Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-18
NEWSPAPERS AND GENERALS.

fered from violent mania for making and
snmaking generals. One Of the most re-
narlable incidents of the rebellion thus
kr has been the newspapsr career of some
Of our military leaders. Now, general
newly called to the command, while or
ganixing his forces and before an oppor-
tunity has been afforded him to exhibit
his fitness for the leadership of a large
army in the field, is pounced upon by one
= more of the leading journals and hois-
led up for exhibition as the military giant
Of modern times. Through column after
column, and day after day, ad nausean',
We have been peremptorily summoned to
bow down to asserted military genius
which was at the time, at least, of la
tent, undeveloped character. The unfor-
innate victim is not to be blamed for this.
Nothing in fact could be more unfortunate
10 him than such premature and disgust
ngly fulsome adulation no position more
insecure than the apex of newspaper fame
under such circumstances. Again, gen.
eral hardly yet rested from the battle, be-
fere the smoke Of the conflict has rolled
away and revealed the manner and merits
Of its movements and conduct; while all
knowledge concerning it is based upon
vague, contradictory and often senseless
and unfounded rumofs, is venomously at
lacked and persistently charged with the
rossest inconpetency and crime.
If one leading newspaper eulogizes this
general, the ether paper, from political
motives, or to preserve its nds,'duallty or
!. falso chou ~ ;,a,a Cor
ssoth attack him; if one journal assaults
Mat general, the latter must become the
unfortunate victim Of the other journals
equally groundless adulation. 1t will not
do for one journal to agree with the other.
The Worlds readers would raise hue
and cry if it should agree with the Trib-
me, and nothing would be more prepos-
ferrous than that the Herald should agree
with either in its treatment of any man,
Evil or military, even when national life
md noliii ,s.., freedom are at stake. and
uartizan strife should cease. Each con-
santly dins into the ears Of most patient
sud long suffering people, and clamors to
he government, that the salvation Of the
country depends upon the elevation OF Its
pvoseqe to the command in chief of the
army, Each talks of its darling as in
sessantly as mother OF her baby.
I Gen. ope was violently assaulted in
some of our journals before the dust of
the battle field was shaken from his boots.
for all kinds of incompetency, and chsrg-
ed with the slaughter of our brave troops.
All this occurred while we had no facts
upon which to base judgment as to the
truth OF falsity Of the charges one might
have suspicious amounting possibly to an
opinion, but subject to the change which
the facts, when known should demand,
one way or the other. AL this occurred
while SO little was certainly known OF just
MI that was intended to be accomplished
by his advance to the Rappahannock,
whether anything more than to distract
attention from McClellan's withdrawal,
and secure the safe Judgment OF the whole
army in the Notifications of Washington
until the arrival OF the new levies while
% little was known OF the conduct of d..
vision commanders under him, whom Pope
himself accuses while 20 little was known
definitely of the operations, generally, in
the retreat 10 Washington Of particular
parts of the army. or of the whole, that
it is absurd to suppose that The journal
which assaulted him could be possessed of
that knowledge which should precede such
alta Axis or render them of any value
We speak OF this merely by way OF Illus
tration. We do not know even now, wheth-
er be deserves censure; whether lie accom-
plished all that he was expected to, sc far
a. he could with the means at his COM
mand; the public don't know; the assail-
ing journals themselves cannot know but
We do know that this premature journal
6tic laudation and assault creates pariizan
aiyl.ious among the upopla and dtsastrous