The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-23

Living Heroes and Lave PVliticlR0s-ScOtt's
Tactics Necessity for tho Opposition.
| The live politicians North and South are
greatly exercised at the idea of our bringing for
| ward a candidate for the Presidency. aud are ex
tremeiy ready to offer us their advice Al to the
| best course for us TO pursue. The chevalier of
| the Richmond South thinks we had better ''stop
| trying to exhume General SCOTS dead bones'
! and endeavor Ito push the fortunes of live
| politician" such AZ Bolts. or Banks; and the
| Northern live politicians think the advice most
| commendable, and all Join in the cry.
| II is not little curious that the objections
urged agains! General Scott are precisely the
same az those that were urged against General
| Jackson previous 10 giving him his second no.
| mnation for the Presidency He had been de-
feated in his first canvass by Mr. Adams, but had
obtained yer, handsome popular vote. When
he was talked Of for denomination in 1928 every
body thought the thing preposterous. "He has
not got corporal's guard Of friends" said one;
che has all the prestige Of defeat and cannot
win," shouted another; ''he is nothing but sol
der" cried third; 'he is as obstinate as a
mule" insisted fourth; 1--WE want q live man
not bunch Of dry bones," bswled
fifth; and 30 they went on. each
louder and more yociferous than his neighbor,
hoping to drive out Of the field the man they
most feared as an opponent. His friends clung
TO him, clingng the closer that they were few in
number. Defeat, instead of being disadvantage.
had taught them how to win. AS the great issues
which had before agitated the country and divid-
ed parties had died out. and the coming ones
were not yet developed, they placed him on the
platform Of his great services to The whole coun-
try. To the charge that he was hard headed and
obstinate they replied that that was what the
enemies Of the country had found In him; and
when he was called "a bag Of bones,' they an
swered that that was Packenham's opinion at
New Orleans.
Now in the cases of the denomination of Jack
son and Scott. the smile does not stop here. but
extends to the personal character of the men,
and TO all the field Of political strife
When Jackson was nominated second
time parties were completely disntegrated
and broken up A dozen popular favorites
in rs many diiicren, sections commended for the
Presidency. The old democratic party Of JEFF
ferson and Madison had worn itself out. or died
from the want OF living opposition. jackson
was brought out by small fraction
Of The old democracy, and he at once
ook hold Of them and brought them
under drill. They were taught to march and
countermarch in squads, companies, regiments
and divisions. Strict discipline was enforced.
Tactics were introduced, and the young politi-
clans were taught the policy and advantage Of
acting together. Everywhere Jackson's military
rules were the constitution and law Of his party;
and the result was that il not only won the fight
then. but the discipline introduced at that time
has enabled the democratic party TO wiz on
nearly every subsequent occasion, although since
Jackson's time il has never commanded popu-
lar majority.
This Jacksonan experience Is what must now
be applied to the unorganizcd masses Of the OPP
position. There are no great issues before the
country. The slavery agitation j. dead; tariff
and bank are obsolete what there was good In
the internal improvements policy has been seized
by the democracy; squattcr sovereignty has cx-
plodcd and The States rights doctrine Is ,irtu-
ally admitted and practiscd everywhere The
democrats hang together solely by the habit Of
discipline. while the opposition is split up on
rum" "the Pope Of Rome" "spiritualsm,"
afec love" and hundred other isns that have
no more vitality or power in them than these.
What IL requires l.. man whose platform
can b. long lie, Of great aud bril-
liant personal services 70 the country:
one who understands discipline and tactics
better than he does hair splitting on abstract
and theoretical subtleties; whose personal
weight Of character and antecedents will enable
him 20 put down all tho ambitious claims Of sec
tional and fictious party leaders. Such man
i General Scott, and none other % prominent
and fsvorably known can b. found in the whole
country.
II, therefore, the opposition have any wish 10
make winning fight In 1860. le, them set aside
all the petty leaders each Of whom, because he Il
strong In his own county thinks himself entitled
10 the Presidency, and unite upon thoroughly
national man like Scott. Let the young and
rising politicians throw overheard the veteran
tricksters. who In thirty years Of public life have
been on every side Of every question, supporting
every man as !" good enough Morgan till after
the election" and uniting under the banner OF
the veteran chief, study SCOTS Tactics as
party text book, and learn from him the true
principles Of party discipline. If Il il urged
chat h. haabeen once defeated, their reply will
bc that defeat il the school If victory
Ifbc i accused Of being obstinate, tha, Is what
the enemies Of our country found him d, Lundy's |
Lane end In Mexico bould IL be objected that he
il only soldier, that is The man that knows how
to fight aud win a battle. Is be called vain, who
heroic career They will have o hero for their
leader, and the people will rally round him, |