The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-06-28
Fremont.

There is classic adage that enjoins
us to speak tenderly of the dead. I'm
der its generous shield the late Gen.
John G. Fremont for he is General no
longer might claim exemption from
criticism. Had he consented to die
gracefully; instead of wasting his last
breath in hurting curses and maledic-
tions upon his benefactors, we might
consent to let him pass quietly to that
oblivion to which his folly consigns
him. But he will not allow us to let
him go without indicting his epitaph.
His letter of acceptance of the NOM
ination for Presidency by the Cleve-
land Convention, effectually dissipates
the hopes Of those who thought that
he might have the good sense, if not
the patriotism, to decline the indecent
prpffer. But they gave him too much
credit. This document shows him to
be animated by but one purpose-to
have, apparently, but one end and aim
in ife-revenge upon the President.
1t exhibits him as the incarnation of all
that is unscrupulous and vindictive-as
caring more to redress his personal
grievances than to preserve his country
and preserve his own gyod name--as,
in short, mere soldier of fortune, who
will embark in any cause and train un-
der any flag that his whims or interests
may dictate. 1t presents him before
the world as the leader Of depraved
faction made up of fanatics and adven-
turers, whose only creed is revenge for
imaginary wrong, and whose only mis-
sion is to make war upon the friends.
and give aid and comfort to the foes of
the Union. ri. la1 Hr7- laa {
This letter reveals degree Of moral
obliquity in the Pathfinder" which
even his worst enemies have not sus-
pected him to possess. They believed
him at least honest in his visionary pre-
tentions, and sincere in his professions
of extreme Jacobinical views. But
here we find him brazonly repudiating
his radical notions, recanting his radi-
cal creed, and mumbling with blatant
voice the Copperhead ritual. We find
him outargusing the Argus in melodi-
Gus twdadle about constitutional safe
guards" and outhowling the New York
World invectives against the "arbitra-
ry' and "despotic" course Of the Gov
ernment He has even the assurance
to lecture it for abridging the ''freedom
of the Press and co4iscating the
property of Rebels! And yet this
same late Gen. John @. Fremont, while
commander of the Department of Mis-
souri,, "suppressed' loyal journal for
venturing to mint that some Of his sub
ordinates wers speculating, and syste-
matically arrested criticism on the con-
duct of the administration in general,
and the conduct of the thieves and adj
venturers by whom he was surrouoded,
with the strong hand. AS to '.confis.
cation," why he is the father of it. His
march through Missouri was a carnival
of rapine, pillage and plunder. a.f
Mr.. Fremont makes bold bid for
the Democratic support. He hopes,
that by "cuddling under the same dir
ty bed-clothes" with Fernando Wood
and James Brooks, he may induce them
to admit him to permanent political
iShoW siiiH' l1ut uc Is uOOIilcu I'd us
appointment. They will use him as
tool, and when they are done with him,
will cast him off with disgust and con-
tempt. They dispise him now as much
as they did before he came over to their
camp; and although they affect to vel
come him with open arms as an impor-
tant accession to their ranks, they will
disown him the moment he ceases to
be useful to them.
The apostacy of Fremont will prove
a source Of Disappointment TO many
For ourselves, We have for some time
regarded him as pretender in states
manship and humbug in war. Social
ly, an aristocrat; shallow, pretentious,
conceitcd; a man of reckless ambition,
but without the mental stamina to a.
chieve great results; the patron of ad-
ventures, the idol of, fanatics on the one
one hand and desperadoes on the other;
he has proved the hugest bubble Of the
war. It is high time the bubble had
been burst.-[Alb. Journal. bec pro