The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-05
soLDIERsHIP AND STATESMAN.
SHIP.

for an argument that soldiers are not sue
cessful statesmen. All soldiers are not
successful statesmen any more than all
men trained to civil pursuits are success
fal statesmen, but We think that soldiers
OF distinction have, as rule, made good
records as statesmen. OF course. If mere
oratory or rare skill with the pen Is the
test of statesmanship, soldiers are not
brilliant statesmen, but II the capacity to
sererB with courage and common sense in
critical times be test of craftsmanship,
soldiers of distinction have left fair
record for craftsmanship. Marshal Mac
Mahon did not fail because he lacked
capacity to govern; he was q monarchist
in opinions and of course was unit to re-
main 81 the head Of France when she be-
came rapidly republicanized, and he re-
signed because be felt that he was out of
place at the head of a republic.
The greatest kings OF England. from
William the Norman down to William Of
Orange. were warriors. Edward the First,
lawyer and statesman. Cromwell, the
greatest soldier Of England, could neither
talk nor write well, but he knew exactly
what he wanted to do and exactly how to
do It, and he was very great statesman.
1t was the Duke of Wellington who per-
suaded the house of lords TO yield and all
low the hrst great reform bill of 1882 to
become law. 1t will not be denied that
the Duke of Marlborough was very astute
politician and brilliant diplomatist as well
as soldier.
Surely statesmanship will not be denied
Washington, Jackson or Grant. If the
Duke of Wellington was not shining
statesman, he was more than respectable
compared with such prime ministers as
Addington, Perceval and Lord Liverpool.
Alexander Hamilton had been seven years
Q soldier before he essayed craftsmanship.
Aaron Burr was trained as soldier, and
he rose to the leadership of one of the two
great parties of the country. Cardinal
Richelieu in his youth had been a soldier.
Alexander Farnese was as astute q states
man as he was soldier. Henry the Fourth
Of France mad passed his life in constant
battle before he reached the throne of
France. The great emperor of Germany,
Charles the Fifth, was n warrior states
man; so. for that matter, was Frederick
the Great of Prussia. who was as wise in
peace as he was terrible in war.
The soldier presidents, Harrison and
Taylor. died in Office. but they promised
well. Harrison was the first president to
denounce the "spoils system" and Gen.
Taylor. although a STAKEHOLDER, was not
the supple tool of the South. Gen. Scott.
in his prime. showed statesmanlike quail
ties in trying and difficult situations.
The correspondence between Gen. Han
cock and Gen. sherman at the very critical
period following the contested presidential
election of ls7e-77 proves that both these
great soldiers were most intelligent con-
struers and conservative expounders of the
Federal constitution. Gen. Hancock would
have made thoroughly upright and effi-
eient president, for, like Grant and Sher-
man, he strictly respected the civil law and
loved peace. Gen. Sheridan brought order
out of chaos and municipal incompetency
after the great Chicago IRE.
Tyler, Polk, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan
and Andrew Johnson were trained TO civil
life. Did We ever have a soldier president
from Washington TO Grant who made such
a contemplate record as these civilians ?
On the whole, have any of our presidents
shown higher capacity 10 gorerR we'll in
critical times than the soldiers Washing
ton. Jackson and GrantG Grant was for
peace with England when statesmen"
were doing their best to foment war by
incendiary and insulting speeches. When
great and influential portion of his party
was for imitation in isSf Grant vetoed il.
When the electoral count was In progress
men of all parties felt perfect confidence
IN the integrity, impartial justice ana
moral courage Of Grant; he was rock Of
patriotism on which al men leaned in our
discordant land.
jefferson was statesman. hut he had
his limitations. and he was failure "a a
president compared with the soldier
Washington or Jackson, and il was JefFcr.
soa's tncapaoity or unwillsngaess in peace
TO prepare for war that made cur war Of
lSi2 80 full OF disaster on land.
The great rulers OF British Iniia, its
great administrators, have been men Of
military training; the only men Of states
nan-like quality in modern Spain have
been soldiers; the present chancellor q
Germany. cspriyi. Is a soldier. the great
sss Statesman OF modern Russia was
soldier. 6ortehAkoff: she greatest soyeE-
elEn Of Russia was 3 soldier.
The record Of history shows that soldiers
Of distinction have made quite as good .
recog4 IN real craftsmanship; that is, the
capacity t. sessra sssli. as mea trained to
polislcs
The Pogiroon statesman Is iavariahIy a
politician, Ike James Buchanan; the
insufficient statesman Is generally = man
Of political training. Like Jefferson. rather
taaa Of military training, ike Washing.
ten.
The best governor Of Washington terri.
tory Was Isaac 4 Stevens a trstnas