Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-22
Fancy Generais-A Heroie Politician.

Fancy Genernls-A Heroic Politician.
One wise man has appeared in the east. His
glory 10 radiant, and his fame shallbe immortal
One politician, rendered a brigadier general
ship. has considered bis capGcity and declined
the appointment: Let the stars dance with joy,
and all patriots do honor to ex governor Reeder,
of Pennsylvania, but late OF Kansas, for his.
sacrifice to the public good. Governor Reeder
Is as aspiring as most men. He has played an
important part In national politics, and has
never, to our knowledge, refused an Office OF
prominence and good pay. No doubt governor
Reeder, appreciates the momentous interests at
stake In this war. He feels II is not q political
campaign, In which blank cartridges alone are
to be fred.
Something more isrequired than marching to
and fro, singing songs and shouting victory. 1t
s neither Chinese fight nor an American po-
litical canvass, in which those who make the
loudest noise may win. In this fight the victory
does not belong to the bar-room orators, or
street-corner brawlers. Talent Of the highest
order, military education, experience and skill
are required-are absolutely demanded Of those
who are to lead the triumphant columns. We
can not now, as in electioneering times, make q
hero out Of bloated poliece court lawyer,
whose talent lies in his tongue and bis throat.
demands merit, and the man who takes position
without possessing merit,is doomed to an early
and disgraceful fall, % III
Governor Reeder, no doubt, with bis commits
sion before him, took oil this into consideration
| On the civil side, be was capable Of making his
mark. He could fill Governors chair or
Senatorial seat with credit. But when II came
TO the military side, he had neither the educa-
tion nor the experience requisite to command o
column. He could be Governor, Senator, and,
perhaps President, and sustain himself; but 0
General, without military knowledge and ex
perience, he could be only mischievoue to his
country. Therefore, Governor Reeder declined
| accepting the appointment. All honor to him.
1t was an act of patriotism.
We extract the above from lengthy article
in the Cincinnati Tfmes commenting on and con.
demning the folly, If nothing worse, of the Ad-
ministration, In many Of its important military
appointments, wherein the Timss says ''the Gov.
eminent seems to have lost its judgment in the
distribution of these high and important COM
missions" lel a1feo 3. .a 1I,l rg
Our chief object in copying the extract is Ia
show how easily careless or ignorant editor
may magnify a contemplate pretender and cor
rupt man, into model of patriotic modesty.--
RrEDER was, no doubt, as anxious as any one Of
the brood of incompetent aspirants for Gener.
alship In the army, and wrote letter to Secre.
tsry CAMERON with the intent Of promoting bis
own elevation. That letter was published by
JOHN W. FoRNEY, in his Press, accompanied
with the most fulsome praise Of REEDER, who ID
one Of FoRNEY's cronies-the latter having
palmed REEDER of on President PIERCE, as a
man Of high integrity and ability, and thus en-
abled him to obtain the first Governorship Of
Kansas. In that position he proved hi mself to
be an unworthy man, and lost his place. dis
graced by removal for improper and dishonor-
able conduct. Itbecame the duty of the editor
of the Statesman, as Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs, to arraign him before his superiors, and
although backed by FoRsEY, then In strong
position, and others, he very Justly lost his off,
cial head, because of official improprieties.
We have no information on the subject; but
we venture the prediction that REEnER was
compelled from necessity to decline the com.
mission of Brigadier- General, for the reason
that it would be inconsistent with the duty and
honor of any one of the Army officers of the
regular Army to fellowship with him, were he
in the service. The record in the case of Ma
jor MONTGOMERY, who was courtmartialed,
and broke Of his commission, for offenses of o |
grave character at Fort Riley, in which the |
court, in their finding, implicated REEDER, and
commented with severity on his conduct, would
serve as barrier to any recognition of him by
the Army officers who are familiar with the
facts. The wonder is that with such record
in existence, REEDER ever succeeded in obtain
ing the tender of commission from the Presi-
dent. -a-