Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-10-21
P @ L [ I I G. A L
The Two Candidates---A
Contrast.

IghoilnS lne principles Vi puollC Poilcy IoF
which they have heretofore contended, and
studiously avoiding any discussion of the ques-
tons really in issue, the whg party are max
ing systematic effort to stake the result of the
approaching election upon the military reputa-
tion of their candidate. And they are not con-
tent TO paint him he is; but, 10 commend
him to the admiration of the country, they
clothe him with virtues which are foreign to
his nature, and give him credit for deeds of
valor which he never performed. The truth
of history is shamefully outraged, the we'll
earned reputation of other gallant men plum
dered of its brightest gems, and the achieve
ments of their genius and their valor appro-
priated to one who is willing 10 stru, in plumes
plucked from the illustrous dead, and delights
in a glory of which their memory has been
robbed. The fame of Worth, of Duncan, of
Jesup, of Mcneil, of Brown, and other brave
men, has been pillaged TO deck the brow of
Winfield Scott with laurels which he does not
blush to wear. And to heighien the splendor
of his renown, his profigate partizans never
weary of depreciating the services and defam-
ing the reputation of his competitor for the
presidency, as they have deprecated the SER
vices and defrauded the reputation of his rivals
in arms. From the wing press we hear as
much of the obscurity of Franklin Pierce as
we hear of the glory of Winfield Scott; and
while the one is painted as hero endowed
with every virtue, and capable of any achieve
ment, the other is represented as destitute even
of the qualities which compose the character
of the most ordinary and CO mmonplace individ-
ual.
There is no need that we should correct the
misrepresentation of the whig press in respect
to the character and qualifications of General
Scott and General Pierce, by giving Just es-
timdte of the merits of the two men. The
country will do this. No excess of extrava-
giant and unmerited eulogy can convince the
American people that General Scott is any
thing more than a competent and successful
soldier, and no amount of Misrepresentation
can disguise the radical and prominent defects
of his character. Neither is it within the pow
er of the defamer to depreciate those solid and
substantial qualities, that stern integrity, that
keen sagacity, that profound wisdom, that res
olute courage, that cautious prudence, and that
ardent patriotism, of which the character of
General Pierce is and has ever been, the bril-
liant illustration. The conduct of the two
men since they have been before the people
for the highest office in their gift gives just
conception of their character, aud satisfies ev-
cry impartial mind that in intrinsic worth, and
in all the elements of true greatness, Franklin
Pierce as far eXcels Winfield Scott as Win
field Scott surpasses him in the trappings and
tiasel of meretricious glory.
The whig candidate procured the nomina-
tion of his party by intrigue and personal So
iicitation. Never doubling in his excessive
vanity that he was fully equal to all the du-
ties and responsibilities of the chief mag istracy
of this vast country, he began years ago to
display that ambition to be President which
has impelled him to SO many ridiculous exhi-
billions, and 10 such unworthy arts. Defer
ence to the superior claims of others never re-
strained him in his intrigues for the nomination
ofhis party; nor did principle interpose any
obstacle between him and the object of his i'm
patient ambition. After years of tortuous in
trigue and clamorous solicitation he made
a candidate for the presidency by traitorous
faction, to whose fanatic passions he pandered,
and who effected his nomination by tramping
.l- l. =.
ty. And at last he had to purchase the nomi-
nation of the Baltimore Convention by prom
ise which he has not yet redeemed. He
could not stand aloof from the contentious of
the convention, and he degraded the dignity of
his position by descending to an humble though
insecure appeal for the support of the South
And now, since he is a candidate for the pres-
dency, his conduct is, if possible, still more un-
worthy and reprehensible. On pretence of the
public service, he projected, and is now prose-
cutting, an electioneering campaign for the
presidency of the United States! He travels
about 10 enlist the sympathy of the people by
exhibiting his wounds, and to excite their ad-
miraton by pompous illusions TO his own
achievements. For the vote of the foreign
er,' to whom but few years ago he would
have denied the rights and franchises of free
men, he now supplicates by initiating the low
arts and fawning hypocrisy of the pot-house
politician. The cry of the Irishman once fired
him with indignation but now he loves to
near the rich brogue' when it shonts his
praise. He generously divides his heart
among the eager partizans who applaud the
harangues OF the 'war-worn soldier. Such is
the conduct of the whig Candidate for ,be nres-
idency-conduct which furnishes the lustre Of
his renown, degrades the character of the CONN
try, and brings discredit upon the exalted posi-
tion to which he aspires. To him, however.
who cites it in reproach of our country, it may
be replied, that as such spectacle was never
witnessed before, so the feeling which it ex-
cites among all respectable men is sufficient
guarantee that irwll never be witnessed again.
The modest and dgnifed demeanor of
Franklin Pierce, is worthy of the man, of the
great party he represents, and of the high Of
fee for which he is proposed So far from
seeking nomination for the presidency he
studiously discountenanced every friendly effort
to attain the honor for him and when il WAS
Unexpectedly and spontaneously bestowed upon