The monuments of our not-so-glorious past
New Orleans and Memphis are on a mission to remove selected monuments of historic personages. Who is surprised? This happens every four years in an effort to stir up a selected voter base. Landrieu and others in Memphis have succeeded this time. Let’s see if it pays off in the election.
While New Orleans is busy dismantling Lee Circle, Jefferson Davis and PTG Beauregard, etc., and Memphis is busy dismantling Nathan Bedford Forrest, disinterring him and his wife, and renaming the park, there is one historic figure worshiped and venerated between them both: Andrew Jackson.
Jackson sits at the center of the French Quarter upon his horse in Jackson Square. Why not? He was the savior of New Orleans in 1814. He was President of the United States. His Tennessee home, the Hermitage is a major historic site around Nashville that Tennessee maintains as a national shrine. Let’s face it, he’s on the $20 bill.
Not so fast! Senator Langford and Rep. Tom Cole (Oklahoma) have begun an effort to remove the “infamous” figure from the bill. They do not care who replaces him. Why? They are descendants of members of the Cherokee tribe that was removed from their homes and farms in Alabama and Georgia at the instigation of Jackson. Following his signing the “Indian Removal Act,” the Cherokees took the unusual step of suing the government in the Supreme Court, who agreed with them and ruled against the United States and Georgia. Who knew?
Jackson ignored the court and forced the “five civilized tribes” (about 45,000) to relocate to Indian territory in Oklahoma — the Trail of Tears, the original “Bataan Death March” (WW2) American style. About 4,000 Native Americans died on the march. Their homes and farms were stolen by Jackson’s land speculator cronies.
After “saving” New Orleans, he declared martial law in the city, placed himself in charge, and arrested several judges and one legislator for disagreeing with him. He relented when a judge who served with him at the Battle of New Orleans brought charges against him. In another instance, he threatened to invade South Carolina and to hang his sitting Vice President, Henry Clay. The Hermitage was where he worked the hundreds of slaves he owned. What a great fellow!
What does all this tell us. First, my monuments today, yours tomorrow. Political winds can come out of nowhere and be pretty chilly. Second, the only monument to an historical figure who didn’t have “clay feet” is the Christ of the Andes, which may have been moved originally from New Orleans or Memphis to South America. At any rate, it couldn’t be there now — Jesus, like the others, is too polarizing. Look what happened to him!
I am puzzled as to why those who know what is best for everyone in New Orleans, Memphis and the country are so closely attached to Andrew Jackson, the greatest racist and most lawless person of his time who oversaw one of the saddest events in our history, certainly the worst in the history of Native Americans and bought and sold African Americans like livestock. Could it be that Native Americans are discounted as a potentially powerful voting block?
By the way, Confederate Gen. Stand Waite, a Cherokee who survived the forced march, the Trail of Tears, was the last Confederate general to surrender his army at the close of the war. Maybe things are just what they are-reminders of our past. Maybe we could let them continue to teach us and move on lest we become a nation suffering from historical amnesia destined to repeat them. Ignorance could well be the most powerful political force shaping our future.
Presley Hutchens
Brooksville
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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