Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-01

vastly his inferior in every respect:
and the one consolation permitted
him was to live and die gentleman.
THE battles of Chippewa and
Lundys Lane We're two OF the
three land engagements that saved
America from utter humiliation in
the War of 1872. Young Scott was
the hero Of both. And he wore the
stars Of a major general at IS.
The Black Hawk War left many
fostering bitternesses, but SCOTS i'm.
perial presence awed Sacs. Foxes and
WinnebaSoes into submission. even as
| his justice won their friendship.
When he awarded a medal to some
| chief il was with an air tnat gave
| each savage a sense or ineHahle favor
and amazing honor,
The Seminole War Of 1896 seemed
an opportunity for new glory. but ii
was SCOTS misfortune To have quar-
. relied with Andrew Jackson 10 years
before Old Hickory was never one
! 70 forget. and before Scott could
| launch his campaign the President
| removed him for no better reason
than the peevish whine OF suhordi.
nate. A court OF inquiry cleared
| Scott completely. but the great chance
/ was lost.
BY every rule nf fitness he should
have been the Wing candidate for
| President in 1870. but the politicians
feared his independence and high
morality. and. more Nan this.
thinking compaign WAS not wanted.
William Henry Harrison was nomi-
mated, hard cider pat on tap in the
omen streets, and the whole Nation
ragged into An orgy.
So we come to the Spring OF 1896
when the country roared its enthusi-
asm over Palo Alto and Resaca de In
Palma. where laundering Zachary
TAYLOR had been fortunate enough
I" meet superior incompetency. 1t
was not Old Rough and Ready that
the Democrats feared. however. for
he was looked on merely as n hack
woodsman remote from politics. Scott
was their bugbear.
1 Already the Wing leaders had de.
cided upon him as their candidate
In 1s+S, and Polk shivered at the
thought OF giving a rival any chance
of glory. SCOTS request for assign
ment 10 LEAD an expedition to Vera
Cruz was contemptuously refused.
and skilled wits set about the bust
ness Of reducing him in public esti-
nation.
Slowly. subtly. his grand air was
made TO seem mere s:rutting. his dig
nifty attacked as pompousness. his
courtesy and elegances derided a. con.
ceit and affectation. and in a little
while a giggling public joined in call
Ing him odd Fuss and Feathers"
When he prepared careful plans OF
campaign. he was book soldier"
IAN old granny" and If he showed
resentment at these constant attacks.
il was disloyalty and INSTRUMENTATION.
The Democrats made a thorough job
OF il. so complete. in fact. that the
Wings abandoned him as candidate
and even his friends began to edge
away
In November. however. the elections
went against the Democrats: Taylor.
by turns sIlky and domineering
dawdled in Monterey. doing nothing
end Polk and his advisers came 20 the
sad realization that the war must be
pushed and brought to an end If
Democratic disaster was to be averted.
-
NECESSARILY. SCOTS intelligent
suggestion OF an attack upon
Vera Cruz had To be adopted and after
feverish survey of the entire field
Scott himself had TO be put in COM
mand. However. there was the com.
forting conviction that he had been
killed off" as the presidential posi-