The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-03
SCOTT AND THE SOUP
AttP SAYS lie WAS WRONG IN SAYING
y73&t ~ IT WAS TAYLOR.
Who Wrote that Message iiiuding TO His
sGs Eating Soup In an OnlcIal Com mmuni
catlon to tho Secretary
E4a f of War. .# N[a

Of course it was General Scott
who wrote about the hasty plate of
soup. Many letters from venerable
men have refreshed me and my es.
teemed friend, Mr.. Carnochan, of
Rome, has sent me kind message
about my mistake in putting tho
soup on Taylor. T find nothing in
history about it, and hence such
things can only be established from
memory--the memories Of our oldest
people. am gratitied to learn from
these letters that come daily that
there are left so many good old men
with intelligent memories-men Of
-four score years and overland who
like all old people nov live in the
past and love to recall the events
that happened fifty and sixty years
ago. Taylor and Scott were both
Virginians and were very superior
commanders. Scott was ambitious
and arbitrary. Taylor was modest,
retiring, an upright and 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 children Of Il father" Her fears
proved more than true, for the cares
and anxieties of political life caused
his early death, Notwithstanding he
had cabinet of great and good men
to share his burdens and relieve him
Of many responsibilities. Our own
George w. Crawford was his secre-
tary Of war General Scott was not
only ambitious, but he was envious
of Taylor and sought to embarrass
him in Mexico by withdrawing troops
from his command. At one time he
reduced Taylor's force to 2,7OO men,
while he was opposed by 1000 of
the enemy. His subordinate officers
advised retreat or falling back to
Point Isabel and there wait for rein
forcements, but Taylor said, "No, l
will advance or die in my Shoes"
and he did and won signal victory.
There was politics in war then, just
rs there is now, and my prediction
is that neither Fitzhugh Lee nor
Wheeler will be permitted to make
fame enough to endanger the repub-
lican party. War was politics in
Burke's day and it is in ours. Scott
was brave, exacting and accom-
plished officer, but was courtmartial-
cd 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, "Jamea,
take good care Of my horse"
Parties have abundant reason to
fear the popular advance Of military
heroes. Six of our presidents have
acquired office through military
channels. Washington, Jackson,
Harrison, Taylor, Pierce and Grant.
1t is astonishing how suddenly and
rapidly an unknown man. can ad-
vance to the highest pinnacle through
the fortunes of war, whether they be
accidental or meritorious. Here be-
fore me are sixteen large volumes of
Appleton's Cyolopedia, published in
1851, and the name Of Ulysses Grant
is not in them, and yet within the
brief space of eight years he was
made president of tho United States.
Had there been no war who doubts
but that Grant would have ended
his lite unhonored and unknown in
his brothers lanyard at Galena.
More probably he would be still liv-
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 world. wide. What
q commentary upon the science Of
government. A great man like
Daniel Webster devotes life to it's
study and becomes q 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
n man who knows nothing but how
to fight The wonder is that we are
still a nation and have a government.
But fortunately these military he
roes are generally men Of mind and