The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-13
MCCLELLAN ON mONTCALM.


Great warriors, after their retirement, volun-
tary or involuntary, from the field of action,
have carried on private campaigns against Time
in various ways. The Emperor Charles made
watches the Emperor Napoleon made histories
General Mcclellan makes speeches from tavern
windows. Belisarlus asked for an oboe. Gene
Ial George says, "Lend me your ears !" after he
has been treated to reyerental music from ador-
ing brass bands. He takes advantage Of the
willingness Of the American people to listen to o
speech at any time and from anybody, and when
ever the crowd says "Fire !" he discharges him
self with promptitude if not with decision.
We do not know that there is any harm in this
amusement, except that it fills up the news
papers, which have small space TO spare, and
exposes the General to criticism, of which We
should think lie had already a stomach fell
Now, if General George, in his fine speeches,
could he persuaded to cOnfine himself 20 those
gentle genoralities, which are always safe-if he
would but tell the crowd that lie is enrsptured to
see it-that the honor is uneNpectod-that it Is
the proudest moment of his life--that such kind
ness oYerpowers him-that he lacks words
TO express his grstitude-that while memory
holds her seat this hour shall never be forgotten
why, he might then return to his virtuous
sheets, with the pleasing consciousness of having
been safely scrcnaded, and he might open the
morning newspaper without fear and trembling.
If General Mcclellan, when relieved from the
tolls Of Sctual warfare had but followed the en-
4. ample Of Uncle TOby-if he had bought q ten-
acre lot and large invoice of shovols-if he had
proceeded to dig in the aforesaid field ell manner
of bitches, and clay some of the finest sieges to
some OF tho finest ioriided cities" in America
there is no computing how many astonishing
victories he might have won. Instead Of enter
ing this field Of economical glory, and capturing
Richmond, TO the delight of all his ncighb0rs, he
eDgat eS a squire, who does not turn out TO be at
all trustworthy, and starts out upon rhetorical
campaign.
Having just captured West Point, IN ereech
long, brilliant, aud bemuddled, we find him at
Lake George, attacking "the ruined rampsJts Ct
William Hemy.' Aud here, We are pained TO
notice, he came to grief from the fact that his
ammunition was 80 hastily aud cAro.es'ly pre-
pared. lie had hcen Informed that the brass
band and the citizens would visit him at midi
night, and that shOrt orstiGn would DC expected.
lie had fair warning that he was tn be attacked,
ard that he must say something pretty and APP
prOpiiatc 10 the rei2hAOrhoOd Of Lake George
and the ruins of Fort William Henry" The
emergency was fIishlful, and the General rushed
for his gulde-book, and there read that after tht
capture of the fort by Montcalu some OF the
English garr were massacrcd by he lndlns
of Tie French army. Whereupon our pcrp nc tic
commander takes it for granted that hc inaSsa-
ere was permitted by MontCalm, and frames his
speech accordingly thus;-
"Aitsr Gallant coirnao of he rilei rmpafs OF
Nihi Henry the boot Of your rraud iCs moi 'tenCd
tie NtEy .rourd on "hcL sou nov st'na, ou,a.fy
Tcfmhi'd ny toe sp thy OF MuTtclr1 1.-TWO rs
ateTV a'ts - iycc Dr IL crimes IN u rr.a battle idcr
the wells Qucoe who're othets of our aatstors boTc
tnosi "a, rst', yer o.,
Which was appropriate. And plths't.. Aud
neat. 2 nd rlc,ty. Only, uuOTttn1 cly, u hap
penCd a. be un'rue. An indignant writer in the
ChicsFO Tribune shows cOnriusNaly that the
mas -aUg tul K place after the Indians had heeu
furnished ith Intoxicating drinks by thy Eng
lisb, SLd that MCntcalm did everything IN his
power, and even TiSked his own life to prevent Il
-as GeLerGl Mcclellan would have found out, if
he had consulted Bancroft instead Of the guide
book.
No blunder for a soldier, could be more unfor-
tunate for 10 man has better military charac-
ter In history than Montcalm. BY the general
admission even OF his foes, he was not only brave
but chiyalrous; and any sehoOl-boy could have
told General Mcclellan that the Frcnch COM
maDdCr was the very last man In the world 90
permit the slaughter OF his prisoners Of war. His
bravery and his misfOrtunes should certainly
have saved him from this insult offered 20 his
memory by one who himself claims 70 DO a SOL
-sdier.
SO much for the display at the Fort William
Henry Hotel There is one part of soldierly
conduct which General Mcclellan, IL is evident,
has yet 10 learn. A general may be unjustly
treated by his Government; he may, without
good cause, be deprived of his command; he may
feel his real or supposed injuries keenly; but
under any circumstances, II he possesses the
chivalrous instincts OF thorough soldier, he will
not make merchandise OF his nnsfOrtunes nor
trade for popularity upon the capital OF his die
grace. No really gallant man, however he may
have been wounded, will make show OF himself
and OF his wounds.
He win feel that, if his countrymsn want him,
they will know where 10 nnd him, and he will
understand the value OF popularity which seek
he at least ought 10 understand how much i'm
portance Is TO be attached 20 TO the huzzas of ex
temporaneous gatherings. Any lion is better
than no lion at all and many disting ngulshed
donkey has been serenaded by less distinguished
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