El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-12
Dewey For President

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persuading Admiral Dewey to accept
the democratic nomination for the pre-.
sidency might be expected on the part
of those who desire to see Mr.. Bry an
superseded, and who recall how many
attempts have been made during the
last century to use q soldiers hard
won renown for party purposes. II is,
indeed interesting to note how con-
siderable q part has been played in our
distinction. 1t is beyond dispute thai
George Washington was twice made
chief magistrate on account OF the ser
vices which he had rendered to the
country as commander-in-chief OF the
continental army. Curiously enough,
no other revolutionary gen
eral was thus honored. Dur
ing the twenty years that covered
the administr alton of John Adams,
house was occupied by civilians. In
1916, however, Colonel Monroe was put
forward, and the knowledge that he
was revolutionary veteran may have
had something to do with the fact that,
when he was reelected four years lat
err. he obtained every electoral vote
but one. In 1924, Andrew jackson, the
hero of the battle of New Orleans, who
had subsequently distinguished himself
cured q plurality of the electoral votes,
but was beaten in the house of repre-
sentstives. In 1928, and again in 1882,
he was chosen president by large ma
jorities. He was followed by q civilian.
but in 1910, the wings swept the coun-
try with General William Henry Har-
rison, who had nothing to commend
him but military renown.
u Dol 6y.ot nj 70
thrust aside Henry Clay, triumphed
under General Zachary Taylor, whose
victories in Northern Mexico were still
fresh in the public mind. Against him
the democrats, taking a leaf from their
opponents book, had pitted Lewis
Cass, who had risen to the rank of gen.
eral in the war of 1912. Again, in 1852,
two soldiers were srrsyed against each
other. but General Winfield Scott, the
real hero of the war against Mexico,
was overwhelmingly beaten by General
Franklin Pierce. During the three
terms civilians held the office
of chief magistrate, but, in 1868, Gen
eral G. ant, nominated by the republic
cans, was triunphantly elected, and he
easily gained q second term. In 1876,
and in 1880, the successful republican
nominees. General Hayes and General
LOU edCu sSFVou with credit
In the war of the rebellion.
On the other hand, no naval officer
has been nominated for the office of
chief magistrate. This is the more re-
because the record of the
American navy fills some of the bright
est pages in our history, AS for the
recent war with Spain, 1t was, essen
tally, maritime contest, and, when
Dewey's victory at Cavite was follow
ed by the destruction of Cervera's
squadron, the struggle was, virtually,
over. If, then, distiuctio gained in |
var is a qualification for the highest |
,ivil office, strong case might be |
made for the presidency. Nevertheless,
We do not believe that the admiral |
will permit the prese atation of his |
lame to the democratic nation
Il convention, and, if it should |
,e presented without his wishes, we
leem it improbable that the conven-
ion could be stampeded In his favor.
side from the fact that most of Mr..
3ryan's friends seem unshaksble,
here is widespread and dee ply-root-
d. feeling among English speaking
eoples that a naval officer, however !