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Show Old Masters Henry Clap By C. C.G. ONE of the greatest of Americans was Henry Clay. Tho voices of Richard Henry Loo and Patrick Henry wero ringing on tho nerves of all Virginians, the noiso of the tread of , soldiers filled the air of Virginia, when Henry Clay was born; pre-natal patrlotibm was implanted in his breast, and so, for nearly half a century, his voice was a song of pralso for native land, and tho song often deepened into an anthem organ toned for the union that the fathers created. His life was a perpetual struggle to harmon-izo harmon-izo warring factions at home, and to maintain the splendor of his country's flag abroad. His gift of eloquence was an enchantment and backed by the magnetism which took captive all that came within his influence, he was well-nigh well-nigh Irresistible In his appeals. Ho was tho finest presiding officer of his age. The old saying say-ing was that "the tap of Caesar's finger awed the senate," the tap of Clay's gavel had the same effect except that it was not awe, but admiration admira-tion that forced men to yield to his wishes. He was the foremost champion of the war of 1812, and though ho had no military training and had never "set a squadron in the field," President Madison almost decided to give him command of all tho American armies in that war. It would have been a grave .injustice to such soldiers sold-iers as Scott and Jackson, but tho desire on tho part of the President only showed that he had been hypnotized by the faclnatlon that Clay had enchanted him with. Clay always believed in a protective tariff, and a commanding merchant marine for he wanted so many as could, to become be-come skilled workers and ho felt that an increase in-crease of money, the one thing most needed, must come through foreign trade. He was the father of the great national road that united the east with the Mississippi valley, his thought being that it would mightily stimulate trade, and beyond that begin to draw the American Ameri-can people nearer each other. He was the real organizer of the old Whig Party, and with that party held tho land united for thirty years. (He wanted to be President, but never succeeded. suc-ceeded. His cruelest defeat was when Polk was nominated, and elected for that was done through the Abolition party which should have been his friend, joining with its natural enemy, the Democratic party to defeat him. And, defeated him with an inferior man when those same abolitionists abolit-ionists knew the election of a Democrat would precipitate a war, the ultimate result,, of which would bo a war for the extension of human slavery . Surely unseen hands were setting the stage in 'M those momentous days. It was paralleled in a I measure in 1912, though tho causes wero not at ' M all similar. M Clay's speeches aro not much road now, for their charm was in their delivery. Thoy have M nothing to tho depth nor innate grandeur which M make Webstor's speeches classics to bo road as M long as have those of Pericles, Demosthenes M and Cicero, but in them all the Americanism, M and the all-surrounding patriotism and manliness M of tho man, shine out, and his is a memory that M will bo warm in tho hearts of his countrymen M so long as the Republic lasts. H Ho started in life almost as poor as did Lin- H coin; he was denied tho finish of tho schools, M but ho pushed his way until during the last forty M years of his life he was tho best-loved of all his . M countrymen, and ho had earned that love through M his genius, his integrity, his ceaseless industry M and patriotism. 'Deep down, too, tho love he M received was but a return of tho lovo ho had iR given to his country and countrymen. Hl |