The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-03


going to Henry Clay. with James Is.
Polk as Democratic competitor, Van
Buren, having failed to achicvs his am
billion on account OF the descrtiol. Of
the extreme Southern contingent at the
last moment. The annexation of Texas
Inquired largely In thu contest and tho
Democrats wont back into powor COM
mitted to the scheme.
Move That Did Not Bring Popularity.
President Polk precipitatcd HOSTILE
ties with Mexico. by ordering General
Taylor to advances to tho Rio Cirande
and occupy the debatable district, but
1t did no, make him popular. All par.
ties supported him In the successful
conduct of the war. but at tho close
OF his term tho Whigs recaptured tho
presidency with tho old haro of tho
struggle. Zachary Taylor, as theiI
leader. Perhaps no man who ever as
pired to the American presidency
know so little of politics. but his repu-
tation as a fighter cleared tho way
for him.
When he died. in the FIRST half OF
his second year In Office. Willard Fill
moro found little opportunity 10 prove
his political ability. In the following
year both branches of Congress became
Democratic and at ths next president
ial election the Wings carried only
n
crat from Now Hampshire, winning the
prize.
General Pierce had served creditably
In the Mexican campaign, was the most
popular politician in his own State and
his election seemed to promise u sus-
pension. temporarily n, least OF the
sectional discussions which were threat
ching to end In mischief. He accom-
piished little. however In that diroc-
IA
OF agitation over the questions which
were to be solved only by a resort to
arms. and no single politician was
strong enough even to POSTPONE the
crisis. Prcsid ent Pierce made no at
tempt TO do so.
Nor did James buchanan, his Demo.
cratic successor. And a way out OF the
political maze In which the nation
was wandering. The time had come
when mere POLITICAL ability was power
less TO avert the impending uphcaval
and President Buchanan saw tile
prospect of harmony between q North
which was demanding the abolition OF
slavery and a South which called loud.
~ Tor the rcopcning OF the African
slave trad..
rho Attest Politician of Them All.
When Abraham Lincoln wen. into
the White House affairs seemed al.
VOTED and others were ready 10 fol.
low. The Federal government was I'm
an unusually dcfcns elcss state-part
or Its army had surrendered and most
or the remainder was shut up in forts;
us ships OF war were in distant seas:
many experienced officers had entered
the service OF the Confedoracy; the
treasury was nearly bankrupt. and the
BULK OF war equipment had been trans.
n =,
a problem which was worthy Of 4 max
ter politician, and such Abraham Lin.
coin proved TO be. /, is the op Mon
OF the abicst writer's on political sub
lects that L!ncoln's plan TO use sluv.
cry ITSELF as a means either OF coer-
cion or punishment, as cXcmplined by
the emancipa tion proclamation, was the
most distinctivcly- original move ever
made by an American President
The reconstruction OF tho South was
the problem that faced Andrew John
son. and it was an undertaking for
which there was no precedent Tho
man who had braved death 10 keen
Tennessee In the Union could not UNI
derstand how Il State could be punish I'd
for treason by Federal Congress.
and he proceeded without further ado
10 restore the Southern CONFERENCE.-The
10 their former position by pruclama-
tioiI. Ills DETERMINATION 10 punish indi-
vidualS. but not states led him into
open and angry conflict with tho lead
ers of his party, and all his political
energy came to naught
General Grant was scarcely more OF
politician than was that other sol.
er-lresident. Zachary Taylor. Ruth
crford b. Hayes was d aprived OF Il
Presidents customary influence over
Congress by his alleged Sunday school
politics" His efforts to concil,ate the
South were not popular at the time
although they seem less subject to
criticism now than they once did
James \. Garfield WIS an experienced
politician Of the best partisan type and
Chester ~ Arthur was OF the same
dignided school. Grover Cleveland was
the avowcd champion Of civil service
reform, and IL! his sharp contest with
the Senate in regard 10 suspension and
nominations the President won q vic
tory which proved him to be al astu,e
politician. 1t is due to his daterminu-
ton that politics has virtually disap-
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