The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-29
yailp argus.
DEMOCRATIC ESTIMATES oE NIB. STAN
TONS CHARACTER,

that at least one hatt oil the people Oh the
country entertained, and would express sen
timents similar to ours on the occasion,
We make few extracts from leading Dem
ocratic journals indicating the estimate
placed upon Mr. Stsnton's character.
The New York World, honestly regard
ing Mr.. Stanton as essentially bad man
and directly responsible for much public
mischief and private injustice, sees nothing
in the fact of his death to prevent fair,
though unfavorable, estimate Of his charac'
ter as a public man, and justly says;
"Mr. Stanton's death makes him neither
better nor worse. Except with very shall
low or very sentimental people, it will weigh
nothing in any estimate Of his character.
All men die; and if death condoned crimes
and transformed faults into virtues, all char
acter would be levelIed and oil moral dis
t;nctions COMPOUNDED. But beside an an.
closed grave, sentiment Of humanity and
a sense of our common frsilty, incline men
To be jndulpsnt to the errors Of the departed,
and to allow something more than theH
reasonable weight to circumstances OF eR'
tenuation.'
In another portion Of the same article,
the editor Of the World gives this estimate
of the late Seeretsry's character, which may
be demurred to by Mr.. Stsnton's admlres,
though the facts upon which it is based can
not be succeefulIy gainssyed
"At the outbreak of the war he was
nrp fAalt
then prevailing in Washington, and his be-
ing one Of those impressbIe natures that
act as they are acted upon. After the Sc
cessionists at the national capital wers ex
pslled or sileuced, and General Mcclellan
became the idol OF the hour, Mr.. stanton,
again fashioned by his surroundings, be
came an ardent McClellanite, habituaIly
visiting that generals headquarters, and
fgurlng as the most demonstrauve of his
d4tterers. The consequence was, that when
Mr. Cameron was compelled to retire from
the War Department, Mr.. Stanton, with
General McCitan's warm assent, was made
Secretary. McCIellsn's popularity in Wash
ington was then already on the wane, and
ia PROMOTION as the ide turned against him,
the new Secretary Of War, still serving as q
thermometer to the surrounding atmosphere,
became the enemr of Mcclellan and plot ed
his ruin, Mr Stsnton's power did not con
sis, in the conscious superiority OF his own
judgement, but in the direction Of the strong
current. In an era of passion and excite
ment. be was borne upon the foremost wave,
and dId strong things because he felt sure
of strong backing. He was popular with
impulsiye, aggressive men, because, possess.
ing more intellect than the average OF such
men. and going beyond them in head long
zeal, he seemed an enlarged image Of them.
selves. Daring his whole career, be
mover originated an ides which even
the Radicals accepted be was, throughout,
their echo, their creature, their tool 10
whstever pitch the reiFniug excitement
might rise, 1t always found in HIM an
instrument forward to do its bidding.
When the howl against jeff. Davis was
loudest Stanton charged him With compile
ity 10 the assassination. When the Repub'
hcans in Washington fell into sudden
rage over the news Of General Sbermsn's
negotiation, Stanton published him as o
traitor. In furtherance Of q popular demand
for vengeance, he offered such rewards IS
secured the capture of jeff. Davis. when his
escape from the country would have been
the best thing that could have happened
How little steadness his own intellectual
conclusions could communicate &c his con
duet, is illustrated By his arguing in the
Cabinet apains; the coustltutouality Of the
Tenure of Office bill and supplying the
points for Johnson's veto of it, and then
Welding to the breath of Congress and
standing foremost in the fight against the
President on this very question,
when Mr. Stau.on's character ID viewed
in its true light, ne will be regarded as the
most faithful personal embodiment Of the
passionate aud indicative spirit Of the pc
Rod in which he acted
The St. Louis RepubIicaa, in its an
nouncement Of the death of Mr.. Stanton
said
at cannot be doubted ths. very large
portion of the American people will acce pt
this dspensatlon ia the light Of a direct
Pr0vidental interference in behalf OF the
cause of truth and justice as declaration
from the highest authority, cOuched IN Ian
guage whose force all can understand and
appreciate, that no man shall perststenty
violate the eternal principles of right, what
ever may be the excuse TOR TO doing, with.
out drawing upon himself, sooner or later,
fall measure of divine retribuuOn. II ls
eminenty fitting that one whose sole title to
remembrance is based upon bold disregard
for liberty aud law, aud who WAS about to
carry his despotic ideas into that tribunal
where freedom in its spirit and essence
ought TO receive the most Jealous guardian
ship aud strongest protection, should thus
be summoned 10 bar from whose decision
ther- is no appeal, and where the accused
and the accusers stand upon common
level before the Maker ana Judge Of all.
1--WE have no disposition now to eommen
upon the official acts of Mr. Stanton--the,
are part of the nations history, which
olght, if possible, to lapse into oblivion, oil
live only as warning example to presen
and future generations
The Chicago Times felt itself restrained
by the commemoration festivities Of Christ
mas, to be more lenient toward Mr.. Stanton
than it otherwise would have been, yet
said Of him:
"As secretary Of war be had friends t
reward and enemies 10 punish. He was nc
always true TO the former, and was vindit
tive and insoent when in pursuit Of the la
ter. He Was chiefly responsible for th
system of arbitrary arrests and lmprisoI
nent, which placed the liberty Of every q
iZen at the dispose! OF some bali do2e
persons in Washington, and denied all Iav
full means of redress. When Stanton
treachery 20 Mcclellan is remem bered, al
the disastrous results 1t brought upon Il
country, i, is hard to imagine how seer
- boap NJ