of international politics. Al
though the British and the French have
lately been fighting shoulder TO shoulder
against q common enemy. shall not ex-
poet the English people to change the
name of Trafalgar Square or TO substi-
tute Victory" monuments for the stat.
ues Of Nelson
You have advertsd to Marcy's use OF
the phrase that "to the victors belong
the Bpoils OF the enemy" The occasion
was the rejection by the Senate Of the
nomination Of his friend and political
leader. Van Buren,. as Minister to Eng
land. Resentment at this humiliation
Van Buren, having already reached his
post and entered upon his duties. wal
not confined to his political followers
and It materially contributed to his sub
sequent elevation to the Presidency
While tho nomination was pending
Marcy. In repellins the assaults Of the
Wings, declared that the politicians Of
rrtrrtv,ls
above quoted, but denied that. II tried
by the practice of their opponents, they
were peculiarly open to reproach. HI
never ceased. however. to repel tho In
depreciation popularity placed upon hi,
words. Among his papers there 10 Q
carefully prepared memorandum tr
which no condemns tho rule OF proscrtp
ton, of which. when removed by d.
witt Clinton from tbs Recordership o.
Troy, he was an early victim. and re
flutes the charge that no was Q "spoils
man In that sense. II was his prac
tice 70 appoint to once only persons o.
hts own political faith. But he afiirmI
that in the various public positions
which he held he stsadfastiy refused
to discharge men from the service be
cause OF their political views; and tina
even when. as Secretary of War, he be
came the object OF partisan attack,
rained upon the Administration in con
neotion with the Mexican War. he re
tanned in confidential positions near hin
men who were attached by political ane
by family ties to his political adverse
ries. Later, as Secretary OF State, h,
disturbed no man on account Of his po
litical convictions, and preserved tho or
ganisation of the department intact.
During forty-ive years Of almost con
tinuouA public service. twice as q sol
der (1812. 1910 as Recorder Of Trio,
(IS16-ls) as Adjutant-General of tn
State (1S2l-2s) as Comptroller Qs2s
2s) as a Justice OF the Supreme Cour
of the State (IS2s-1s31) as a Senate
Of the United States t1Ssl-33) thrice a
Governor OF the State (ls3S-39) a
Commissioner under the Mexican Claim
Treaty Of 1889 (lS4o-42) as secretar.
Of War (1s46.4s), and finally as Score
tary of State (lS5s-67), he not onl,
gave to his country the benefit OF hi
rare abilities, his wide learning and ex
perisnoe and his wise and sagaciou
counsel, but no also furnished to hi
compatriots an example OF the hlEhes
public integrity. On this point It suf
fees to invoke the testimony OF his In
vsterate political antagonist. but per
sonal friend and admirer, Thurlow Weed
who, speaking OF Marcy and his pol!u
cal associates. declared:
l do not believe that q stronger po-
litieal combination ever existed At any
State capital. or even at the national
capital They were men OF great abil-
ity, great industry. indomitabls cour-
ara and strict personal integrity Their