. The story of American democracy, political and industrial . choked his utterance. Soon, however, Jackson found his place as military leaderand Indian fighter ; and he came back to political leadershipas a more imposing figure, — the natural spokesman ofWestern democracy. Old Hickory remained spare inperson, with the active and abstemious living of the hair was now a silvered mane. His manner was markedby a stately dignity and, toward all women, by true court-liness. Beneath this exterior, he remained as pugnacious THE SPOILS SYSTEM 457 and fearless and self-confident as ever, ap
. The story of American democracy, political and industrial . choked his utterance. Soon, however, Jackson found his place as military leaderand Indian fighter ; and he came back to political leadershipas a more imposing figure, — the natural spokesman ofWestern democracy. Old Hickory remained spare inperson, with the active and abstemious living of the hair was now a silvered mane. His manner was markedby a stately dignity and, toward all women, by true court-liness. Beneath this exterior, he remained as pugnacious THE SPOILS SYSTEM 457 and fearless and self-confident as ever, apt to jump to con-clusions and stubborn in clinging to them. A choicebit of contemporary satire makes him say, It has alwaysbin my way, when I git a notion, to stick to it till it dies anatural death; and the more folks talk agin my notions,the more I stick to em. He was sure of his own goodintentions, and, with somewhat less reason, of his goodjudgment. He trusted his friends (not always wisely chosen)as himself, and he was moved by an unconscious vanity. Clar de Kitchen, a contemporary cartoon, now in the Library of Congress,caricaturing Jacksons treatment of his (kitchen) cabinet when they differedfrom him. The faces are portraits. that made it easy for shrewd men to play upon him; but,withal, he had sound democratic instincts, hating monopolyand distrusting commercial greed and all appeals from it foralliance with the government, and believing devotedly in thesovereignty of the people, a sovereign who could do nowrong. As President he felt himself to be the embodimentof the Nations will; and he seized a masterful control ofCongress so successfully and imposingly that all Presidentssince have felt themselves possessed of rightful power neverclaimed by Washington or Jefferson, One symbol of the 458 JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY new power of the President was the growth of the preceding six Presidents together had vetoed ninebills — all on constitutional grounds ; Jackson h
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