Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-03-04
Beecher on McCIsllan's Boston Sword
from the New York independently

When q bean or cOnvOlvulus selects q
long and shapely stake, and tenderly clasps
it with its twining stem, does the pole
imagine that the vine cares for Ut, or for
itself? All that it asks cf the stick is,
that it will allow the vine a chance for
self-dsplay. When men, therefore, rIdi-
c1le the eminent scholars and merchants
of Boston for making SO much ado over
General Mcclellan, on his recent invasion
of New England, they lack compreheD-
sion f--zztrF --.rt.a
He furnished good trunk on which
Boston worthless could climb themselves
into conspicuity. Mr.. Everett hung beau
tifulIy as an azure convolvulus from gar
den trellis. Mr.. Hillard twined about the
hero as tender as blossoming bean. Mr..
Lunt ran all over him, rank and coarse as
a Virginia trumpet. creeper. The stake
had heavy time of it. But it was Spring
time for the Boston twiners and climb
We mns. do the General the justice to
say, that he appears far better in such
campaigns than before the enemy. Lee is
too much for him. but Lunt ;s fairly over
matched.
A sword was presented, all ablaze with
diamonds. 1t was none Of your ugly
savage sworcs, made to cut with. 1t WAS
one of those home swords whose value is
not in the blade, but in the handle. OF
course it had Latin on it. That is the
language of Boston. Is Pro rege scope, pro
z,atria se0sper.'' Never was painful
tact more elegantly worded. 1t would
have been rude to say, Twice rejected
by the Government. yet ready FOR any
thing from the crowd" The Latin did
the business, g Pro rsge sepc, pro patria
semper"-now and then for the Govern
ment, but always for the nation! Wicked
Mr.. Hiliardl Mildly roguish Mr.. Lunt
Is not this putting up at auction, in Latin,
the hero of two campaigns tor bid p
Patriotism WON'T bid. Loyalty won't bid.
Ii Revolution bids, don't wait second.
Strike him off, Of all Generals to head q
movement against this Government, COM
mend Us to Mcclellan, the Knight OF the
Diamond-hilted Sword!
The reply of Gen. Mcclellan is remark
able, too. After the brief tormalities usu-
al, he thus consecrates his Boston sword:
A" Please accept, gentlemen, my sincere
thanks for this beautiful sword, and be-
lieve that it shall never be used save in
the cause"-of what2 Of this imperiled
countrya of this noble Government
against treason and rebellion 2-''save in
the cause of justice and right ~ A Ooun-
try, Government, Loyal States ARE things
concrete. As cont-asted with these Jus
ice and Right are simply distractions.
Is our General about to take the chair of
Moral Philosophy in some Oollegei and
will be uss his splendid Boston sword to
cut the knots and niceties of ethical casu.
istry2 usfsen--,14,e.
The day of swords is not past. There
are coming men who will earn swords by
using them Their blades shall be un-
tameable steel Their ornaments, the
gaps made by, battle strokes. No dia-
monds, no tinsei gliding. A warriors
hand is all the decoration his sword needs.
If inscriptions must be-theD, write upon
the blade in letters that shah lash fire in
every fight, Liberty for ell Mankind"
and on the other side, 'sDeath to Despots
and to traitors
Pass on, generals of the diamond
swords! Come, iron men, with iron