Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-10-27
Military Presidents,

Ihe approaching PRESIDENTIAL election lS fraught
with alarming interest to the true republican,
On that occasion will be settled another of those
governmental precedents which exercise su ch po-
tent influences over the destinies of nations
American citizens will at that time be called upon
to endorse through the ballot-box, policy which
may eventuate in the destruction of this fair polit
ical fabric or else by the same means to put for
ever their ban of interdiction upon it. We allude
now to the policy of eleyating merely military
men to the Presidency of the United States
Many wise and virtuous patriots, ever since the
foundation of this government, have been appre-
hensive that such policy would be fatal to the
liberties of this country. Yet there seems to be
disposition in the American mind, to disregard
their voice of warning, although the history of
the past teens with SO many important lessons on
this alarming topic. Many seem to think, that,
inasmuch as we have had two military P residents,
and no perceptible evil has as yet resulted, that
| no danger is to be apprehended. But we would
have such to understand, that the life of nation
! ought not to be measured by years, or even cen
turies. And, although the i'll effects of such a
| policy may not be observed within the few short
years of individual experience, yet the poison is
at work circulating itself through the body polite,
| and vitiating its healthful action.
| Besides the danger to the liberty of the coun-
try, to be apprehended from the vaulting ambition
of such as have been reared in the camp, there
are other considerations which are we'll worthy
of the attention of the lovers of peace and civil
! government. Who does not wish for the arrival
of that happy period when wars shall cease and
national difficulties be settled by the arbitra-
ment of reason! Every true lover of liberty must
wish it most ardently, but such never can. be the
case as long as the deeds of warriors are hymned
by the poet, or lovers of peace put their endorse
ment upon the sanguinary deeds of arms, by ele-
waiting military heroes to places of civil trust
When the gaudy hero comes before the public
decked with plumes and epaulets, he instantly be-
comes associated with ideas of carnage and mill
tary glory which thrill throu gh the public mind
and produce in it an unnatural state of feversh ex
citement. And this, it will be admitted by all
1 who are conversant with the philosophy of human
nature, is utterly ayerse to the successful cutiva
1 ton of those peaceful sentiments and feelings
which should characterize the true peace-loving
republican.
! Look at the modern republics which clustered
around Italy. Look at Mexico and South Ameri
ca. They commenced their national career under
circumstances probably as suspicious as our own
yet the Genius of Liberty now sits despondingk
over the ruins of their glorious constitutions
pointing her finger in significant silence at the
policy which produced such fatal result Lei
it not be said that other causes worked their ruiz
lit was too fatally certain that it was the result
of putting too high an appreciation upon the san,
culinary glories of military triumph. Nor can we
expect any other fate if we pursue the same pol
/ icy. 1sssz
There are now presented for the sufrages OF
the people, by the two great parties of the coun-
] try, two individuals, one of whom is eminently a
| mere military man. We need not name him, for
his name is already written in blood. Reared al
most from boyhood, in the camp, and from the
same early period used to command, it has en-