The morning call., 1892-09-25
GENERAL JOHN POPE.

John Pope, who was personally known to
many IF our best people, was curious
illustration of the freaks of fortune Just
half century ago he graduated from West
Point, aud served creditably under General
TAYLOR in Mexico But he had been eighteen
years in the army before people in general
had ever heard of his name. That was in
1860. the year Of Lincoln's election, when
political passion was at fever heat. and the
coming war was casting its shadows before.
At that crisis Captain P0pe, though holding
commission in the army of the United
States, made speech at Cincinnati de-
nouucing the policy Of the administration.
He was of course court-martialed, and the
opinion in military circles was that he had
forfeited his commission.
Then began the long conflict between
Pope and his brother officers, which only
ended with his retirement six years ago.
VearerS of the uniform were clear that
military discipline would be at an end If a
regimental officer was free to criticize in
public speech the Government whose COM
mission he held; on the other hand the
Republicans maintained that an American
did not cease to be a citizen by becoming a
soldier, and that soldiers had the same right
to entertain and express views on public
affairs as other people. The court-martial
came to nothing, and when the war broke
out Pope was rewarded for his participation
in politics by a command in the West, III
which he distinguished himself.
The crucial period came for him when he
was appointed TO the command of the
| Army of Virginia in July, 1862. He seemed
10 have taken the tide of fortune at the
foed. Success in the field meant the COM
mand OF the army and the Presidency when
peace was declared. he had stalwart
friends who believed in him and were ready
to stand by him to the bitter end-amOng
these Grant and Hslleck, but not Lincoln
On the other hand he had implaeable ene-
mics in the army. Almost every man OF
his own rank was against him. They de-
rided bis ability, scOffed at bis ways. pledged
each other to give him just such support as
loyalty to the flag exacted, and no more. 1t
is difficult fer general to win battles when
his division commanders and brigadierS
would rather he were beaten than victOri-
GUS Did Fitz John Porter betray him and
leave him to get out of his scrape"? 1t is
/ hard to say. One court-martial found that
he did; another, twenty years after, found
| that he did not Whatever causes Cooper
! badly beaten; and Lincoln, who had
/ never been in love with him. accepted the
/ resignation Of his command without re-
/ luctance The rest Of his career does not
/ concern history.
Since his retirement TO garrison duty,
! there has been a willingness to concede TO
John Pope higher credit for military ability
shan people gave tim thirty years ago.
=ofd "a uniff no
| tons in Virginia eViuced high order Of
/ genius. But generals must always be judged
+ by results, and By that test Pope will rank
!.below the historical commanders of the
/ Union army. At the same time, it is due to
! truth, as well as to the memory OF brave
man, that The wrongs he endured at the
/ hands OF his comrades should be remem-
/ befed Pope was a Tesolute, uncompromiS-
/ ing, utspOken enemy Of slavery. There
! was hardly another officer Of his rank in the
/ army who was not either friend OF or an
/ apologist for slavery. From tine immemO-
rial West Point had been focus OF pro-
/ slavery opinion. Nowhere in all the land
were abolitionists more scorned aud
| oathed than in the institution which was
supported with Northern money. It was
! there held to be Ungentlemanly to object to
] the pGCl4GI luSItUklbus al dDSIitiObASl
was placed on nearly the same footing as a
/ coward. When Pope broke ground against
! the shareholders he arrayed against him the
( whole body of army officers. with the ex-
cepton Of such men as Hunter and Phelps,
! VINO were considered cranks. That these
! officers were unwilling to go out Of their
/ way 10 make the fortune of one with whose
opinions they had 50 little sympathy goes
without saying.
1t is Buckle who says that there never
/ was great general WHO was n wise states
| man. The statement is perhaps too broad,
but il is certain that in this country army
! officers have rarely been conspicuous for
ability in civil life. Perhaps there is some
thing in the training they undergo, and
their manner of dealing with men, which
| prevents their seeing clearly the great pTin-
! ciples Of free government. a young man
| a. West Point is taught the theory OF ouI
! institutions and should understand them
| how the ablest among them fail Sheridan
/ record at New Orleans is there to show, II
| Pope had won the battle of Manassas and
| followed it up with the destruction Of thC
/ rebel army of Virginia he would almost
| certainly have become President instead Of
| Grant, and he might-whO knows?-have
/ afforded new illustration of the wisdom
| Of Buckles dictum.