Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-11

ions. and very strangely, doubtless,to many
| hold to preference for military men fol
Presidents Nv first recollections of pOliti-
cal conflicts, are Of the contest between
Adams and jackson. | remember how bit
ter the fight was, and with what special
earnestness the fact Of Jackson's being a
military man vas urged against him. Thai
was the chief capital of Jackson and the
hero of New Orleans won the battle. In
1910 the scene was changel Gen. Harri'
son wss the chosen candidate of those who
had denounced military men, and " Tippe-
canoe and Tyler too" won the prize. In
lS4o the same thing was tried. Democrat:
began to feel terribly disturbed in the con
temptation of the dangers attending the
elevation Of military men to the Presiden-
ey. can hardly find Democrat who doe:
not look with holy horror upon the posi-
bic success of military men. True, they
nominate one, once in while, hut only out
Of dire necessity. confess It | ike the
idea Of military E.cn for Presidency
Now for my reasons
lst Our military Preside have been,
On the average. our be. Presidents.
Washington, jackson, Harrison, Taylor
Grant, for instance, are they not, as we
contemplate them, better men than the
average? Have we had five other men,
who have administered the government
more faithfully, or with better success
Leaving out the immortal Lincoln, who has
no equal in the list, what other five can be
thought of bv way Of comparison? So far
as the history Of our own country enlight-
ems Us. upon this point, we have nothing to
fear, bat everything to hope, from true, in
telligent. hopest military Presidents.
u \ military man is more likely to be
national in his feelings. Educated, as most
Of our military men have been, by the govern
mcnt, and by their circumstances, to great
extent, excluded from engaging IN the party
intIisues, and selfish appliances OF petty
contests, they are more likely than other
men TO feel that they are the servants of
the nation, that the whole people, the whole
country demand their allegiance. To-day
they are doing service upon our northern
frontiers Tomorrow they are on the Next
can borders. The flag that moves over them
and inspires them, is no party flag, no sec
tional flag, it has all the stars, and all the
stripes, and Is the emblem OF one nation,
made up Of many people, and they are
framed TO love tins country II they 60
abroad, they DO not represent Maine nor
Texas. Republicans nor Democrats, but
Americans. The natural tendency Of all
this is 70 make them intensely National in
their sympathies Add 10 what | have said,
the important fact that they have imperilled
their lives. and perhaps shed their blood,
certainly performed arduoas labors to de-
feni their country against foes, foreign and
domestic. anu You have the best ilunda-
ton tor a traly National character To
the true soldier the squabbles Of partizans,
the ~chsming, wirew0rking, and unprinci-
ilei management Of politicians seem con-
tempth,e. How few politicians appear to
have any purpose but the success Of party
and the results. in the shape Of proterment
and recuniary reward 70 them mans
are nothing. measures are nothing To get
into power aud keep it, and WELD i; TO their
own advantage, i everything. To the
veteran soldier who has fought, bed and
done everything but die FOR his country,
how mean all these things seem.
II must he taken for granted that a Presi-
den; must be soldier OF lawyer Now
which profession j. the most likely 10 train
national mem The lawyer all his life
time j. working for some pgrfy. either a par
tyt a suit, or poAaca' party He must
De almost miracle Of integrity if he does
Mt yield 10 temptation TO employ means
that are only ,anc;ihed, if -anctifed At all.
by the end, and ], i very likely 10 Re q par
tizan end The soldier works Tor q party,
too. bat the party Is always his country. and
the whole Of it,
The politician, a- soon G. be = he5.ed,
take his position in the ranks Of some par
tt. and there he stands, there he tolls, and
very soon finds that success depends more
upon airoitness Of mauulyring than upon
truth, argument. or legitimate persuasion.
II he seeks position, the caucus, and after
that the convention that is to nominate
him, must be packed To secure this result |
he must employ experienced and unscrupu-
i''Na~ Naa We nus Alf ANLAEE must Dc
paid IN money or promises. Il j, rare that
any important Office is secured except by |
s1ch appliances. unless n soldier carries the |
people by the ~plenior Of his achievements. |
Il a man would g 10 Congress, or he Gov |
-rnQr Of any but the smallest States, he |
must resort to something else than his own |
merits to succeed. \ reputation for states
nanship goes for nothing, absolutely moth |
ng. \ candidate for President. who has /
Jnly good character. and craftsmanship,
must fail, unIeSs he i at the same time a
Older. II politician he must resort to all
he tricks Of party warfare. No matter how
'aTatle he may be, unless some great crisis
'xi-ts ike that which LED kind Providence
@ lift up q Lincoln out Of the hands of
politicians. and put the foremost men Of the
nation at the helm. We have had politi-
an- enough for President We have had
nerc lartizans What We want Is man,
n fall complete proportions, all the better
he wears that brightest Of all Jewels, a
rar to remind Us Of his dangerous service
n behalf the country.
3D.. \ soldier accustomed to ouey Is
yell as to command. Is most likely 10 keep
imSelt loyal to the supreme authority. To
lalntain that has been the work Of his life,
egun IN youth, carried on To the meridian
life, down among, or up above the shad-
W. of the evening
eth. Accustomed 10 command, he Is not
kelly 10 lend himself 10 be the tool of poll
clans.
9Th. Owing his success in the field to a
Use selection OF subordinates. a soldier is
-. OBJ - Il. |
ght place, and surround himself, not ,
it'll politicians but with able and honest
en-, Ignoring the claims of those who are
lown mainly on account OF their exertions |
political campaigns. Lifted bv the peo- ,
e 10 the Presidency, not because partizans c
ant him. but because they cannot help it.
has few friends to reward or enemies to a
lnish. d
9th In case serious complications arise lie '
the man to guide the ship. knowing, As
ere politicians cannot know, the horrors
war, he will do nothing unnecessarily to
evoke l., while to other men WARTS moth
:, II it only advances party schemes. If |
IT docs come, and cannot with honor or "
iety be avoided, who so capable a. he )
being what the Constitution makes o
~ N1AHhiAAl'AgA- III u4tl
-, tn. The condition of cur country plainly IL II
icates to me that our best military men. =
while, at least, should bel made Presi- a. .,
ntS. The rebelliols clements are neither E,
Nd or buried. We want no puerile Bueha- n,
rs, but JackSonS, honest, straightforward n
/ brave, ready to draw the sword at the =.
y instant Decentralization begins. Rebel al
n should be thro.tled even before it ST
ehes the cradle IT, fast cry should be We
,ked pl
" hat multitude Of lives would have
N saved, what oceans of tears. if m
'kson, Instead Of a Buchanan, had been in
'sldent in lsG0 Not gun would have Ell
n fired, nor a drop of blood wasted. One co
h OF the old hero's eye would have blasted 10
army of rebels it'
such Presidents We shall need for many ID
p.
VI course ! would not be understood as T.,
oring other qualifications He should be he
fdaca.td nun. Is our military heroes are. sol
re brute, fighting force is nothing. There an