Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-06-14
CUSTER ON McCLELLAN.

IL seems that Clusters greatest sin IL
not his evidence showing that he made
known tho traffic In post-traderships
TO the Government four years ago
That TO be sure was bad enough, md
his making known tho fact after Bel
knaps detection was worse. His OK
posure ofthcpoltico-military scoundrcl
Merrill was also serious sin in the
eyes Of oil good Republicans but in
his last number Of "War Memoirs" in
the Galaxy he has done the unuttera.
BILE thing. Hc has deliberately gone to
work and praised General Mcclellan
for tho organization and discipline of
the army Of the Potomac, and has
furthermore stated il as his opinion
that Mcclellan was soldier "whoso
"mental training and abilities were Of
"a higher order, and whose ..iltary
qualifications and knowledge were
superior to those possessed by any
"oficcrwho subsequently led the Army
"of the Potomac TO battle" Taking
into account the fact that Grant was
one Of those who subsequently led that
army to battle, il is plain that Custer
considers the man.who emerged from
the war as lis hero, inferior 10 him
who has been held up as It's great mill
tary failure. His opinion on that point
will not be deemed 80 singular as II
would have been several years ago.
People are beginning TO take q com.
prehensive view Of the events Of the
war, and Grants campaign against
Richmond, with his immense prcpon.
derancc of force, his absolute power
and the hearty cooperation of the Ad-
ministration, though finally successful,
will hardly stand comparison with Nc.
Clellan's campaign in 1862. Custer
says that although Mcclellan lacked
experience in large commands which
those who followed him possessed, yet
he was so nobly endowed by nature
and education as leader, that he
would have put down the rebellion
without difficulty, il nothing had op.
posed him but the Confederate armies
In his front. Speaking on his honor
as soldier the writer bluntly adds:
"The defeat Of Mcclellan was not
the result Of combinations made either
in the Confederate capital or in the
camp Of the Confederate army, but in
Washington. II was the result of an
opposition whose birth and outgrowth
could be traced to the dominating
spirits who, at that time, were largely
in control of the Federal Government.
IL was not the open opposition Of en-.
cmies in his front, but the halfhiddcn
interference OF foes in his rear, that
succeeded in marring the complete
success of McClellan's combination for
the suppression of the rebellion.
Gen. Custer gives instances from his
own experience, to prove the truth Of
this statement, and in recalling the in.
trigues OF that time many will be in.
clined 10 put faith IN his facts and the
inferenccs which he draws from them.
II is strange at this day 10 hear one Of
the popular soldiers of the war re-echo
so clearly Che bitter charge which Me
Clellan himself made from Savage
Station fourteen years ago, to Stanton:
"If ! save this army now, tell you
"plainly that owe no thanks 70 you
cor to any other person in Washington.
"You have done your best to sacrifice
"this army" After wc have attained
success we are apt to be contented with
the grand result, and seldom stop to
reckon what II has cost us, or whether
it might not be attained by wiser and
cheaper methods. There were many
crimes and errors committed in the
conduct Of the war, but at q time when
the people are suffering from its finan.
cial burdens, and begin to realize that
the department Of the Government
which was thought to have been most
ably conducted adopted policy which
threatens us with ruin, Clusters asser-
tion that things might have been much
better If Mcclellan had not been over.
thrown, will be read with keen interest.
Equally well satisfied am that be
could have suppressed the rebellion, re-
stored peace to the country and brought
back the secceding States in such time
and manner as would have shortened
the struggle, saved TO the country,
both North and South, the blood Of
thousands Of its best and bravcst citi.
zcns, and spared the nation large, If
not the greater portion Of the heavy
debt now borne as one of the inherit
anccs Of the war;
But IL Mcclellan had succeeded in
putting down tho rebellion, he would
have been elected President, as his
enemies well knew, and the Republi.
can party would have gone to destruc.
tion, and we should have no carpet
baggers, no Credit Mobilier, no Butler.
ism, no Grantism, no Tweedism, no
Belknappcry-none of those things
that now exalt and embellish our civil
service. Risma. twas fated.-- World
INFL UENCE OF SURROUND.
INGS.