The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-25
Frederic Haskin's Letter
mDsla ossssussauss : Assass.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.
N.-Ihe Van Buren-Harrison Race Of 1896

Warrington. D. C.. Sept. a.
Martin Van Buren, was practically
appointed by, Andrew jackson to
succeed him in the White house.
but the appointment did not take
eject until after 1t had been rati-
ned BY the people at m election
which marked the close Of 6ne Of
the most bitterly contested CAM
paisns Of our history. The re-
election Of Jackson in 1882 upon
the issue Ct his veto Of the bill to
recharter the bank Of the United
States had practically destroyed
the National Republican party. So
in 1884 the elements Of opposition
to Jackson organised under the
name Of "Whig," which. to some ex-
tent, had been the popular appel
lation OF the National Republicans.
Henry Clay was the heart and soul
OF the new party, but It could not
unite even in opposition to Van
Buren,.
In all the northern states but
Massachusetts the wings support
ed William Henry Harrison. In
the south, except South Carolina,
Senator Hugh Lawson White of
Tennessee was leading the anti
Jackson battles. South Carolina
was looking out for itself, the leg
islature ready to instruct electors
to vote for anybody, to defeat Jack
sons man, Van Buren,. II the anti
Van Buren, leaders had managed
to get a majority of the electoral
votes, they would have deserted
their candidate to combine upon
Clay or some other leader, but that
scheme was never put into effect.
Van Buren, had a clear majority
of both popular and electoral votes
and Andrew Jackson's administra-
tion was once more endorsed.
The second Jackson administra-
ton had been even more stormy
than the first. After jackson was
reelected the attitude Of the oppo-
sition was reflected by such papers
as the Boston Courier, which said !:
yet there is one comfort left. God
has promised that the days of the
wicked shall be short; the wicked
is old and feeble and he may die
before he can be inaugurated. 1t is
the duty Of every good Christian to
pray to our Maker to have pity on
u.s."
The Fight on the Bank.
South Carolina found out for GER
tain that Jackson was reelected BY
the middle of November, 1882, and
on Nov. % the famous ordinance of
notification was passed. The tariff
of denominations was largely the
work Of Henry Clay and had not
much support from Jackson. But
Calhoun and the nullifiers, in fight
ing the tariff. declaring it uncon-
stitutional and null and void, were
in the same political bed with Clay
so far as opposition to Jackson was
concerned.
The burning words of Jackson's
proclamation of December 10 was
the frst great and broad denial OF
a state to oppose its single will
against the power of the federal
government, and Jackson's stand on
that question saved the union. But
the notification question was one
which affected only a small portion
of the people. The bank question
was a nationwide issue.
The bill to recharter the banh
had. been vetoed during the cam.
paign Of 1892 and the voters hai
ratified the veto. The bank had ex.
erted every possible effort to cleo,
Clay. 1t did not take Jackson Ions
to decide to use all his power tt
end the bank. without waiting fol
its charter to expire in 1886. Hi.
secretary Of the treasury, William
u. Duane, would not order the re-
moval Of the government deposit.
in the bank without authority from
congress. He alse refused to re
sign his position. Whereupon b,
was removed and his portfolio Civ
en- to Roger B. fancy of Maryland
who had been attorney general
fancy removed the deposits and, il
later years, was rewarded by ap
appointment to be chief justice o
the supreme court.
i Strictly speaking, the deposit!
we're not removed from the bank
Incoming funds were deposited II
certain state banks, and the bal
ance in the United States bank wa
gradually exhausted by drafts 70
current expenses. The selection O
certain state banks as depositorie
gave rise to charges of favoritisn
and In the campaign Of 1886 mucl
was made of "Jackson's Pets" a
such banks were known. But il
spite Of all these radical things an,
the entire destruction of the finan
cial system upon which the coun
try had been conducted. everybod,
Fprospered. The people were NOR
; prosperous than ever before, tn
government was in better financia
condition than at any time, befor,
or since, in its history. BY Janu
airy. 1885, the national debt was al
paid OF and the country had t
face the question Of what to d.
with the surplus revenues.
They Divided the Money.
It was finally decided to distrib