The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-21
General Houston In the Field.

VIII DC iouhu III WIG congressman report.
The House adjourned until Tuesday.
General Houston In the Field.
| The Democratic candidates for the Presi-
| dency are exhausting their ingenuity in the ap-
| plcaton of almost innumerable questions to the
| advancement of their respective claims. Gene
| raj BUTLER has secured the full measure of
Freesol support; General CAss and Judge
DOUGLAS are bidding against each other on the
| intervention item, with the odds somewhat in
favor Of DOUGLAS; Commodore STOCKTON has
appropriated sympathy with seamen; Mr.. Blu
cHANAN, well off in many respects, has enough
to do to settle quarrels in his own State; in New
York, Messrs. MARCY and DICKINSON have
been forced into collision by their eagerness to
secure Barnburners' influence and MI r. j.
WALKER, in England, is avaling himself of all
peculiarly British influences General HousToN,
perhaps the 1allest of the list, has been disposed
to prove his magnanimity by standing aloof from
temptations which his rivals have been unable
to resst-avoiding ''entangling alliances" with
iDterventlonists, and reserving to himself the
power of moving freely when his time for NOV
ing came.
That time has come at last, and General
HoUsroN is unpledged no longer. He is no
more free to take advantage of wind and wea-
Their He has made his bid, clearly and une-
quivocally, and awaits the issue, with chris
tian admixture of confidence and resignation
General HoUsToN means to go into the Pre-
sidency a moral reformer, if at all His
heart aches at the sight of the suffering and
depravity which alcohol causes in the world,
and, with courage worthy of true hero, he
has resolved to devote himself to the destruc-
tion of the monster evil. He is to be the model
of Democratic candidate, rigidly eschewing
the appearance of sin, and proposing to Tegu-
late the tactics Of his party according to the
requirements of teetotal morality. The festi-
val of the National Temperance Society at
New York afforded a splendid opportunity for
making start on this platform, and the Gen
eral availed himself of it with hearty good will
His reported speech has these sentences:
"He would ask, what confidence could be cher
ished in the Chief Magistrate OF the country if he
were subject TO the influence OF intemperance or
were carried away by inordinate appetites? What
confidence could they have in their judges, who
adjudicated the rights of property and human
rights, if they soied, by intemperance, the sacred
ernine. which ought to be the badge of moral pu-
rity2 What would they think of the general at the
head of an army who INDUCED in the intoxicating
draughH What probability was there of his sue.
GEES? Would he not be hourly exposed to defeat
and run2'
The main proposition Of the address from
which we quote is, that the moderate drinker''
b,, 81. l.
drunkard, and that security against intem.
perance is only to be found in total abstinence ;
pointing directly TO the inference that none but
a teetotaler is qualified to be the President, a
| general, or Judge, and that none else should
be permitted to act. This is strange doctrine
for Democratic candidate, and one not likely
to be received with favor by his party. Tam
many Hall would soon come to stand still
without liquor and the anniversary of Jack
son Association without grog would be one of
the sowest affairs on record According to Mr.
MARSHALL, creating to drinks" forms the
| principal figure in the olcctioneerlng expenses
of a California Democrat and history speaks
falsely if Senators, and Representatives, and
Office holders cannot tell,the same story of CON
stitusncies eastward of the golden land. Gen
sral HoUsroN may, therefore, rest assured that,
in volunteering to lead crusade against Dem
Ocratic uppling, he addresses himself to task
gigantic in its proportions. A General fighting
against WAsHEGror needs full share Of bold
ness, and has but sorry chances of success but
General HoUsToN battling against alcohol as
Democratic agency, is sight that must send
fear into the stoutest heart. If he succeed, he
will be worthy ofthe highest honors that are at
the disposal of his abstaining friends.
| General HoUsToN intends to be consistent
He has no notion Of that spurious abstinence
which renounces brandy to take up opium, OF
of that questionable morality which permits
lying, swearing, and cheating, while forbid
ding even an occasional visit to groggery
The General is for temperance in all things
temperance inward and outward, local and uni
versal. Presenting a medal to Mr.. Neal
Dow, the author of the Maine law, he uttered
prayer that " temperance may pervade the
earth, and enter into the hearts of men and OF
their families" Where is the man who will
not say Amen to such a prayer, or who, pro
Tossing Democracy. can hesitate to record hi.
vote for General HoUsTos2 IL we were per
mitted to express opinion in reference t.
family matters, we should say that, of the DE
mocratic generals now in the field, he Of Texa
comes nearest to the standard Of the hero.