The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-11


New England smartness.
The Greas CRISIS OF tho War-0enerai
Grant I'm w ashingtoU-What Ii TO be
D0aeS
called there by the political managers of the
war to be used, If possible, for their pur-
poses, and then to DO put aside with other Of
/" the broken tools that tyrants cast away"
He is on trial now a. he has never before been.
His ability as q general has been abundantly
proven; he stands before the world hero and
a conqueror, of acknowledged achievements and
he is about to be tried in the final fire. He
enters now into that dangerous arena Of the
politicians from which so few soldiers have
come out with their lanrels still green, but
success in which put the final stamp of great.
ness to the names Of Caesar Cromwell and Be-
naparte
History is a storehouse Of examples; and
our own history Of the past few years is
particularly rich in examples Of what ought
to be avoided by great man, as we'll as
OF what really great man might have done.
Had General Scott upon the inauguration of
Mr.. Lincoln adhered to his own distinct and
definite ideas as TO what action should be taken,
and informed Mr.. Lincoln clearly that if such
action were not taken he would resign. then
he would have employed against the politi-
clans and for the benefit Of the people that
great power that he held over the popular
mind and heart and that had been earned by
good conduct and success in the wars Of two gen
erations He would have initiated in that event
an early, earnest and vigorous prosecution Of
the war that would have given tangible results
at once and he would have added to his giorics
the gratitude of third generation, and have
gone to bis retirement true Nestor aud the
grandest man Of modern history. Or had he,
before the first battle of Bull run, when the
''on to Richmond" ciamor arose, held on more
firmly to his knowledge Of what was right-had
he then said to the administration. with me
or without me" "ia my way or without my
consent his hold on the country was then still
strong enough to have enabled him to control
the government Our first movement would
have been made az he knew that 1t should be
made and the rebellion would have been
crushed in its first battle. But he permitted
the politicians to sway him upon military
points, and tho war under his guidance was q
failure
General Mcclellan failed on this point quite
as badly His opportunity came. aud he
suffered II to pass by He was the Atlas on
whose shoulders our world rested in the early
days Of August 1862 Our army was beaten
and in ro',t towards the capital, and the victe-
rious enrmy pushed forward his first invasion.
The President, Cabinet and al, the men at Wash
ington admitted their ltt,eaess and called upon
Mcclellan % save the country. He came Tor
ward and the country, bit an hour before panic
stricken felt at ease Never was man more
completely the one man o. county than he
was then OF this country. lie came forward and,
with q mistaken magnauimisy, took command
of the armv without conditions Had be then
demanded OF the administration such conces-
sious or such notifications in its radical affini
ties a. would have secured perfect freedom for
him in command OF the army--had ne even re-
qurel al entire change in the Cabinet. he could
have had his will But he failed in this and be
was sacrificed for the second time in less than
three months
General Grant stands ia the position that
Scott and Mcclellan have stood in: but the po-
sition Is now enc Of greater Importance and 10
terest. It's interest is intensified By the slaugh-
ters OF the past year aud by the whole progress
that the war has made in that time. He comes
to Washington in the greatest crisis of tho
country's history, and he has to measure
strength with those who lead the political fac
tions-the men who ruined the plans Of his
predecessors He is to be ruled or 10 rule
there is no line between. IL he is swayed az
Scott was or "a Mcclellan was he will be but
another hero lost IL he haa the Intellectual
powet and force TO mosid the fac
tiols elements to his own wil-if he has
the moral courage to force consent to what he
wishes, all will be right His position is. in.
deed. a granier and more significant one thau
any ever occupied by Scott or Mcclellan. He
comes from great victories TO national CAPT
tai torn by opposing interests "a Cesar
| marched towards the Rubicon es Napoleon
went to Paris after the Egyptian expedition.
! and a. Cromwell went TO London before the
I dissolution Of the Parliament
He may find the example Of those men Ia.
| structive No one acquainted With his history
could for momen, suppose General Grant ca
| pable OF any interference with the liberties Of
the country; but he msy equal the achieve.
ments Of those three men aud keep within the
constitution Tie m,y do all the good that
they did and none OF the BARN He will be
forbidden By the radicals % Caesar was, to pls,
u certain lire. behind which they consider
themselves sale But ne must have as little re.
spect for these wretches % Cesar had for those
ia Rome, as Napoleon had for those who ruined
France while ho lived in bis obscure lodgings
ia tho rue victoire, or as Cromwell had for that
Parliament that had no heart to do anything
al