Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett's Advice to Andrew Jackson

A QUARTER of the population of The United States watched Disney’s Davy Crockett •on television• in 1955 —

Children were absolutely CAPITVATED by him — they •all• wore The Hats —

And when he arrives in Andrew Jackson’s Camp, the FIRST Thing He Does, is •disobey• orders.

O'BRIEN: 

Come on. Santa Anna didn't care about the rules of war. 

If he'd executed Davy Crockett at the Alamo he would have considered it a point of pride. 

BASHIR: 

All right. Put it this way. 

In eighteen thirty six Davy Crockett was what, forty nine? 

Quite old for the standards of the time. 

His days as An Indian fighter were well behind him. 

He was just an ex-Congressman, 

all reputation. 

Now this is NOT A Man who was about to fight till his last breath, Miles. 

The situation was hopeless, 

he was out of ammunition, 

The Mexican army was swarming the Alamo's battlements. 

He would have surrendered. 

It's as logical as that. Simple. 

O'BRIEN: 

I'm not saying it couldn't have happened. 

I'm just saying there's no proof!

WORF: 

You are BOTH wrong. 

The only real question 

is whether you BELIEVE 

in The Legend of Davy Crockett or not. 

If you do, then there should be 

no doubt in your mind that 

He Died The Death of A Hero. 

If you do NOT believe in The Legend, 

Then he was just A Man 

and it does not matter how he died. 

(Worf leaves.) 

BASHIR: 

Well, I guess that settles that. 

O'BRIEN: 

I guess so.

"Attend all public meetings…and get some friend to move that you take the chair; if you fail in this attempt, make a push to be appointed secretary; the proceedings of course will be published, and your name is introduced to the public. But should you fail in both undertakings, get two or three acquaintances, over a bottle of whisky, to pass some resolutions, no matter on what subject; publish them even if you pay the printer – it will answer the purpose of breaking the ice, which is the main point in these matters. Intrigue until you are elected an officer of the militia; this is the second step toward promotion, and can be accomplished with ease, as I know an instance of an election being advertised, and no one attending, the innkeeper at whose house it was to be held, having a military turn, elected himself colonel of his regiment. … You may not accomplish your ends with as little difficulty, but do not be discouraged – Rome wasn’t built in a day.

If your ambition or circumstances compel you to serve your country, and earn three dollars a day, by becoming a member of the legislature, you must first publicly avow that the constitution of the state is a shackle upon free and liberal legislation; and is, therefore, of as little use in the present enlightened age, as an old almanac of the year in which the instrument was framed. There is policy in this measure, for by making the constitution a mere dead letter, your headlong proceedings will be attributed to a bold and unshackled mind; whereas, it might otherwise be thought they arose from sheer mulish ignorance. …

When the day of election approaches, visit your constituents far and wide. Treat liberally, and drink freely, in order to rise in their estimation, though you fall in your own. True, you may be called a drunken dog by some of the clean shirt and silk stocking gentry, but the real rough necks will style you a jovial fellow, – their votes are certain, and frequently count double. Do all you can to appear to advantage in the eyes of the women. That’s easily done – you have but to kiss and slabber their children, wipe their noses, and pat them on the head; this cannot fall to please their mothers, and you may rely on your business being done in that quarter.

Promise all that is asked…and more if you can think of any thing. Offer to build a bridge or a church, to divide a country, create a batch of new offices, make a turnpike, or any thing they like. Promises cost nothing, therefore deny nobody who has a vote or sufficient influence to obtain one.

Get up on all occasions, and sometimes on no occasion at all, and make long-winded speeches, though composed of nothing else than wind – talk of your devotion to your country, your modesty and disinterestedness, or on any such fanciful subject. Rail against taxes of all kinds, office holders, and bad harvest weather; and wind up with a flourish about the heroes who fought and bled for our liberties in the times that tried men’s souls. To be sure you run the risk of being considered a bladder of wind, or an empty barrel; but never mind that, you will find enough of the same fraternity to keep you in countenance.

If any charity be going forward, be at the top of it, provided it is to be advertised publicly; if not, it isn’t worth your while. None but a fool would place his candle under a bushel on such an occasion.

These few directions…if properly attended to, will do your business; and when once elected, why a fig for the dirty children, the promises, the bridges, the churches, the taxes, the offices, and the subscriptions, for it is absolutely necessary to forget all these before you can become a thorough-going politician, and a patriot of the first water.”