New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-21

the Vice Presidency, had served ten years in
the United States Senate. His military episode
was an incident in his political life, not the
foundation of it. In 1910, Gen. Harrison was
nominated over Van Buren,, thus squaring Har-
rison's defeat by Van Buren, four years earlier.
The civilian Tyler was, by the same ticket,
elected Vice-President over Col. Richard NJ
Johnson.
Tn 1874. James X. Polk, civilian, was NOM
mated over both Gen. Cass and Col. X NJ.
Johnson. Mr.. Dallas, a civilian was also NOM
mated for Vice President. The civilians relay
and Frelinghuysen were nominated to oppose
them. In 1913, the Mexican war having just
been concluded, Gen. Zachary Taylor was nom
mated on his military reputation. Following
Harrison, he was the second and last man ever
elected to the Presidency on military reputa
ton, unsupported by known and tried states
manship.
In 1852, Franklin Pierce, destitute of reputa-
ton, integrity, or ability either as civilian or
a soldier, the ehum and tool of Jefferson Davis,
was nominated through the influence of the
latter for his subserviency to the ultra Slavery
propagandists, over Buchanan, Cass, Marcy, and
Douglas, and was elected over Winfield Scott
the most popular and successful soldier OF
the age-a decided triumph of the interest OF
Slavery, over both military fame and states
manship'
In 1856, Mr.. Buchanan was unanimously nOml-
mated, and was elected by the same power of
Slavery over the military candidate, COL Ere
mont. In 1860, Mr.. Lincoln, civilian, was
elected, though we were threatened with
great military rebellion; and, in 1854, though
the country was poisoning all over with gen.
erals, many of them of great civil as well as
military abilities, the civilian was reelected to
conduct the war to its triumphant conclusion
He was unanimously nominated in RepuDllcan
Convention which had its choice among such
military men as Grant, Thomas, Butler, Banks,
Fremont, Burnside, and others. And he over
whelmingly defeated the most accidentally
popular soldier upon whom greatness was ever
thrust. At neither of these elections were
soldiers nominated for Vice-President. The
Rebels. however who nominated hero OF the
Mexican war, and ex-Secretary OF War, for
Chief of their Rebellion, found themselves
mounted by baulky Oldham f-the-sea, whom
they would gladly have got rid OF, and who
in the Judgment of many of their leaders, diu
as much to discourage them as any one en-
bodiment of despotism, vanity. and marplot
mal-administration could well have done while
sincerely and vigorously striving to serve their
cause.
In reviewing this array of evidences OF the
popular taste, we find that no military man
has ever been elected in a great crisis; that
but two in all have been elected without pre-
yious experience in craftsmanship, and they
were soon killed off by the office; that Jack
son and Harrison were defeated by civilians
before being elected, and that soldiers more
brilliant than those elected were defeated alto
gether. On the whole, therefore, we are dis
posed to deny that the American people are
very easily brought to elect Presidents from
among merely military men who have given no
evidences of craftsmanship.