New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-03
Kew Men FOR OLD PLACES.

AAAANSAsa'
Mr.. Thomas A. Scott, who has managed
to frghten the little State of Delaware
and the big city of New York with his
railroad combinations in favor Of Phila-
delphia and Baltimore, is the latest candi-
date put forth by the Democracy for
President in 1872. The chief arguments
are that he has been brilliant railroad
manager and that he is worth millions Of
money. Perhaps the country remembers
a similar effort on the part of the Democ-
racy in favor of George Law in 1860, be-
cause he was successful steamship specu-
lator and was also worth fabulous sums of
money. The Democracy bank largely on
rich men and successful ones, as if the
mere capacity to accumulate money was
sufficient to fit man to fill the Office of
President with all its varied duties and
political necessities. The rule is rather
the reverse, since experience and history
inform us that the greatest statesmen
were men who paid but little attention to
money and know but little about the de-
tails of business. Thinking men are gen.
orally Indifferent to the pursuit of wealth,
their minds being devoted entirely
to the study of those abstract ques-
tons which affect the mass Of mankind
in their political relations. Perhaps Mr..
Scott is capable of directing the affairs of
government with the same enterprise and
to the same successful conclusion that he
has managed his great railroad interests;
but he has never given any evidence of |
his capacity in this direction that we
nave ever heard Of. George Law never
Uttered an opinion on public affairs that
he country remembers, and yet he ought
o have done SO if the ability was in him.
The truth is, these men are to our ma
erial interests what Clay, Seward, Lin
DIN, Douglas and Greeley were and are
our political interests, and their true
phere is that in which their faculties and
aclinations have placed them. It would
9 manifestly absurd to elect Seward or
'reeley to manage railroad or factory,
ecause their disposition does not run in
lat direction; and it is equally unreason-
Die to think of taking Mr.. Scott from
is railroads, which he understands, to
ut him in political position which he
IS never developed any capacity for.
ne great mistake of the world is to sup
ose that politics is craft that any man
N navigate. The business of govern
ent is one that involves knowledge of
the relations of life; and to fully COM
'ehend it, men must follow it from in I
met and from love of it De Tocque-
lie could not have been other than what {
was, because he was born thinker,
I'd his mind was gifted with intuitions
ID PHILOSOPHERS that nothing but the most
traordinary dwar6ng could have turned I
'm the consideration of political affairs. :
bile millions of Americans were asleep '
to the conflict which was developing e
the United States, this Frenchman only s
eded few months observation to dis '
yer, explain and predict its rise and :
ogress. Measured with Scott or Law, b
is foreigner was prophet in q political
use, while they were as superior to him
the physical necessities of the people {
he was to them in the theoretical re- g
irements of the country. It would be a
'ood thing if we could turn out a man t
President who might combine in his n
n wisdom all the material ideas of ..
DIT with the political suggestions of +.
milton. Such a man would work won ii
s in the State, for his internal admin ia
alton of the machinery of government d.
uld be productive of the greatest good, N
lie his enlarged knowledge of govern =,
ntal science would initiate a policy m
would make the Union great and be- NJ
ed to the uttermost parts of the world.
Mr.. Scott has given no such sign. g
has never uttered an opinion upon ~
tics, foreign or domestic, as we said D,
ore, that the country treasures in its h.
nory. aud until he gives some token e.;
lis ability as statesman, it would evil .o
tly be improper to put him up as the ~
tier of all our political fortunes. ii;