Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, December 15, 1882, Page 5, Image 9
THE HESPERIAN STUDENT, r I n ol European politics at lust brought llio Englishmen to their senses ami t lie treaty signed left things in llio same condition ns beforo tho war. Tho London Times angrily declared that the Yankees had negotiated better than they had fought, that England had attempted to force her prin ciples upon America and had failed. Again, as Secretary of State under Monroo's administra tion Adams met John B II in tho ucrson of Mr. Canning, English minister at Washington England was trying to quietly get possession of the mouth of the Columbia river There had been some talk in Congress ol sending some troops thither. Canning called to sec the Secretary of State about it. "Have you," asked Adams, "any claim to the mouth ol the Columbia?" "Why," said Canning, "do you not know that we have a claim?" "I do not know," niiMveicd Adams, "what you claim or what you do not claim; you claim Asia, you claim Africa, jou claim " "Perhaps," interrupted Canning, "a piece of the moon." "No," said Adams, "I have not heard that you claim exclusively any portion of the moon; but there is no spot on this habitable globe, that I could aflirm the you do not claim." John Bull didn't secure tho mouth of i he Columbia. Adams wanted to bo president, ho worked hard to secure tho ofllce, how did he work? By toiling with almost superhuman industry at his duties as Secretary of State. Further than this he did nothing to help his individual "boom." Adams, Jackson, Clay, and Crawford were the candidates; there was no choice in the electoral college, and by Clay's help Adams was chosen President b' the house. Clay being1 thereafter made Secretary of State, the cry of bargain was promptly raised by Jackson and Co. but no proof that could stir, vivo the campaign that gave it birth was brought forward The fact was that Clay had to choose betwecu Adams and Jackson, and whichever one he had supported would probably have made him Secretary if he desired the ofllce; ho undoubtedly showed good sense by making tho choice he did. As president Adams refused to use his xp pointing power to reward old friends or make new ones and it is a ghastly commentary on our civil service, that hisrcctitudo payed the way for Jackson's success. Adams political history did not cud when he vacated the prcsi dential chair; position was but a secondary affair with him. As was said oT another president. "His high aim was manhood." All he desired wa- n chaucc to work. When asked if he would accept the position of represents ivc in congress, he replied that he would, and that ho should not consider it as detrac ting from his dignity as cx-president, to serve as town councilman if elected to that position. At G3 years of age this cx.prcsident took his seat for the first time in the house of representatives. lie shirked no duties because of age, was regular in attendance, never failed to vote unless for some good reason, aud did an amount of committee work that might well have put to shame many of the younger members. Iraciblc and at times sarcastic he gained few personal Iriends, but bear-ishnc-s is not a daingerous vice in a government like ours. He became by force of circumstances preeminently the champion of the right of petition. In 1830 the southern members secured the passage of the "Gag Law," which forbade the reception of any petition in regard to the question of slavery. Each time when the old rules were portion of them; each session lie offered great numbers of petitions from all over the country only to have them ruled out of order. He presented petitions of all kinds that were sent to him; petitions for the abolition of sla very, petitions for tho perpetuation of slavery, petltir ns for the dissolution of the Union, petitions for his own removal from the committee on foreign affairs; even petitions for his own expulsion from tho house. The fight was long, but in 1846 the Gag Law was repealed. Twice during the contest did democratic members try to get through resolutions calling him to tho bar of the house to be censured by tho speaker, twice did he begin the fight well nigh alone aud both times did ho succeed so well in his defense that his opponents were glad to lay their own resolutions on the table. He was possessed, Morse tells us, of but few of tho attri butes of an orator, yet in the excitement of passionate debate, with wild gesticulation, with cracking voice and streaming eyes, his brain still went like clock work and by virtue of his deep sincerity he gained for himself the title of "Old Mau Eloquent." In spite of bad temper and caustic speech he gained the respect both of friends and foes, and in 1848 when he entered the house for the first time after a prostrated illness, the entire body rose to receive him. in the following February, at 80 years of age, paralysis struck him down at his post of duty. Borne from the house iu an unconscious condition, he died on the twenty second. He was a man made great by manliness. Many have died for the sake of liberty, lie lived for it. Ho may well havo been one of the great departed whose spirits wen 1 invoked by Whittier when he said, "To party claims, to private aims, Itcvcat that august face of truth, Whore-to are gtven the age of heaven, The beauty of immortal youth. So shall our volco of sovereign choico, Swell tho deep bass of duty done, Ami strike the key of times to be, When man and God shall speak as one." '85. Scene at a club tabic: Senior: "Who. is going to hear Prof. Grube speak on Faust tonight" Fuesuman, (eager for useful information); "Faust! What is that?" Oh I a curious thing is lovo As it comes from above Aud lights like a dove On some. Hut some it never hits Without it gives them (Its And scatters all their wits Oh hum I "Are you certain of securing the diadem?" asked the minister of the dying mau, and when the man said he didn't "want to diadem bit," the minister and tho doctor both flew, and us a matter of consequence the man got better. Facitious Friend (tp young lady engaged in an entre nous witli a Soph) "Kittic, do you think you could be saved if I throw you a ropo ?" Young lady (momentarily relieved) "Why, do vouj tlilnU .'n1---.ap" -r HEBaiBiJcusfiSL,rrfanauar , -