The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-13
From the Christian Statesman, July
Keep it Before the People,


That the wing party propose to besow the civil power
Of our republic upon the military chiean at the head Of
the standing army as a reward for military service.
emp,ng TO make the standing army the only road to the
presidency in this country as has been the case in Mex.
co France and other countries. where the Liberties OF
the people have been Frustrated by the performance OF
the military principle.
Keep il before the people, that of establish
ing the predominance OF the military principle in this
country. and OF bringing the mercenay regulars OF the
nuence the election at various important places The com
handing general at the head OF the army, who
held civil Office in his lIIe and the officer having com,
mand Of the naval forces, have been nominated and
placed on the whis ticket for the presidency.
Keep il before the people, that the gross and baefaced
attempt made the part OF whggery to build up the
supremacy OF the military principle in order TO put down
the ascendency OF the democracy OF this country cannot
be covered IN or concealed by any paaon 10
be found in the election OF washington Jackson who
were distinguished statesmen having spent the greater
part of their lives the civil service OF the country and
as far as they engaged in military service il was
citizen soldiers in time OF war and neither OF whom
held any command in the army when proposed for the
presidency; and Washington having expressly forbidden
the use OF his candidate Tor the presidency
until after be had resigned the command OF the army and
retired to private lie.
Be il remembered that all history teaches that the pre-
dominance Of the military principle is wholly incompad-
BILE with the liberties OF the people, and that through
blind and needless regard for mere military renown, II
has wrought the downfall Of every republic 10 other
countries and other ages OF the world. :,
Let II not be overlooked, OUT sounu Tue toCsin al
along the line that il the civil power OF the republic be
bestowed on General Scott a reward for his military
services as proposed backed by the standing army OF
which he is The favore and successful leader, backed
by the unprncipled aud dwelling demagogues OF feder
aIism the monaes of Wall street, and the bankers
and monoposts OF the country who at heart opposed
to a government OF the people and willing and anxious
to resort TO any whatsoever suppress the suprem
acy of the democracy the people, he would hold IN his
hands elements of power far formidable and more
dangerous than those voluntarily given to the Cssars
and Napoeons of other countries
Herald il from every wachower OF liberty, that the
great struggle between liberty and desposm going on in
the world struggle for the supremacy OF the people
on the one hand and of civil government struggle to
maintain and control civil power by the free and uniam
melled will OF the people the one hand and by the
power and influence 81 the standing army under the lead
of military chieain on the other.
Finally, bold up to every mans observation the differ
ence between the citizen soldier who takes arms in the
time OF war in the defence OF his country and the merce
nary regular 10 the standing army The one values above
all things the liberties of his country, which the other,
cusomed all times to the despotc rule OF the army can
not appreciate and the prosiaon OF which only increases
his own power and influence in the government Wash
ington Jackson and Harrison were citizens IN peace, but
soldiers in war; while Napoleon turbide, and Santa An
ma and almost all the usurpers were men who had spent
the most OF their lives in the standing army and cared
nothing for the true interests OF the people