Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-06-14
Why Did the General DO 1t !


Why Did the General DO It!
Ten years ago, when the wires clicked
had opened fire on United States troops
in Sumpter, the pulse of the nation for a
time almost ceased to beat. The fearful
shock was. however, of but a moment 8
duration. The heart of the people of
the North was strong and great enough
for the occasion. and rose with the crisis
A shout of indignation and wrath rolled
from every valley and hillside. and
hushed the arguments in favor of the
Southern cause that had been sophisti-
caIly advanced by certain leaders of the
Democratic party up to this time
From the organization of the rebellion
to the firing on Sumpter leading Demo-
Gratis in this and New York ana other
Northern States, were as busily and as
speedily as they possibly knew how,
engaged in training public opinion in
favor of the Northern States-leavipg
out the New England States-joining the
South in case of Secession. But the pop
ular heart was not debauched. 1t was
strong in public virtue, and instead of
the rebel leaders in the North turning
their adherents in favor of the seeding
South and recognizing the government
wholly in the interest of the South, the
rank and file broke away with groans
and derisive cries, and the leaders skunk
out of sight as helpless as children.
General McCandless was a Democrat
at the time of which we write, but he
did not follow the leaders. He went
with the multitude. Whether it was
patriotism, whether it was love of mill
tary glory-anbition- belief that
the Democratic party had served its mis-
sion, and that the opportune time to leave
it had arrived. prompted him so to do is
not for US to say. Why did the Gen.
eral do itl
All opposition to the crushing of the
rebellion was hushed and silent. Men
volunteered in numbers as they never
had before. General McCandless en-
tered the army too. The war ragged =
Battles were fought, lost aud won, with
the weight of the loss on our side. These
defeats gave the sympathizers an oppor-
tunity to criticise They took it They
criticised and denounced fearfully. These
defeats gave them something to talk
about and find fault with 1t impaired
new life TO them They commenced to
reorganize. They formed ring, extend
ing throughout the Northern States i
Every little mistake that was made in
the management of the army or in the
departments of the government were
magnifed thousand times by the ring,
to destroy confidence and create Gistrust
in The minds of the people against the
government. General McClellan's mis- !
management brought the seven days
disaster, and, as a consequence, the sec
ond defeat at Bull Run and the invasion
of Maryland
These disasters emboldened the old |
leaders of the Democracy. They in
creased their denunciation. Their arts
commenced to tell. Men commenced to
gather to their standard. The cry of
"nigger war was raised. The negro
had been the corner stone of their party |
for years they could not now give him
up. They reorganized their party. They
put their opposition to the war for the
suppression of the rebellion and the negro |
together, and made the combination the
cornerstone of their new organization. and
then raised the cry of "nigger war" and
other kindred cries. Gen. McCandless is
attracted by the cry. He hesitates. He
stops. He steps out of his place in the
army, hands over his sword and says, 81
will fight no longer. This is 'nigger
war; l won't stand it. / belong to the
White Mans Party"
Whether the Generals patriotism was
exhausted, whether his ambition was
blunted, or whether he believed that the
organization that was engaged in crush
ing the rebellion was about to break up,
and the party to which he had belonged
would take its place. is not for us to say.
Why did the General do itl |