White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-12-07
MISUNDERSTANDING.
Tive signal Fail.res-A L.e.ssn from History,

The efforts of the Pittsburgh Post to make
Presidential candidate of Col. Thomas A. Scott
without his advice or consent, of course-re-
calls to recollection two kindred enterprises
which happened 10 long time ago as to have
well nigh faded from mems memories Durinp
the year 1oS94O select coterie of Democratic
politicians undertook to confer Presidential hon.
or on Commodore Charles Stewart Familiarity
known as " Old IrOnsides." Sketch of the COM
mOlOre's life, embellishetl with his portrait and
sundry pictorial views of his great naval fights
were printed and several hundred thousand cop
les circulated. The "brave old Commodore"
possessed unqnestiOned elements of popularity.
He was true patriot, bOasted an unsullied per-
.onal character, wellstored mind, and his brill
liant success during our second war with Great
Britain had made him the greatest Of American
naval commanders. And yet the attempt to make
him President Of the United States, or even
nominee, proved a signal failure. Thousands of
dollars were spent in the effort and any amount
of patient and persevering labor was put forth
but all to no purpose. In the election of delegates
to the nominating convention he did not get
single County or district, and the great Stewart
party, with all its stock in trade spec Oily passed
into the receptacle of things lost on EARTH
The other movement in the same line was in
the interest Of Col Richard NJ. johnson, facetous-
y styled "Old Tecumseh," from the fact that
he was supposed to have slain that eminent In-
dian warrior: The head of this enterprise was
Col Seth Salisbury, who also spOrted the title of
doctor, of Bradford County, Pa gentleman of
many eccentricities and not q few excellent quail
tiles. The Doctor. in his own way was a wonder
full political wire worker. No beaver was ever
more industrious. Day and night, in season and
out OF season, for consecutive weeks and months,
was he at Harrisburg preparing addresses, con-
Quoting correspondence, sending out circulars, or
ganizng clubs and imprOvising meetings. Not a
few newspapers, too, had unfurled the johnson
flag, and were zealOusly advocating his claims
But alas and alack what reared SO loudly in the
index was not to be found in the book. After the
summing up of results it appeared that Col Rich
ard NJ. johnson had not carried more than one or
two delegates in the Union, and his name was in
cOntinently dropped Poor Salisbury went hack
tn Bradford County, where he lived and died in
retirement. Col. Johnson himself did not again
leave Kentucky. And thus the 1" Old Tecumseh"
bubble was hOpelessly and forever exploded!
Our national history, however, is strewn with
the wrecked hopes and crushed expectations Of
disappointed Presidential aspirants, among whom
the most conspicuous no dOnbt, will always be
the three great statesmen, Clay, Calhoun and
Webster.
There is this marked difference between the
two first named cases, and the effort of the Pitts
burg Post to make Col. Scott Presidential cam
diete: Commodore Stewart and Richard NJ
johnson had confidence in their backers and re.
ally aspired to the Office. Nobody believes that
Col. Scott had the slightest knowledge of the
movement Of the Post. Nothing is more common
than the efforts of the Democrats to find some
body to make President. They are infinitely
worse off than the Spaniards who spent two wears
lnfrying to find King. In 1865 they met i'm New
York to invent a candidate against Grant, and af-
ter deal Of vexation they improvised poor Sey-
mOur, who took the fatal gift pretty much "a the
man took the elephant, with the sure presentiment
that it would lie, as it was, his death. Time has
not improved their hopes; and they will he |
wOFHe ON m 1914. The experiment Of the Pitts |
burg Post is only the beginning. Press