South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-17
Cases OfDuane And Lansing Compared
BY Claude G.. Bowers

bers that day that the paper" had
been prepared. less for them than
for the public. Under these circum-
stances. Duane. Knowing its real
purpose. asked that 10 be withheld
from publication until he could have
an opportunity 20 reach a decision.
This did not greatly affect Jackson.
He know that Duane had had months
In which 10 reach a decision: knew
what the decision would be. and sus-
pected that his secretary Of the treas
ury was in close touch with Biddle
and the bank. This has since been
clearly established. in the recently
published correspondence Of Nicholas
Biddle. The paper was consequent
II sent TO the Globe for publication.
Duane, Like Lansing.
Two days later Jackson asked
Duane II he had yet reached a de-
cision. This weak man replied by
letter that in the absence OF "a
friends tvse 20 advise with" and in
view Of the deep concern. felt not
only for himself. "but 90 all who are
dear % me-" he hoped that a decision
could be postponed for a day when
his father was expected in Washing
ton. Through all this period Jack
son had been more than kind. He
had no desire 10 humiliate his sec
retary-probably a weakness of VIII
sons IN the Lansing case. lie had
even proposed a graceful way out
that Duane accept the mission TO
Russia. The following day Duane
appeared at the white house and left
his written decision, a letter of many
words. It was a refusal 10 order
the removal. an argument written in
the tone Of a member of the opposi-
ton against the plan. and If it had
been prepared in joint conference
with Biddle and Clay. the leader OF
the opposition, 10 could not have been
more Extensively partisan I'm tone.
Two months before Duane had told
the president that I'm the event he
found that he could not accept and
act upon Jackson's views he would
resign. IT this letter he withdrew
his offer to resign. and seemed to
seek the martyrdOm of dismissal.
similarity III AdStS-
That same day Jackson wrote him
brief and dignifed reply TO the
effect that he could not receive such
n communication. and that having
invited the free and fun communi-
cation of your views before ! made
final opinion" he could not enter
into further discussion Of the ques-
ton" There is something in this
that accords perfectly with the
Lansing case. In Paris Lansing was
greatly hurt because the president
did not agree with his views. albeit
all that had been threshed out be-
fore leaving America. when Lansing
could and should have resigned. I'm
conclusion Jackson said: II have
merely wished TO be Informed
whether. as secretary Of the treas
ury. you can, consistently with your
opinion on the subject Of the de
posits, adopt such measures in re-
lation TO them as. in my view the
public interests and a due execution
Of the law render proper. If YOU
will now communicate that informa-
ton. II will confer an obligation on
your obedient servant Andrew Jack
son"
Both Have Passion for Expression.
Early in the afternoon of that day
Duane took his pen I'm hand. The
result was another long letter of
.tiresome reiterations. concluding with
the definite refusal 10 order the re-
movaI or TO resign. and protesting
against the presidents interference
with the policies Of a member OF
his cabinet. This letter could scarcely
have reached the white house. when
Duane. seized with a perfect passion
for expression-as I'm the case of
IansinC-wrote another letter Ito
present you another view" This was
the same day. This second letter was
a whining complaint that he had
been treated unfairly and unEener-
ousIv by the Globe. Having started
this letter on its way by messenger,
the super-heated secretary took an
other firm hold upon his pen TO
write the third letter of the day This
was another long. rambling list of
reiterations. With the single eXcep-
ton Of the first letter Jackson ig-
nored them as completely as Wilson
ignored Iansing's insincere telegram
20 Wilson. after Bullet had exposed
his dupHcity and treachery. Two
davs later Jackson returned the last
two letters as containing inaccuracies
like Iansings telegram - and
closed CURLY by saying; "I feel my
self constrained 70 notify YOU that
your further services as secretary Of
the treasury are no longer required"
Thus Duane. like Lansing, packed
his belongings and passed out Of
public life-a martyr 10 a wicked
ogre OF a president.
Duane. Too, Wrote Defense.
But like Lansing. Duane could not
content himself He felt that he
should take his pen IN hand TO de-
fend himself and 20 attack the man
who had lifted him from obsCurity
10 the cabinet. where he had played
the traitor For two months ne re-
NAMED IN much the same obscurity
ss that which enveloped Lansing
after leaving the state department
Then. like Lansing. he emerged fron
the gloom with his defense. II was
not the day OF many book puollca-
tions and the Lansing of 1888 had
recourse to the press and the PAM
phIet i'm an Address to- the Amer
ican People" In this remarkable
plea for sympathy he had Che i'm
delicacy 70 publish all the letters that
had been exchanged between himself
and his chief This was done for
Loo r.
ers and the press of the opposition
were just as thoroughly convinced
then that Duane's Address had eN-