The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-09-01
Eulopy on Surgeon Stanton.

The celebrated wit, Hon. j. PROCTOR
KNOTT, of Kentucky, has been making
speech descriptive of Radical can
didate in that State, which was surely
intended for our DIR. STANToN-the
hero who never saw service-who is
now the Radical candidate for Auditor
General of Pennsylvania. We there.
fore correct some extracts from the
speech to suit the case of DIR. STANTON,
as will be found below. Our reason for
being so particular in giving the public
some information in regard to the his.
tory of the Radical candidate, is that
his supporters refuse to do 1t. The
public want light, and light they shall
have:
What deeds of prowess DR.. Stanton
| might have won upon tho CORY field,
what hecatombs of slaughtered rebels
| might have gone down beneath the
biting edge of his trenchant blade, had
he ever succeeded in meeting his coun-
try's foes "upon the perilous ridge of
| battle" the pen of history will never
tell, for ere he had an opportunity to
quench his blazing brain In the blood of
martial glory to the more arduous du-
ties of contract Surgeon. Now we
much needed his services In the hospit-
al. am willing to admit that there
was not another doctor in all the length
and breadth of the Commonwealth,
from Point Breeze to Erie who was Ca
pable of discharging tho distinguished
| functions of contract Surgeon, yet l can.
not but deplore the inexorable necessi-
| ty which compelled him to quit the
tented field and bid farewell forever to
"all the pomp and circumstances of glo.
rious war;" In fact l consider the ah-
sence of DIR. Stanton from the army as
| the direst calamity that could have be-
fallen our beloved country under the
circumstances, for / am satisfied that
had the Confederate leaders been con-
vinced that there was no other means
of escaping direct conflict with DR..
Stanton upon the open field, they would
have laid down their arms at once.
But when Lee, johnson, and Beaure-
gard ascertained that he was not with
the Federal forces they plucked up
fresh courage and determined to prose.
cute the war to the bitter end.
1t can. however, be said of DIR. STAN
ton, as it can of but few military heroes
ofequal prowcss and renown, that when
his tear dimmed eye rested upon the
war.worn forms of our soldiers, he had
the proud satisfaction of knowing that
he never led them into danger in his
life. But while could dwell forever
with increasing raptures upon this de-
lightful theme, could not withhold q
fitting tribute to his equally brilliant
and extraordinary career as u politi'
clan. Endowed by nature with a ge.
MUS capable of embracing in single
grasp every theory of governmental
science, his public life has been per-
feet political kaleidoscope, exhibiting
every conceivable variety of combina
tion, every principle and tenet of every
party that las had an existence on the
continent, except the Democratic party
from the hour of his birth to the present
moment. Far back in the days of hi
college youth he was a more brilliant
excmplification of the old line Whis
party that either the godlike Webster
or the immortal Clay. In 1856 the in
strument revolved, and behold all thu
resplendent glories of KnowNothing
ism in all the gorgeous sheen ofa thous
and glittering spangles. In 1850 1t re
volved again and 10 the simple bu
disunionists found in him noisy friend
the dim outline of the Radical party
fell feebly upon his vision. In 1868 oc
Cured another revolution of the pro
team table, and there were all the mul
tiplied horrors of Radicalism in all thu
intricate maZe5 of chaotic confusion
What shall appear when it shall make
another revolution is beyond the pow
er of my feeble imagination to conceive
Perhaps the instrument will explode
Ikea tremendous meteoric corruScatiOn
when millions of many cOlOred spark
will linger moment on the midnigh
sky, and then leave the universe in to
3 tai and eternal darkness.
, That DR.. STANTON ever meant to xii
, even rebel, nobody asserts, and
would be difficult to prove that he eve
| cured any body. His main busines
was that of a contractor and loplolly
The title of Colonel which the Republi
can papers bestOw on him, was derive
, merely from the fact that he drew tn
r pay of Colonel as compensation fo
, his services as medical contractor
| Quakers need not fear to vote for hir
, on account of his military title for h
never performed military services
, While MCCANDLEs was battering ava
| in all the severe engagements of tn
t Pennsylvania Reserves, STANTON MOI
wisely kept at safe distance in an Obi
: hospital. Though there were no daI
gerous rebels there good living VIZ
| plenty, and shouting loyalty there WI
i, a much lovelier business than tightin
{ rebels at Gettysburg. But the rest
the history of DR.. STANTON must be r
g served for future occasion.