The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-22
Opportunities Forever Lost.

Gan. George b. McCiellsn-we suppose We
nu,t call him General, for he still holds on TO
ia commissiop--has, like many other men
.reater by far than he is, lost golden oppor-
uul,y 10 establish aname and reputation Oh
solid basis which no assaults OF traitors or
.emagogues could have shaken. This tide in
us affairs was at its food wnen he was nomi-
lated for the Presidency at Chicago and placed
ipon deceptive and rickety platform by
,and OF political juggiers, broken-down polti
;sns, heartess demagogues and quusi traitors
We have never known in the political his
DRY OF this or any other country, nor In the
ecords Of any political organization the world
,ver. baser attempt at political jagglery,
stronger effort TO deceive the people and more
determined and corrupt purpose to securs
totes under false pretences than were mani
ested at the recent Chicago convention.
some OF these platform makers must have been
troubled with the "doldrums," disease which
the celebrated aud witty Irish orator, Curran,
nee defined as "a confusion in the head al
sing from the corruption of the heart"
To borrow a term from geology, this Chica-
20 platform may be characterised as a .JorniI-
ton with different strata or layers, one upon
aaother, all SO carefully arranged and bestow-
| 81 that the makers were faitered with the be-
| lief that the people would not be able to see
| { lie incongruous nature of the materials that
| .pmposed IL. In that they are sadly at fault.
| The people of this country and Of this enlight-
med age are not SO easily hoodwinked and
deceived as politicians are faiu to believe they
IRE. There may be eras 10 human life In which
he craft of conspirator can take the place
If statesman or patriot, but we don't live
a one Of those eras now, as all copperheads
will ind to their sorrow and regret.
| Victor Hugo says The characteristic Of
| everie is to gaze at darkness so intently that
| brings light out OF it," But the loyal men
md women Of our country need not such n
peculiar state of mind to bring light out of The
darkness of this platform. or to comprehend
It's true intent aud meaning. Goethe remark
81 that Shakespeare's Hamlet was intended
| 0 represent the effects of great action laid
upon soul unht for the performance oft. So
We may say OF these platform-makers. there
vas great burden laid upon souls totally un-
1t to bear 1t, and hence It's failure TO accom-
lish the thing whereto 1t was sent.
Ii required great tact, skill and cunning to
construct such platform, and the making
hereof, no doubt, greatly troubled the build
prs; but to no person 10 these United States
aas 1t been SO much trouble and perplexity as
TO him who was com PEELED to mount it aud
show himself to the American people,
| The manner Of McClellan's mounting this
| "a ,sac platform reminds US of his military
cites, and the mode In which he has always
| Approached rebel Entertainments aud fortidea-
tons. First, there is a splendid military par.
/ ale, and second, bold marching as il the
strong holds OF the enemy were about to be
formed and toppled down, aud third, dead
adt at safe distance from rebel shots or
els. Now the spades aud pickaxes are In
,an play, ani regular siege, secuadam GrteIn,
Is commenced. Digging aud tent pitching
sre the order OF the day. Parallels and zig
gigs are sunk ia the earth and, by ST. Paul, the
" ,rk goes bravely on!
After weeks, and sometimes months, Of
weary labor, the soldiers are ordered from the
enches, the noble General appears on his
| pswing steed, witching the world with b .
a,rsemanship, and fearing no dangers, for the
snemy had gone, bag and baggage. and the
harpshooters had coma down from their
ookou's. Thus several sieges, planned By
Mcclellan, have ended with nothing gained
b 1t many important victories lost.
Ina manner somewhat similar, so far as cir
:umstances would admit, Mcclellan approach
the Chicago platform. Il was formidable
| york, and be viewed it as such. He was afraid
!, take IL by storm, but for several days after lis
irection, be began to dig parallels and zig zags,
lad employed Gov. Seymour and some other
New York politicians as corps Of MIXERS and
appers to assist him Ia the work Ia fact they
volunteered their services. Knowing how
much he needed them in such al emergency,
they came cheerfuly to the rescue and held
,weet council with him. Seymour knows the
seak places in the structure. for he had hand
making 1t; therefore his advice could not
b, well dispensed with. Many modes of at.
tick were discussed, many plans concocted.
and much time used in consultation ere an ad
vance was made. Little Mac, although sci
sntinc engineer and knows something about
railroads, was exceedingly cautious how he
advanced, and very anxious to approach under
cover 90 ss not to be killed or wounded. Sey-
nour told him he must mount it, or, at least,
'eem to mount 1t, or those who erected il would
bolt 1t was agreed among those those who
sat In council that Little Mac should climb up
10 some way and stand upon the outer edge.
wave flag and axe the best show he could
Under all the circumstances of the case. He
lid mount and reach the "outer WALL, and
here be stands dourishng before the nation
white Jag 10 one hand and tue stars and stripes
in the other, virtually saying to the voters.
Heres flag oftruce" which means an arms
tice, or Immediate Efforts for cessation OF
aostilities" SO as to give the rebels a chance TO
r'cruit thsir energies for IA more vigorous
prosecution Of the war" against the govern
aent, or to come back into the Union with
'ae.r millions Of slaves and again control our
ai''oan aflrs and push slavery into all the
states. And hold in my other hand the old
''o" nag which Is Intended to fatter the war
ismocfats ana secure their votes.p
mus stands Little Mac before tl,s nation
never was candidate of great political mar.
" presented TO tbs voters of any .,,',.
whose principles hang so loosely ,,hon
him, or whose policy Is so indefinite an
so little known, aad yet those who h ava ca,,
oalied this candidate to climb up to such A.,
platform and stand there in such an at,tud,
have the unblushiug inpudence to tell the PEG,
pie that he will be elected. Such eirron.ery.
such double dealing will never hoodwlnk the
loya' Voters OF the Tree States. or put out the
nfes oil patrtstism which are now burning so
o,'snsiy on the affairs of the hearts of the PEG
pie.
w" II George B. Mcclellan had said to