The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-16
State of Maine.
Fickleness Of Popular verdicts.

"Vor DopuE uor Del" has become proverb,
and vet it is only to a limited extent, and with
careful qualifications that we can adopt this
sentiment, unless we are disposed to make the
voice of God as tickle as the ever varying
breeze. Nothing is more changeable than pop
ular verdicts, especially in seasons of great ex-
element and under the pressure of great
events. To-day the populace may crown IA
vorite, ard tomorrow the same popuace may
chop off his head and crown together. The
idol of the present hour may be the hated OBJ
ject of the next. In nothing is this spirit
more plainly exhibited than in the Judgment
passed upon our military commanders. The
public is exacting-pcrfectly memorable. Sue
cess must crown every blow. No mistakes
can be tolerated. The popular favorite may
rise step by step on the ladder of fame, every
step being an advance, and securing new gar
lands with which to deck his brow, but if at the
very topmost round he makes mistake and
falls back ever so little, he may well fall fiat
to the ground. ss rr-sss
This has been exemplifled inthe case of many
of the favorites ofthe people. Fremont, Pope,
Mcclellan, Buell., Mcdowell, Mitchell, Butler,
Burnside, Hunter, and so on to the end of the
alphabet, have by turns been petted and de-
nounced Each has been far up towards the
topmost wave only to find himself thrown back
into the trough of the sea. Because the peo-
pie cut down palm trees to-day to cast the
branches in homage before the triumphal march
of some conquering hero, it is no sign that they
-. 10, tLa II
"crucify him."
1t is well perhaps that these things are so.
He who fixes his eye on fame and military
glory is obliged to count the cost. He knows
the inevitable result of failure. He knows that
ninety and nine victories will not be accepted
as atonement for one subsequent defeat, and
knowing this he makes calculation only upon
victory But there is great danger that
true merit may fail ofits reward, and that we'll
meant endeavor may not meet with its just
recompense. This Boston Post touches this
thought in the following just and timely refec-
tons:
Justice though highly-praised virtue, is
never so much neglected as in these martial
times. How difficult it is to be simply just TO
our military leaders. If a general succeeds,
we praise him without stint. But if he fails in
any regard to meet the measure of our high,
perhaps extravagant xpectations-then Heav-
en- pity him 1t is nothing that he did his best;
that he cheerfully pered his life to serve his
country; we will hear of nothing but victory,
and acknowledge no merit in the man for hav-
ing deserved success. Worse than that, we
pretend TO more care of the soldiers fame than
he who stakes his life to maintain his honor,
while we are grumblng in safety at home!
Surely, they who fight our battles for us are
entitled to our generous expectations, and
above all to our calm and cordial judgment of
their behavior, whatever may be the result of
a campaign or the fate of an engagement. Sup
pose the case your own, and be just, o ye who
sit in judgment on your friends in arms.