Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-09-20
Weaf Paint.

The Spirit of the Times, in an article COM
menting upon McClellan's speech at West
Point, and his subsequent contradictory ac-
ceptance Of the traitors nomination, says:
There must be something wrong about the
locality. We fear that the spirit Of Benedict
Arnold still fingers in and around the place
blighting and running with the mildew Of trea-
son. For we know that on the 18th of June,
George B. Mcclellan, the Copperhead can
didate for the Presidency, delivered an adj
dress at West Point upon the occasion Of lay
ing the corner stone Of the monument in
memory of the braves who have fallen in the
war for liberty and freedom, in which he in
voked the assistance Of the ever living God in
crushing out the enemies of the country. Sus-
tanned the Government in its attitude towards
those who would destroy it. Called God to
witness that there was no middle ground for
our rulers to pursue, but that war, relentless,
cruel and persistent war, must be the beacon
light to guide them through the fiery ordeal
through which the country was passing; in
the name of the Most High ayerred that the
brave hearts which had given their last pull
sation in defence of their flag and their coun.
try's honor demanded that no mean compro-
misses should be made, and that all they had
fought, bled and died for, should not be aban-
doned and sacrificed upon the hideous altar
Of disgraceful peace, and avowed himself
to be in favor Of the most strenuous exer-
tons on the part Of the Government to con-
quer peace-honorable in its every phase,
lasting in its provisions; with the Union re-
stored, and with the old flag over all, with not
stripe less or q star obscured. But in a
few days what a change came DER the spirit
of his dream. In convention where such
traitors as Vallandigham were honored and
caressed, Mcclellan was nominated for the
Presidency of the United States upon plat
form in direct antagonism to the tenets Of his
West Point speech, and upon which he has
signifed his intention to stand. He has
taken his stand upon platform which is like
the rover in boat pulling one way and
looking in another way it positively says
war, when itmeans unconditional peace. The
time has gone by when the people can be de-
ceiyed by so himsy veil, and Mcclellan, his
West Point speech, and his accordance of the
Chicago platform in which there is plenty Of
abuse against the Government and not q syl-
liable condemnatory Of the rebels and traitors
in arms, may be set down as another example
Of the heresy and treachery of q graduate of
West Point. Mcclellan accepts a position
upon q platform which declares the war a
failure, forgetting in his haste to grasp the
Presidential bauble, that the remorseless
historian will impute and prove much Of that
failure to the very candidate who seeks to
gain popularity by the announcement. II the
war Is a failure it has only been since the de-
livery of the West Point speech and the &C.
ceptance Of the unconditional peace platform
of the Chicago Convention, because in that
celebrated speech Mcclellan pronounced it
the grandest achievement in the annals Of the
world. The expression of every man who
once admired Mcclellan and sympathised
with him in his non-success is-after reading
the West Point speech, the Chicago platform
and letter Of acceptance" how are the
mighty fallen"