The San Francisco call., 1899-10-03
PRESSURE ON DEWEY.

T He movement to make Dewey a candidate Tor
the Presidency may die out or it may assume
formidable proportions. 1t is in line with the
habit and practice OF people who at the close or
each of have sought to express their teelng
for the leading figure of each by an offer of the Pres-
dency This began with Washington. 1t was con-
tinued with Jackson He was the most conspicuous
personality in the war Of 1872. After we had met a
series OF defeats on land he saved national pride
by the victory at New Orleans, and the fact that the
battle was fought after peace was declared did not
affect his position. The keen political insight OF Mr.
Clay at once saw in Jackson coming President, and
he ceaselessly antagonized candidacy that was in
evitable. He joined with Adams in the election by
the House in 1894 to defeat Jackson in that agree
nent which Randolph characterized as AN alliance
between an Eastern Puritan and Western blackleg.
1t must be said for Jackson, however that he had at
tained eminence in civil life. He was lawyer Of
repute had served creditaby Justice of the Supreme
Court OF his State and had legislative experience in
Congress.
At the close of the Mexican War the Wings took
advantage of the latest hero worship in the nomina
ton OF Taylor That party had opposed the war, and
Mr.. Lincoln himself, a member Of Congress from
Illinois, had gone to great lengths in antagonsm
But the Wing politicians chance to get statute
OF oblivion and party victory at the time, and
subscribed to single principle of Whggery 1t at
tempted to work the same sentiment in 1852 by the
nomination OF Scott but lost 1t is true that Pierce
was an officer in the Mexican War, but undis
tingushed. and his military record did him no good
In that campaign the part OF Scott in the
fought over again The campaign ballads were war
songs. But the smodering embers OF war enthusiasm
could not be made to blaze, and Scott fell and the
Wing party fell with him, making another fight
History was repeated at the close of the Civil War
Grant, of unknown politics and undistinguished in
civil life, had made such glorious history for his
country in war that he was prize for the politicians
Yet with him the idea OF slow growth There is
no evidence that it originated with him that he had
the slightest ambition for the office But it came to
him. and his career in it did add to the greatness
OF his fame. His countrymen remember him most
fondy as the organizer and winner of victories in
battle.
Hayes, Garfield and Mckinley were all officers in
the Civil War, but it cannot be said that their mill
tary experience as volunteers and not regularly
trained soldiers was commanding reason for their
election. 1t was merely a credtable incident in their
careers, but standing alone would have been INSULT
cient to promote them
Now we have ended successfully the first foreign
war of the republic In which we were the invaders
and it is not unnatural that the old habit asserts it
self
There are existing political conditions which make
Dewey's candidacy seem over1nastering necessity
to large number OF politicians 1t has been ques-
ton in the minds of thoughtful Democrats whether
that party is survive 1t is known that Mr.. Tlden
made grewsome prophecy that it would rally and
elect to the Presidency and then pass out OF
existence It's effort to make Dewey candidate is
struggle against fate, and repeats the Wing ex-
perence with Taylor in I848. The candidacy Of
Dewey is the only possible way in which it can throw
Bryan and cleanse itself of the with which he
has infected it as principles. Therefore from the
South and from New York comes the demand for
Dewey, and the movement will present very inter
esting study for the next eight months. The move
ment now has the features OF attempt to stampede
only the party but the country That it is causing
anxiety is evident in the interview OF Senator Hanna
Dewey himself has taken some pains to state his dis
qualifications for the Presidency and has treated the
proposition only half seriously. This has seemed to
increase the movement.
Viewed from the politicians standpoint the Ad-
mrals immediate future offers the alluring pos
sibiltes for promoting his candidacy The unequaled
efflson of feeling in New York is not to be the last
Of patriotic demonstration little later he is to go
to Philadelphia and Chicago, and the Juror will be
prolonged
At present the question is the most interesting one
in our politics.