The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-29
The Nomination Of Gen. Mcc'eii""'

The New Jersey democrats yesterday dld
Justice under a sudden impulse OF strong
uncomfortable popular feeling, to great SOL
der of the Union who long ago proved nm,
self like General Hancock, to be stanch ana
loyal citizen of the Union also. AS all that
was worst and most dangerous in the radical
element of the Republican party expressed 1t
self in the open plot for third denomination
of General Grant so all that Is best and OF
most hopeful for the country in the conservative
element of the Democratic party expressed II
self Yesterday in the unlooked-for and enthusi-
astic nomination of General Mcclellan.
The action of the New Jersey Convention
was determined by one of those rare waves OF
feeling which sometimes sweep over public
assemblies, carrying before them all petty pas
sions and small intrigues like chips and drift.
wood No so.ner was the name or General
Mcclellan mentioned than sound of ACCLAIM
alton arose like that which used to greet his
coming along the lines OF that great Army OF
the Potomac which he called into being as Il
disciplined host and fashioned for the saving
of the state. The enthusiasm shown by the
convention undoubtedly prefgures the nature
and the result of the canvass. 1t will be a
canvass of the people and not ofthe politicians
swift, vigorous and victorious. 1t is need
less now to recite the reasons which make the
name of General Mcclellan name to conJure
by not only among the Democrats OF the North
but among patriotic and impartial people in
all parts of the country and of both political
parties. Few men have been more bitterly or
more unscrupulously abused than he, but that,
as Shakespeare says, is not his "defect' lnere
is no longer any question among competent
military critics anywhere as to the ability with
which he organized and handled the first
Great army of the republic, and there has new
er been any question among good citizens OF
the United States of his fidelity to duty and
his patriotic devotion to the institutions OF his
country. The people of the United States un
derstand now the full meaning OF that cam
paign against Richmond which was frustrated
by the nervous anxiety of the Administration
for the safety of Washington and by the parti
san jealousy and schemes Of the Administra
tons worst advisers. The subsequent dlsas
trous campaigns OF Burnside, Hooker, Meadt
and Grant have fully vindicated him; ano
when on the roll of history the achievements
of the great war are fairly set forth not tho
least honorable place will be given to him who
when Pope's forces were broken and scattcrec
like chatf, and the army of Northern Virginia
with Lee at its head, fierce, victorious ano
hopeful, crossed the Potomac, gathered togeth
er the dsorganized masses OF Union troops
fused into a new force by the mere enthusiasm
for his name organized them in the course O
a rapid march, and, confidently tlinging then
against the great Southern leader at Antietam
redressed the national cause at a 'Jw. Tina
deed recalls the transformation wrought by
Wallenstein, restored from exile, when
Into Bavaria like winter torrent
That Gustavus poured"
The nomination of General Mcclellan give
its chief significance to the platform OF tn
convention. 1t is brief and conservative.
Justly denounces the frauds and crimes b.
which Tilden and Hendricks were prevente
from occupying the positions to which the
were chosen by the people, but it mantull
and sensibly accepts the decision of the Ele'
toral Commission as final, and recognizes
therefore, wisely and correctly the Souther
policy of the present Administration as the tr
umph of the Democratic doctrine of local SCI!
government.