New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-15
seCLELLAN's x.::a:.soN At "EHF
POINT.


Perhaps the maxim Of the Romans M '@5r-
hrs, nisi 5orgn'--nought should be said og the
dead but gcod-apples also 10 this performance,
which wGs in the nature Of funeral omt-on.
Sueh productions should usually be lightly
visited by criticism, and especially SO when the
dead bury their dead, as was the case with Gen.
Mcclellan q, West Point; but whom what should
have been dedcstory address IS made at once a
vehicle Of injustice to the dead il should common
orate, and an attack upon the living with whom Il
has nothing to do, the author has no longer claim
to tho forbeerence OF the publichas forfeited the
projection Of the sanctuary whose altar hehes pro-
famed and his address is q liable TO be dealt with
aud examined as any Of his public acts.
We have taken a. the authorized version Of Con.
McClellan's address ct We-l Point the ono pub
lisbed in Tie Aymg and Nary journal, lest in-
iustice might be done to the author because Of the
mistakes Of the reporter.
Nov, We know before that Gen. McClelhn's
strong points we're neither military activity during
attack, nor writing good English, and should have
made no remark upon the construction OF his SEN
tences, having much more important matters than
his style TO look after, had not Tho Rerad aud
other Opposition journals, in articles Of folsome
eulogy Of the West Point Grafton, compared il to
the sublimest periods Of Perieles. the equal OF
Everett in his most mastery oratorical concep-
TONS" carrying us back TO those times when ora
tors were deudgods."
II is supposed that Peric'es spoke and wrote the
Greek language correctly. Everett certainly writes
accurate and elegant English. We are not init
mately acquainted with the requirements Of the
demisods' in grammar, but "non Del, non
hoas incs," "neithcr Gods nor men" can tolerate
such sentences as these Of MeClellans. "Alas' our
nation possesses few sucl sons like true John Sedg
wick" "What have you there, my good woman r.
"Iomatuses, Sir snd sicb like" Or this. For
there were many VI them who meHted a. proud
distinction as that accorded 20 tho first Grenndier
Of France, OF to that Other Russian soldier Who
gave his life for his comrade.'
John, how many Gre there In your class At
school ?" "ony another little pirl and mo. Sir
Or this. Young BayaId, SO ike the most re-
nowncd Of his name, that kriyh abore far and
a5ore reproael, was cut of too early from his
county" The motto Of the Bayard was: Sans
feur ct sans reDrOe,s' lsiti0ul fear and icitAoW
reproacb," not above fear and reproach. That
would imply want Of that temptation which the
Bayards virtue had WithstoOd. When Shakespeare
describes old age as sans eyes, iaas teeth, sans
everything" the poet does not mean that old age Is
aJore eyes, ADORE teeth ana all ese that is vigorous
in manhood. Viii the denigod make a note Of
thisl
Let US, however, examine matters OF gTaver im-
port than the construction OF these Pcrclean
sentences.
II was 10 be hoped that such On occasion and such
a place might have been spared either the exlubi-
ton Of political partsanship, personal spleen or val.
gar filings ct the officers Of the Volunteer army But
the demigcd" orator has rot so chosen.
Wo aIe told, as 10 the cause of the war " that
extremists Of one section furnished the occasion,
eagerly seized as PreteGt by equally extreme men
in tie other, FOX abandoning the pacific remedies
and protection afforded By the Constitution, aud
seeking redress for possible future evils in war and
the destruction Of the Union"
l. this true Did the extremists Of our section
furnish the occasion for the destruction of the
Union If 30, what vas the occasion 50 furnished
The orator himself, in the next paragraph, tells
rs what was the " occasion "aHd What the cause
of the war. stripped OF ell sophistry and side
issues. the direct cause of the war, as il presented
itself to the homes, and patriotic eiiizons Of the
North, WIS simply this: Certain States or rather
portion Of the inhabitants Of certain States, feared
or profesed to fear that injury would result TO their
rights and property from the elevation OF pari!cu-
lar party to power. Although the Constitution and
the actual condition Of the Government provided
them with peaeesble and sure protection against
the spprehended evil they preferred TO sees security
In the destruction CT tho Government which could
protect them, and 10 the use Of force against the
national troops holding ne'ional fortress. To
sfsee the national insult Offered our flag 20 save
ourselves from the fste of the divided Republics Of
Italy and South America: 70 preserve orr Govern
usas from de;.g-eiisD, " enforce ia iust power