The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-06-14
COLUMBIA, TENN, FRIDAY, JUNE IA, 1872.

ence it exercises; it is in itself and educa
ton, but it is not the education of the states
man. To suppose that we can change
without preparation from the soldier to the
statesman is to assume that training and
experience are of less consequence for the
one than the other-than a man ma, bf
| born statesman, but can fit himself az 8
, soldier only by four years at West Point
careful, scientific study, the command oi
troops, and experience in the field. And
is nothing required for the statesman? Il
his duty so slight? His study is the Nation
and its welfare, turning always to history
for example, to law for authority, and to
the loftiest truths for rlues of conduct. No
knowledge care or virtue, disciplined by
habit, can be too great. The pilot is not
accepted until he knows the signs of the
storms, the secrets of navigation, the rocks
of the coast, all of which is learned by
careful study with chart and soundings by
coasting the land and watching the crest
ed waves. But can less be expected of
that other pilot who is to steer the ship that
contains us all.
/ The failure of this modern soldier as
statesman is exhibited by Mr. Buckle in his
remarkable work on the History of Civil
ization." Writing as a philosopher devo-
ted to liberal ideas, he does not disguise
the fact that in antiquity the most emil
nent soldiers were likewise the most emil
nent politicians but he plainly shows the
reason when he adds that Tin the midst of
hurry and turmoils of camps these soldiers
cultivated their minds to the highest point
that the knowledge of the age would allow"
[Ibed The judgment of Marlborough is
more pointed. While portraying him as
"the greatest conqueror of the age, the he
70 of a hundred fights, the victor of Blein-
helm and Families, the same philosophi-
cal writer describes him as "a man not only
of the most idle and frivolous pursuits, but
so misera5ly ignorant that his deficiencies
made him the ridicule of his cotempora-
ries, while his politics were compounded
of selfshness and treachery. Nor was
Wellington an exception. Though shining
| in the field without rival, and remarka-
BILE for integrity of purpose, an unhinching
honesty, and high moral feeling the con-
queror of Waterloo is described as never
theless utterly unequal to the complicated
exigencies of political life [Ibed Such
are the examples of history, each with its
warning.
1t would be hard to find anything in the
/, ative endowments or in the training of
our chieftain to make him an illustrious
exception; at least nothing of this kind is
recorded. Was nature more generous with
him than with Marlborough and Yelling
ton, Gustavus Adolphus or Frederick call
ed the Great? Or was his experience of
life a better preparation than theirs? And
vet they failed except in war 1t is not
known that our chieftain had an expert
ence as civilian until he became Presi-
ident, nor does any partizan attribute to
him that double culture, which in antiqui-
tv made the same man soldier and states
man. 1t has been often SAID that he took
no note of public affairs, never voting but
once in his life, and then for James Bu-
chanan. After leaving West Point he be-
came a Captain in the army, but soon af-
pear at later day as successful Gene
raj. There is no reason TO believe that he
employed this intermediate period in any
way alculated to improve him as states
man. One of his unhesitating supporters,
nv col eague, (Mr. Wilson, in speech
intended to commend him for reelection,
says
was earning a ew hundred dollarsa year in tan
ming hides in Galens.
By the war he passed to be President
and such was his preparation to govern the
Great Republic. making it an example to
mankind. Thus he learned to deal with
all questions domestic and foreign whe-
ther Of peace or war, to declare constitu-
floral law and international law, and to
administer the vast appointing power, ere
atinr Cabinet officers, judges, foreign min
listers. and an uncounted army of Office
holders.
To these things must be added that when
this soldier first began as civilian he was
already forty six years old. At this mature
age, close upon half a century, when hab-
it's are irrevocably fixed, when the mind
has hardened against what is new, WHEN
the character has taken its permanent form
and the whole man is rooted in his own
origi nality, our soldier entered abruptly
upon the uutried life of a civilian in its
most exalted sphere. Do not be surprised
that Ii Ike other soldiers, he failed; the won-
der would be that had he succeeded. Har-
yey was accustomed to say that nobody
over forty accepted his discovery of the
circulation of blood. but he is not the only
person who has recognized this period of
life as the dividing point between after
which it is difficult to learn new things
Something like this is embodied in the
French saying, that at forty a man has
given his measure. At least his vocation
is settled-how completely this is seen if
we suppose the statesman, after traverslng
the dividing point abruptly changed to the
soldier. And yet an age nearly seven
wears later our soldier was precipitately
changed to the statesman.
This sudden metamorphosis cannot be
forgotten when We seek to comprehend the
strange pretensions which ensued. 1t is
easy to see how some very moderate expe-
rience in civil life, involving of course the
lesson of subordination to Republican
principles, would have prevented indefen-
sible acts.
NEPOTISM OF THE PRESIDENT.
Between these two typical instances
I hesitate which to place foremost, out
since the nepotism of the President is
q ruling passion revealing the primary
instincts of his nature; since it is MAIN
tanned by him in utter inconsistencies
of its offensive character; since, in
stead of blushing for it as an unhappy
mistake, he continues to uphold it;
since it was openly defended by Sena-
fors ON this floor, and since no true
patriot anxious for Republican institu-
lions can doubt that it ought to be
driven with kissing and scOrn from all
possibility of repetition, begin with
this undoubted abuse.
There has been no call OF Congress
for a return of the relations holding
office, stipend, or mOney-maklng Op-
nOrtunity under the President. The
country is left to the press for informa-
ton on this important subject. II
there is any exaggeratiOn the Presi-
dent is at fault, since knowing the DIS
creditable allegations he has not hast
ened to furnish the precise facts, or at
least his partisans have failed in not
calling for the official information. In
the meod which they have shown in
this Chamber it is evident that any
resolution calling for it, moved by
Senator not known to be for his re-
election, would meet with opposition,
and an effort to vindicate Republican
institutions would be denounced as an
assault on the President. But the
newspapers have placed enough be-
yond question for judgment on this ex-
| traordinary case, although thus far
there has been no attempt 10 appreci-
ate it, especially in the light of history.
One list makes the number Of bene-
ficiaries as many as forty-two-being
probably every known person allied to
the president by blood or marriage.
Persons seeming to speak for the
| -, ~ l1oof offor rofIpl in