The daily union., 1852-09-16
Civil Qualifications.


General Scott is stranger to the civil history Of the
country but that is fault of hs, for be has ofen al
tempted 10 connect his with political affairs. On
many questions he stands fully committed although his
public duties had no connexion with them. His eager
ness to keep his before the public has compelled
him. with a strong hand TO devote his leisure hours
to hasty illusions, which sometimes provoke pity some-
times excite mrlh, and always mortify his friends.
II not from accident nor want OF effort that the name
OF the whg candidate has been recorded in the cat
aogue of political writer's. His political essays are nu-
merous; but unfortunately they advocate the worst doc
irines Of the worst school known 10 American politics.
in erude abrupt, dogmatical manner His friends
sible OF the experience which the country has recently
gained with regard TO military Presidents, have strug
ged hard to convince the people that General Scott
is not without civil qualifications One not acquaint-
ed with the character Of the whg party, and ignorant
oil IFS utter contempt Tor the popular intelligence would
suppose that it would attempt TO establish the civil
qualifications of lis candidate by reference to the
political sagacity staesmanlike qualities exhib-
tied in the various political essays he has volun-
teered for the public instruction since he announced him
epistle in answer TO "many letters from as many differ
writings of their candidate as snas do salt They
would oblsrate from human memory the State papers
prepared by General Scott even when the cunning OF
their right hands is employed in proving that he is
ture statesman, brmful of political experience and civil
qualifications. The Scott journals are filled with brave
assertions, sustained by better supports than vague
ausons 10 imaginary ieats performed al Charleston in
the Cherokee Nation and on the northern and north
eastern frontier and but for the services rendered by the
democratic press-the real which the country
must look for the marks and signs of General Sco's
qualifications for the presidency-would have been sealed
up and lost to human knowledge long ago. Soon after
the adjournment of the Whg Baltimore Convention we
published the political productions of General Scott AT
that time the canvass had hardly opened, and we shall
from time to time invite attention to such portions OF
them may tend 10 elucdae his claims to the presidency
by setting forth his IDEAS OF public policy.
When General Scott engaged in an intrigue in
1889 to bring his name before the people democr ATTIC
candidate for the presidency he did not, that we know
of, commit to paper any hasy ideas the subject He
went in person TO Rochester, New York, the scene
OF operalons gave in his adhesion to the democratic
party; professed to be hard money, Jefferson Jackson
democrat and modesty avowed that he had carried Gen.
eral Jacksons administration through on his back He
quickly exhibited such natural nrmies of temper and
disposition, strengthened by unfavorabIe circumstances
convinced those who had united 10 bring him forward
that he was totally untitled for the presidency Vain.
empty, Jealous and suspicious one could desire his
nomination but those who wished to his military fame
place themselves in power-to make bis vanity admi,
them TO his confidence and to his temper as the in
srument OF their vengeance, while his ignorance and
inexperence should permit them establish such cor.
rupt and niquous system OF spoliaons as that which
houshed under the Taylor dynasty As soon as General
Scott was brought face 10 face to the men who bad
united TO procure his nomination in 1899, they saw
that his nomination not fit 10 be made, and
they Immediately abandoned the idea oil making Presi
dent oil the United States OF such materials as were
afforded by the civil qualifications of General Winfield
Scott Whereupon General Winfield Scott said no more
OF his hercuean efforts in carrying General Jackson's
administration through on his back repudiated his de-
mocracy his hard.money, Jefersonan, Jacksonian de-
mocracy as worse than useless and marched over 10
the camp of the enemy and took service in his ranks
in style not to be surpassed by Dugald Dalghetty
HIMSELF the most renowned of all the soldiers OF fortune
By powerful effort he restrained his hasty pen till 1871
but the mania seized upon him in that year with such
potent influence that he nominated himself as standing
candidate for the presidency in one Of the most remark
able papers which has ever emanated from any man
with without civil qualifications for the chief magis
tracy Of great people The salient points OF that remark
able production neej only be brought to the notice of
the people in order TO satisfy them on the question Of
General Scos fitness for the post to which he aspres
and shall al enter upon the task which our duty
points 10.