The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-03-28
THE CALIFORNIAN.
American FicklPnesS.


1t is astonishing with what facility Ameri-
cans set up and pull down idols. The man
who to-day receives the plaudits of the ma
ton, tomorrow wakes to the consciousness
that he has no friends; and he who yester.
day was plodding along the ways of private
lite, is to-da! the central object of the popu-
lar regard. Regulations are bestowed upon
men who blush with the consciousness that
they have never been earned; and they are
taken away from others, or from them, With
out q question or companctlon. Men are
thrust into important positions IN accordance
with their will or otherwise, and glorlhed tor
twenty-four hours; and then they are set up
as targets for tie public scorn. 1t is only
necessary that a man seem essential to the
success of the national cause, to attract to
him the enthusiastic worship of the people ;
and 1t shall be only necessary for such man
TO prove that he is human, or for some howl
of public journal to open on him, or for an
organized set of plundering politicians to get
after him, to destroy ali public faith in him,
tetween the rising and the setting of a
sun.
What glorious fellow "The Pathfinder"
was, to be sure, hen he fastened home Eu-
rope, to draw his sword for his country
How the heart of every American turned
toward him with enthusiastic affection. Ii
was the magic of his name that drew out the
bands OF volunteers from the great North
west. 1t was the name OF Fremont that Car
ried with it more of the genuine magnetic
power than any other which the nation knew.
1t appealed to all that was chivalr!c in the
great northwestern heart, as the name of
Garbaldi thrills the heart of Italy, Or that of
kossu'h the heart of the Hungarian. A few
weeks passed away, and clamor woke against
the gallant general with thousand tongues
tIamor denounced him as incompetent in
brains, weak in will, wasteful of the public
treasure, arrogant in manners, and supple
and obedient as the tool Of set of cormo-
rant Cal!tornians for whom hanging was too
decent death. His old friends hung their
heads, and shook them doubtfully. In the
language of the street. Fremont stock went
down so far below par that we "didnt see it. I"
The president was convinced; and just as the
western army began to move, relieved its
leader from his command. From that day to
This, that leader has paid very close attention
10 his own business and gradually the peo-
pie have come back to him, and the returning
public confidence has just been crowned by
the president who has assigned him another
command. Fremont stock is up again, and
very few stop to inquire the exact reason
why.
After the battle of Bull Run, Gen McClel
ian was called to the command of the army
OF the Potomac. The laudatioI> OF the Young
commander still lnger in our ears. His pic
lures were i'll every shop window in a fort
night. His hight, the colors of his eyes, the
size Of his chest, the name and history Of his
wite-everytEing connected with the new
man--was talked about at the corners of the
streets, and hawked about in newspapers
There were hurrahs for him wherever he ap-
reared. &tl.th!ng tended to push him as a
popular idol higher and higher. At last,
Gen Scott retired, and we ali felt delighted
That his mantle was laid upon the broad
shoulders Of the young general. He evolved
order from chaos. Everything went swim
ming.y on. when certain influences set them
selves against him. They increased until the
army Of The Potomac moved and then when
It was found that the enemy mad run away,
the clamor against him was redoubled. The
whole burden of the enemy's escape from
Manassas was laid upon his shoulders
Stralghtway movement commenced in the
Senate to GUST him from his command and
before this sees the light Gen Mcclellan may
possibly be an idol kicked from its pedestal
INTO torsetta!ness though We think the pro-
liabilities are against it, the president still
having some power left and more sense
After all this, next week may find the COM
mander Of the army of the Potomac the most
popular maa in America lie needs only to
win great victory to win back all the pres
tige he h lost. Does it not all look like a
farce, and q farce played by children, too?
Only few days ago, Mr. Cameron was
permitted TO vacate his post as secretary of
War, and MIR Stanton was invited to the va
can't bureau. What tremendous flourish
OF trumpets greeted his accession to place!
Why, the sayings and doings of the new Sec
letaly were jotted down by the admiring re-
porter 'slth all the pains-taking punctilio of a
boswell. The country was electrified by his
way of saving aid doing things. Well, few
d.,ls have pas sed away, and where is Secre-
tory Stanton? Doing his duty very faithful
y We have no doubt, but the people are eth
CT forgetting him, or getting the suspicion
that, after all, he is not quite so much of
man as he is cracked up to be.
We do not need further evidence to prove
TO US that the american nation is fckle.-
Why is this so? Because love, and faith,
and confidence, accorded to man without
sound reason, have no basis, and will tfy be-
fore an adverse breath, and he dis>ipated by
the first untriendly touch. We find a reason
for oar love in Our necessities. We crown
our kings whether they VIII or no; and if
they do not please Us, we kick them aside to
make place for others. We must learn
more constancy- learn frst to give our love
only to worthy objects, for reason, and
then give them our faith, aAa Nea stand IN
Mem. One OF the Most disgraceful things
connected with the conduct of this war is the
childish tcklencss of our people toward those
who have been brought prominently into the
service of the country.-Spriagfeld RepuJ-
hcop 20fA.
AN INCIDENT OF TIE CHILDREN'S AID So.
clEY.-A German boy VINO was found about
seven years age, fri EIesS, in want. on the