New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-25
POLITICAL PERSONALITIES.


his qualifications for the post he aspires to.
If he is incompetent or dishonest, or an
enemy to his country or her institutions,
that is n good reason for refusing him the
office, and the facts which prove him a
ninny, knave or traitor are fairly adduci-
bic by his political opponents. And yet,
so immense is the probability that party
including among its members many thou
sands of capable, honest, deserving patriots,
uiH not pass them all by and take up an
unfit, dishonest, unworthy candidate, that
whatever may be oAered to his prejudice
ought to be rigidly scrutinized by the peo-
pie, and not accepted as truth unless it
stands the test of the severcst investigation.
And besides, it should be considered that
all this personal elimination is exceedingly
unproftabe-tha is to say, it proves moth
ing beyond the mere fact involved. The
voter who is convinced by testimony that
Gen. Scott or Gen. Pierce is personally
unfit to be President, has learned nothing
thereby which tends to qualify him for the
future discharge of his responsibilities as an
enfranchised citizen. He is not one whit
better fitted to choose between the rival
candidates at the next Election than if he
had never till now cast vote nor thought
of an Election. But if he has decided to
vote for Scott or Pierce because he, by in
yestigation or discussion, has been led to
believe the Protective Policy right or
wrong, or to affirm or deny the expedien-
cy of liberal appropriations for River and
Harbor improvements, he has established
a criterion which will aid him to decide,
confidently and promptly, with reference
to principle and public interest, questions
which will very probably be involved in
future Elections.
We have endeavored, in this as in for
mer political contests, to keep purely per-
sOnal ordinations as much out of sight as
possible. We certainly think Gen. Scott
has served his country far LONGER and more
efficiently than Gen. Pierce, and we be-
lieve the voters ought to and will take that
lact into the account. We presume they
have both been paid for their services
all that the law allows them, and so hay o
no claim on the Treasury but if either Of
them has served with eminent ability, de-
votedness and efficiency, he has thereby
established claim on the gratitude o. his
countrymen which will hardly be disal-
lowed.
AS to personal elimination, however, we
believe it is generally poor business, and
the less we have of it the better. OF Gen.
Pierce we have not Intentionally said or
published one word in personal disparage-
ment. His politics seem to us as bad us
bad could be, under such form of Co..
eminent as ours; and on their account we
earnestly desire his defeat. But under
what circumstances he tainted in Mexico,
whether he was present or absent at GER
tain battles, &c. &C., are topics in whose
discussion we have taken no interest, and
to which we have intended to afford no
space. A single allusion to his alleged
habit of hard drinking crept into our col
umns unobserved and was promptly repu-
diated-not because the fact of habitual
and gross intemperance would not be
valid ground of objection to his elevation
to the Presidency, but because no evil
dence adequate to the establishment of
such charge has ever been adduced. If
unquestioDable testimony establishing that
charge were before the public, we should
feel bound to notice it and give it weight;
but mere barrOOm gossip and semi-anon-
ymous slang goes for nothing, as it should,
and ought not to influence a vote. Those
who believe Gen. Pierce the sounder pol
itician and more deserving citizen will and
should vote for him those who give a
like preference to Gen. Scott should vote
accordingly.
Had Gen. Scott and Gen. Pierce never
been candidates, it is very likely that they
would both have passed through life es-
teemed as neigbbors, honored as citizens,
beloved as friends. We believe each of
them is considered fair man by the great
of those who know him best. In
and suavity Of address Gen.
Pierce has an advantage which the life
ong politician naturally acquires when
with the lifelong soldier. Gen.
Scott is the older, sterner, graver, less
,Ourticr-like of the two: his inint. ara