Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-24
Presidential Campaigns
~. The Van Rurcn-Harrison Race OF 1895
by Frederic ]. Haskin

Washington, II. c., Sept 24.-Martin
Nan Buren, was practically appointed by
Andrew jackson to succeed him IN the
White House, but the appointment did not
take effect until after II had been ratified
IN the people ut an election which marked
the closc of one of the most bitterly con-
tested campaigns of our history. The re-
election oi jackson in 1892 upon the issue
nf hi veto of the bill to recharter the
Rank of the United States had practically
DESTROYED the National Republican party
- in 1884 the elements OF opposition to
jackson organized under the name OF
"Nhig," which, TO some extent, had been
popular appellation of the National ke-
puhlicans. Henry Clay was the heart and
soul of the new party, but It could not
unite even in opposition TO Van Buren.
IN an the northern States but Nassa-
ehusctts the Wings supported William
Henry Harrison. In Massachusetts
Ianicl Webster was the candidate. In the
South. except South Carolina, Senator
Hugh Lawson White of Tennessee was
hading the anti-iackson battles. South
Carolina was looking out for itself, the
l4,-islatnre ready 10 instruct electors TO
yote Gor ANYBODY 10 defeat Jackson's man,
Nan Rurcn. II the anti-Nan Buren, leaders
had managed "a get q majority OF the
electoral votes, they would have deserted
their candidates 10 combine upon Clay or
some other leader but that scheme was
never nut into effect Van Burcn had
elear majority of both popular and electo-
mi votes and Andrew Jackson's admins
tration was once more endorsed.
The second Jackson administration had
been even more stormy than the frst.
After Jackson was reelected the attltuuc
oi the opposition was reflected 10y such
1 a xtFhf
hNct there is one comfort left. God has
Promised that the DAYS Of the wicked shall
H. short: the wicked is old and feeble and
he may die before he can be inaugurated.
n i the duty az every good Christian to
pray 10 our Maker 20 have pity on US.
rur FIGHT on THE BANK.
south Carolina found out for certain
,bst Jaclson WAS reelected by the middle
al November. 1852, and on November %,
Tho famous ordinance Of notification was
nnssed The tariff OF ahomlnations was
jarpely the work Of Henry { lay and had not
much salpnort from Jackson. But Cal-
houp and the nulliicrs, IN fighting the I
tariff declaring II unconstitutional and
nun and VOID. were in the same political
hcd with CLAY 50 far as opposition to Jack
son was concerned
Tho burning words of JaCksOn's procla-
NATION ol December 10 was the hrst great
and broad denial of the right oi state 10
opnosr its single will against the power OF
the Federal government, and Jackson
stand on that question saved the mon
Rut notification question was one which
affected only 4 small portion Of the people.
Tho bank question was a nationwide
issue
The bill to rcchartcr tho bank had been
.etoe1 duripc the campaign of 1882 and
the voters had ratified the veto. The bank
hal cXertcd every possible effort 10 eject
CLAY. Ii did not take jackson long TO dc
eide 10 use all his power to end the bank,
without waiting for is charter 10 expire IN
1876 Ills Secretary OF the treasury,
William j. Duane, would not order the re-
moyal of the government deposits In the
bank without authority from Congress.
He also refused Ia resign his position.
Nhcrcupon he was removed and ms port
folio given 90 Roger B. fancy OF Mary
land. who. had been attorney-general.
Tancv removed the deposits and, IN later
wears. was rewarded by appointment to be
chtef Justice ol the supreme Court.
strictly speaking, the deposits were not
rrn,oycd from the bank. Incoming funds
werp deposited in certain State banks, and
tbr balance IN the United States Bank
,ras gradually exhausted 10y drafts for cur
rent cxpcnseS The selection OF certain
state banks rs repositories gave rise to
charges oi favoritism and in the campaign
al 1886 much was made Of Jackson
Pets as such hanks were known. But IN
spitc ~ an these radical things and the en-
tire destruction Of the financial system
upon which the country had been CON
Quoted, everybody prospered. The people
were more prosperous than ever before,
the government was IN better financial
condition than AZ any time, before or since,
in is history. BY January, 1885. the
national debt was all paid of and the
country had 20 face the question OF what
20 do with the surplus revenues.
THEY DIVIDED THE MONEY.
II was finally decided 10 distribute 1t
among the States in proportion to their
reprcsentation IN Congress. The States
gave receipts for the money, over s2s,-
100000 IN the aggregate, as # they were
deposits. bat everybody understood the !
money was not 70 be paid back. The dis
tribution was 70 be in four installments.
Three were paid but the panic which fol-
lowed Van Buren : election prevented the
fourth payment Some States built
public buildings with the money. Maine
divided IL among the people, per capita. /
money, collected as indirect tax, directly ]