The Portland daily press., 1862-11-18
Is it Patriotism, or What is its

Is il Patriotism, or What is it,
No reader of the democratic press can have
failed to notice the persistent efforts making to
create capital out of the displacement of Gen.
Mcclellan, and the appointment OF Gen. Burn
side. The strongest efforts are made to excite
revolt against it in the public mind, to beget
the impression that the soldiers are indignant
and on the verge of mutiny, and to further
beget the impression that the removal has de-
layed the advance of the army of the Poto-
mac. Not only these, but taunts of the most
unmanly kind are INDUCED in, and nothing is
omitted that gives the slightest promise of
infaming the public and Of increasing the
diffculties-thick aud weighty enough at the
least-in the pathway of the new commander.
Add to all these the prophesies of evil to
which the public are constantly treated, as
though by Gen. Mcclellan alone the country
could be saved, and in his removal the last
hope of the Union had broken down. On the
street, too, we hear the questions, "When is
your new General to put down the rebellion?
when Is the army to move? why don't great
battle come OFF," and others like these. all in
dicating the poorly concealed desire that
Burnside may prove failure, and that disaster
may crown our arms.
In view of such things, patent TO all who
have eyes to see and ears TO hear, we repeet
the question, is it patriotism, or is it something
less worthy, that inspires the spirit and
prompts the efforts and suggests the questions
to which we have referred? Had our demo-
IL far oapap,iffa1 than so n
one man that they will accept success only
through him? II their favorite is not to lead
our armies into the promised land, will they
refuse to follow and occupy that land? Sup
pose zen. Mcclellan to be the best man in the
country, the ablest commander, and the most
fitting officer to lead our troops on to victory;
suppose him to be ali courage, energy and
daring, and that he has been slow only through
wise and justifable caution; suppose him
even to be an abused and wronged man, that
he has been unsupported by the government,
and that Stanton is the devil some insist that
he is; suppose all these things to be so, what
then? Is the country's cause to be abandon
ed? Is the salvation Of the country OF less
importance than the interests of single man?
Shall unpatrotic impulses be stirred and slim
ulated because one man is removed from
post of honor? We do not so understand
duty-we do not so understand the spirit OF
the American people.
Surely, Gen. Mcclellan has said nothing to
encourage such unpatriotc movements against
his successor; and no true friend of his will,
for a moment, relax his interest in behalf of a
cause Of much more importance than all the
Generals in the army. Between Generals Nc
Ciean and Burnside the best understanding
has subsisted, and the latter, all agree, did not
seek the honor that has been thrust upon him.
and all seem to concur in the opinion that he
is an able, discreet and successful commander,
whose campaigns have been marked by almost
unexampied success. Shall he be sustained?
Is it patriotic 10 increase his embarrassments |?
Is it not better to encourage his heart, and
to assure him that nothing will SO elate the
hearts of the American people as his success
in putting down rebellion? Aud can that be
patriotism which labors to beget different
spirit in the community?
1t is not to be presumed that Burnside can
do in a week or month what Mcclellan has
failed to accomplish in more than year, hut
we confidently look to the Inauguration of
movements that will tell for the loyal cause,
that will roll off the load of depression now
resting upon the public mind, and that will
cause the blood of the nation TO circulate with
increased activity. If such proves to be the
result of the recent changes in the army, all
;,;o rasuif fnlJnWs
instead of exulting, all loyal men will feel sad