Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1912 — TELLS OF JACKSON [ARTICLE]

TELLS OF JACKSON

Biographer Says Ex-President Would Be Muckraker. * Conditions Ajluch the Bame—Great Democratic" Leader Always Opposed National Debt, Now' Considered Harmless. Northampton, Mass. —“If Andrew Jackson were on earth today he would, I believe; be a muckraker.” This is the statement of Prof. John Spencer Bassett, the authorized biographer of the former president, whose “day” was recently celebrated. Hla biographer was asked: “If Andrew Jackson should come back to earth what would he do; where would be stand?" “I am no prophet,” he replied, “and I am not discussing politics, but I will tell you how I think he would feel about modern conditions, judging this from my study of his life. “Jackson’s keenest impulse was against political jobbery and he would be In sympathy with the present-day muckraker. He opposed internal improvements because he thought localities were taking advantage of the government to get roads built. There was a group of road contractors - n whom he thought were promoting the demands for roads for private profit “How did conditions In Jackson’s time compare with ours?” "There are some similarities between political conditions in our day and In Jackson’s,” replied the historian. “The people feel the Same as regards monopoly; they have the same suspicion of what is called a ‘money trust,’ and there Is the same demand for a etronger ieader whoim special mterests cannot control or corrupt “The tariff was almost as live an Issue In Jackson’s day as at present Protection has had two palmy days In our history—from 1816 to 1833 and from 1865 to date. In Jackßon’s time It was checked by a compromise which provided for a reduction so gradual that It did not damage industry, and when the schedule had been brought- down- ta - a—-revenue basis there followed nearly 20 years of public economy and business prosperity. “In his fight on the bank Jackson committed some errors. Some of his charges were not true, and the people could see It Sometimes he was

needlessly harsh toward opponents, and the people could this. But for all tjiat they supported him, and these were not merely the Ignorant, stupid portion of the communities, but the average people, small merchants, farmers and planters, and Intelligent employes of all classes. They were

concerned with one chief purpose, and on that they wefb satisfied with the leader. They thought some of the charges against him the mere exaggeration of partisanship, and others,! if true, of such minor importance that! they could be Ignored in view of the! grand purpose.’’