Evening star., 1943-01-10
Capital SideIights
Bv VIII p. Kennedy.

The Gazette of the United States,
February 18, 1901, reporting on the cele-
bration of Jefferson's election as Presi-
dent says: "At news of Jeffersons sue
cess the leading Federalist journal lover
which Marshall was reputed to exercise
dictatorial infuence) declared that some
Republicans IN Philadelphia huzzaed
until they were seized with lockjaW--
and 800 are now drunk beyond hope OF
recovery. Gin and whisky are said to
have risen in price SO per cent since 9
o'clock, this morning. The bells have
been ringing, guns firing, dogs bark
ing cats mewing. children crying and
Jacobins Ga derisive name for the Re
pubhcanS getting drunk" .s 49,.
Only one President, John Adams, has
lived to see son in the White House.
John Quincy Adams, when he was only
10 years of age, accompanied his father
on a perilious voyage to France. They
were shipwrecked off the coast of Spain,
and it took them three months to ride
horseback over the mountains to Paris.
John Quincy's mother Abigail was
parsons daughter and had never been
to school. She rocked the cradle, cooked
and patched four little Adamses, tended
the farm, milking, knitting, churning
and darning, teaching and praying, toll
ing and saving, inspired her husband in
his progress to the presidency ana
reared a son to follow in his fathers
footsteps.
Members of Congress wore their hats
during the sessions of the Senate and
House until 1928 This is shown in ex-
tensive research by the late Senator
Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana, who
gives vivid word picture of "the Re-
publican master of the House and in
deed of the Senate Also He visualizes
him thus: "Of medium stature thin as
a sword, his straight black hair, in which
gray already was beginning to appear,
suggesting the Indian blood in his veins,
his intense black eyes flaming with pas
sion of combat. his high and shrilling
voice suggesting the scream of an eagle,
John Randolph of Roanoke - that
naughty, passionate, energetic genius
personifled the aggressive and ruthless
republicanism of the hour. He was
clad in riding-coat and breeches,, wore
long riding boots, and if the hat of the
Virginia planter was not on his head, it
was because in his nervousness he had
1r-I,i1 hi VII IL,
not in his hand, it was ON his desk where
he had cast it, the visible and fitting
emblem of this strange mans mastery
over his PARTISAN followers" This de-
scription is confirmed by Senator Will
liam Plumer of New Hampshire, who, on
February %, 1903, described Randolph
as having more popular and effective
talents than any other member of his
party" He also wrote: Randolph goes
to the House booted and spurred, with
his whip In hand, in imitation. it is said,
Of members of the British Parliament"
The personal domination which John
Randolph of Roanoke welded over his
Jefferson Is difficult to realize at the
present day, according to Beveridge who
was himself distinguished party man
in Congress. Nothing like 1t has since
been experienced, excepting only the
merciless rule OF Thaddeus Stevens of
Pennsylvania from 1862 until 1868.
Stevens was chairman of the managers
appointed by the House in 1868 to con-
duct Impeachment proceedings against
President Andrew Johnson.