Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-22
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Absurd AlluSiOn Which
Defeated General Scott
By Holland

In an address which was made by
ex-senator Chauncey NJ. Depew to a
social organization about two years
after his election to the Federal Sen
ate, Mr.. Depew said, as reported. that
after General Winfield Scott was nom
mated for President by the Wing
party. in 1852, the prospect of his
election was very encouraging. But
after the campaign had progressed
for a while there was a publication Of
an incident which alleged to have
occurred during the Mexican War
General Scott was accused Of having
said at an exciting and critical mo-
ment that he would be glad to take
"a hasty plate of soup" The express
sion was quickly seized upon by the
opposition. II was spread widecast
II occasionod great deal of humor-
GUS comment and not a little ridicule.
and the characterization stuck to
General Scott throughout the cam
paign, and explains in no small
measure his overwhelming defeat
] called Senator Depew's attention.
some time after he delivered this adj
dress, to the sad fact that he had been
severely criticised for asserting that
the hasty plate of soup allusion had
laughted General Scott out of the
campaign.
yes. ! know that this statement
has been criticised said Senator DE
pew; nevertheless it contained
great deal of truth.
What were the facts about Gen
eral SCOTS nomination by the Wings
for President? Four years earlier the
Wings nominated another hero of tho
Mexican War, General Zachary Taylor
He was elected. General Scotts ca
reer had been far more conspicuous
than that of General Taylor. He had
been comment for nearly forty
years as an American soldier. He
had gained great distinction in the
War of 1872. His achievements in
Mexico were brilliant, very roman
tic, and Napoleon when he took his
army over the Alps did not invite
greater danger and risk than General
Scott did when he marched his army
from Vera Cruz to triumph Va the
capture of the City of Mexico.
General Taylor was a Southern
man and a STAKEHOLDER. but he was
a strong protectionist, and that was
the fundamental principle of the
Wing party. General Scott was a Vir-
ginian by birth and he, too, was
strong protectionist
But in 1852 the beginning of the end !
of the Wing party was evidenced BY
those who carefully studied our po-
litical life. The Daniel Webster
Wings were previously disappointed |
because Mr. Webster was not nomi. /
mated for the Presidency. and broke !
away from the party The American |
or Know-Nothing party was becoming |
influential The split i'm the Demo ]
cratic party in 1S4S. which insured the |
election of General Taylor for Presi- /
dent, had been in great measure re-
paired.
Now, the only doubtful question
respecting General SCOTS election |
was this. Will the hero of the War
Of 1912 and the Mexican War, the
great military idol Of his times in the
United States, the man who was not
involved in any Of the political con-
tentions of his time at least OF
personal or partisan character, be
able through the cohesive force which /
his brilliance and very popular forcs
created to keen together the various |
elements which had made the Wing 1
party Of 1S4S triumphant
AT first il seemed as though Gen. |
eral SCOTS great personal popularity |
and brilliant record and the fact tina, |
he was free from any of jealousies |
which politics creates would serve to /
hold the Wing party steadily in line /
The line was being strengthened /
when all Of sudden there was pub
lished the now-historic 'hasty plate /
of soup allusion. II reused the I
sense of humor Of the American poo
pie not happily. but unhaDpily for /
the allusicn was capable of creating |
a vast amount OF ridicule. A man IN /
public life may Withstand jealousies. |
he may be triumphant over enemies. I
he may have the reputation Of being |
OF icy disposition. and nevertheless !
be successful at the polls. but there
is one thing that candidate for pub |
lie Office cannot withstand and that
Is humorous ridicule. IL was pre-
cisely this which broke up the Wing
alignment II was the one influence
which was fated to stop success. ano
through it was chiefly due the fact
that out of two hundred and ninety
six electoral votes General Scott got
only forty-two A humorous and ri
diculous allusion proved to be the
final blow to the Wing party"
(Copyrieht. 1918. by r. J. Edwards.
All riobfc rpcaryaI /