The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-07-09
SCOTT AND THE SOUP
Arp Says He Was Wrong in Say
ing 1t Was Taylor.
Who Wrote That MessaEe-AIludinR
tn His Eating Soup in an Official
Communication TO the Sec
rotary of War.

OF course It was Gen. Scott who wrote
about the hasty plate of soup. Many
letters from venerable men have re-
freshed me and my esteemed friend, Mr..
Carnochan, of Rome, has sent me
kind message about my mistake in
putting the soup on Taylor. find moth
ing in history about it, and hence such
things can only be established from
memory-the memory of the oldest peo-
pie. | am gratified to learn from these
letters that come daily that there are
left SO many good old men with in
telligent memories-men of four score
years and overland who like all old
people now live in the past and love to
recall the events that happened so and
go years ago. Taylor and Scott were
both Nirginians, and were very supe-
rior commanders. Scott was ambitious
and arbitrary. Taylor was modest, re-
firing, an upright and a downright
man, and duty was his watchword.
His nomination for the presidency was
forced upon him and grieved his wife
greatly, for she said; "They seek to
rob me of my husband and our chill
dren of father" Her fears proved
more than true for the cares and anx-
ieties of political life caused his early
death, Notwithstanding he had a cab
met Of great and good men to share his
burdens and relieve him of many re-
sponsibilties. Our own George w.
Crawford was his secretary of war.
Gen. Scott was not only ambitious, but
he was enyious of Taylor, and sought
to embarrass him in Mexico by with
drawing troops from mis- command. At
one time he reduced Taylor's force to
2,700 men, while he was opposed by
1000 of the enemy His subordinate
officers advised a retreat or falling back
TO Point Isabel and there wait for re
endorsements, but Taylor said: mo.
will advance or die in my Shoes And
he did and won a signal victory. There
was politics in war then, just as there
is now, and my prediction is that nei
Their Fitzhugh Lee nor Wheeler will be
permitted to make fame enough to en-
danger the republican party. War was
politics in Burke's day and it is in ours.
Scott was a brave, exacting and ae
complished officer, but was eourt-mar-
tailed three times for political effect,
as was asserted by his friends. He fell
short Of his ambition to be president
and his last words were, James, take
good care of my horse"
Parties have abundant reason to fear
the popular advance of military heroes
Six of our presidents have acquired of
flee through military channels-W Wash
ington, Jackson, Harrison, Taylor,
Pierce and Grant. 1t is astonishing how
suddenly and rapidly an unknown man
can advance TO the highest pinnacle
through the fortunes of war, whether
they be accidental or meritorious. Here
before me are 16 large volumes of APP
pleton's 0yclopedia, published in 1861,
and the name of Ulysses Grant is not in
them, and yet within the brief space of
eight years he was made president of
the United States. Had there been no
war who doubts but that Grant would
have ended his life unhonored and un-
known in his brothers lanyard at Gale
ma. More probably he would be still liy-
ing, for tanyards are healthy places and
do not breed cancers. A few months
ago Dewey was unknown outside of
limited naval circle, but now his fame
is worldwide. What a commentary
upon the science of government. a
great man like Daniel Webster devotes
life TO its study and becomes a polar
star of craftsmanship, acquiring by
slow but sure processes the respect and
confidence of all nations, but is dis
placed from power to make room for
man who knows nothing but how to
fight The wonder is that we are still
nation and have government. But for
tunately these military heroes are gen.
orally men of mind and morals and have
been educated to have regard for the
supremacy of civil law. Our military
presidents made good presidents. Old
Hickory was arbitrary and fearless, but
he was unselfsh and had the good of
the country at heart. Grant had more
consideration for the rights of the
states and of the southern people than
Stanton had or Andy johnson.
But the civil war has passed into his
tory and the one we are now engaged in
will have to be called something else. 1t
is continually spreading and no one can
foretell what it will grow to. Of course
it has got to keep on until after the next
presidential election-that is our poll
tics, and Spain has her politics, too, and
must preserve her dynasty. And so it is
politics on both sides. The starving
Gubans were in it at the beginning, but
they are not in it now. The Monroe doe
trine didn't apply to Cuba, but it seems
that il does to the Philippines. We don't
know whittier we are drifting, but must
fall into line and eNclaim, with De
catur: "My eountry-right or wrong
my country" That sounds well, of
course. but not so well as Davy
Crocketcs motto: BE sure you are
right. then go ahead" What we want
is peace on earth end good will among
men. I was down 81 Unadilla the other
dav - sweet little village about so
miles below Macon--and there | met an
ex-maior Of the federal army. lie had
but one eye, and, strange to say, had
found the man who shot out the other
nj the battle Of Franklin. lie has been
living in South Georgia for % years
and says they are the best people he has
ever found-the kindest. frankest and
most bosDitable. "When I was first
sent down here" said be. 81 was some
what dubious and reticent, but soon got