Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-05-27

Our people must not be too sanguine
of success in the great struggle now go
ing on in Virginia. Our great error in
the past has been that we have not for
titled our minds and been prepared to
meet the possible emergency of defeat in
battle. We have been given too much
to hero worship. Early in the war we
built great military chief of the COM
bined' qualities of Caesar, Alexander,
Frederick, Napoleon and the iron Duke,
out of very ordinary material. The man
was untried and inexperienced, and yet
upon the recommendation OF camp fol-
lowers we lifted up our eyes and gazed
upon his form rs though it had been
fashioned by the hand of Providence,
for the special purpose of securing to our
arms certain and inevitable victory
The people We're never justified in be-
leiving Mcclellan the great American
Napoleon he was represented, but hay
ing looked for an idol, fell down and
worshipped Little Mae who not be-
ing able to stand up against great temp
tation and finding himself worshipped as
few men have been in this country
looked from the craggy heights on the
mass below, became giddy, his brain
reeled, and he fell into the belief that
he was greater man than he really was.
The people kindly treated, government
officers nursed him, but having found a
God, they one and all expected things
supernatural, and when they came not
the people murmured. Then came
Burnside, and then Hooker, followed by
Meade, each worshipped in turn, until
Nicksburg turned the peoples brain, and
Grant was lifted up. We have faith in
Grant-we had just as much in Hooker
and Burnside. Each in his sphere had
been successful, and we had good reason
to confide in him. But our great fault
is to everest mate the greatness of our
great men. We expect them to do much
in the least possible space of time. And
go it is now that many are becoming
FESTIVE and solicitous about Grants ar
my. They forget that he confronts
formidable army, fighting upon its
chosen fields, secured by Notifications.
They forget that offensive operations
are far more difficult to prosecute than
defensive. Grant is but a man, whose
breath cannot scatter TO the winds his
enemy. 1t is with the people to say
whether he shall be successful and be-
fore the close of his present campaign
destroy Lees army. Even they cannot
do ii iii one days battle: There must
be strong, persistent effort-we must
pound and hammer away and if we can
DO the most and longest pounding we
shall be successful. Men of Iowa, rise
from your knees, and cease your man
worshipping. Look upon your great
hero as fallible and mortal, and as de
pendentupon you in part for his success.
You cannot conquer the rebel legions by
crying out, "Great is Grant of the Re-
public You cannot subdue the rebel
lion by running with hot haste TO the
bulletin for the latest intelligence from
the scene of conflict. Grant wants men
more than he wants CUR praise. With
these and these only can your hopes Of
victory be realized. DON'T get upon the
corner or at the newsstand and mourn
fully wonder why Lee is not annihilated
and Richmond captured. Don't spin
q out your breath to an immeasurab bic
length, as though your faith in success
was expiring. Success follows strong
persistent effort. Iowa can do much
more than she has done. The 10, 009
men promised have not been given. Tt
may be that they are not to be had. Let
Us do what we CANAL we can-and re-
tain our faith i'll our capacity to crush
the enemies OF that Great Republic ded-
icsted to the naiienable rights Of man
in the days that are written with blood
III history.
81