The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-03-05
THOSE .tsALcYoN DAYS or THE
REPuBLIC-

want to return to those haIcyon days
Of the republic when democracy stood
for something. and had a definite
meaning.
When George Washington was al
most unanimously called to the exc
cutive chair parties had hardly as.
sumed definite shape.
Under his leadership the colonies
had been signally victorious over the
mother country and in recognition
of his services he was elevated 10 the
presidency.
Both Jefferson and Hamilton. were
members Of his cabinet who after
wards became the founders OF the two
political systems which have since
had such hold upon public affairs.
After occupying the executive chair
for two terms he was more than anx-
ious to retire to private life
He publicly declared that if he had
been IAN ordinary pickpocket he could
not have been more severely viliffed. .
That Is the way those good old
days appeared to the father of his
country
He was succeeded by John Adams.
There arose a rupture in his cabinet,
his marty broke away from him All.
terminated its existance at the end of
his term. He was candidate for re-
election but was defeated.
He was succeeded by Thomas JEFF
ferson, the real founder of the demo
cratic party He was denounced by
the opposition as Jaeobin; one
whose sympathies were with the mob.
Before the END OF his administra-
ton he rejected the>form OF treaty
received from the British and did so
without the formality Of submitting
it to the senate for its advice and
consent
ms summary rejection caused pub
lie excitment and the federalists
sought to arouse the commercial com
munity against his action But JEFF
ferson's party stood by him. The re
lection of the treaty led to the war OF
1872 and the successful termination
of the war strengthened Jefferson and
continued his party in power for a
long number of years.
II the democratic party would stand
by Wilson today as the party stood
by jefferson then it would give to the
democratic party long tenure Of
life.
Jefferson. like Washington, was glad
to retire to the shades of private life
SO as to escape the strife and turmoil
of politics end the poisoned arrows
of defamation.
Mr.. Madison was the successor of
jefferson. He set out to follow in the
course marked out by his eminent pre-
decessor but quarrels ensued over
the establishment of a national bank
and jealousies arose against the poll
tical power of Virginia for its greed
IN attempting to furnish the whole
craftsmanship of the country
He was, however, nominated for !.
second term but the opposition declar-
ed that the caucus which nominated
him was an gofficial regency which
prescribed thea tenets of political
faith
Under his administration ringing
declaration of war was declared
against Great Britain but soul-stir.
ring as the message was we are told
by historians that it failed to rally the
people to the standard as it. should
have done
One historian SAYS:
Political jealousies were very great
and the frequent defeats of the fed
eralists, while they tended greatly to
reduce their numbers and weaken
their power seemed to strengthen
their animosity. and they could see
nothing good in any act of the admin
istration .
How like it is at present and how
faithfully history repeats itself
It may not be out of place to say in
passing that party strife was so great
and actionalism so acute that Burr,
who was vice-president under Jeffer-
son, killed Hamilton in duel and
Henry Clay and John Randolph were
called upon to settle misunderstood.
ing on the field OF honor. as so many
public men were forced by public opin-
ion to do in those halcyon days,
After the termination of the second
war with the mother country party
rancor subsidized. as it should do now