Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-20
DEPENDING LINCOLN AND STANTON.
Judge Kelley Attacks Mcclellan for
His Recent Magazine Article.

Interview in MY. Herald.
PHILADELPHIA, May 1S, 1885.
''The real reason of McClellan's failure was
that he played at making war;" said Judge
William ID. Kelley, when seen this afternoon at
his residence In this city For once rumor was
correct, he admitted. He had returned from
Washington, where he had been in search of
official documents and data to prepare a re-
Joinder to Gen. McClellans recent paper on
'The Peninsular Campaign The assaults
upon President Lincoln and Secretary STAN
ton called for vengeance, like Casar's wounds,
and Judge Kelley has the intent to rise in de-
Tense of the dead. "This Century article is
misleading, illogical and malicious a." continued
the congressman: Knowing that Lincoln and
all his cabinet who served with Stanton were
dead; that Sumner, Ben Wade, Henry Wilson,
thought that all who knew the real facts about
ms career from July, 1861, to July, 1862. were
out OF the way. Gen. Mcclellan is mistaken, l
am alive! His statements against the dead
shall not pass unchallenged. AS must be evil
dent to you it would be unwise to outline my
as magazine speech I want to reach the
same class OF readers that the general has ad-
dressed. However severely may speak of Nc
Ciellan must insist that there is no personal
feeling toward him. entertained the kindest
regard for him when he came to Washington in
July, 1861. He was Philadelphian, the son of
one of my most distinguished friends and a
nephew of an intimate acquaintance. He was
bright, clever and had had.the advantages of
war on the peninsula, and he knows t."
What has made you indignant, judge?''
His malice toward Stanton and the Slur indi-
rectly put upon President Lincoln, the most
remarkable man for power of thought and
soundness OF Judgment, with all his roughness
of manner, that this country has produced.
Why, in that article Stanton is branded with
tle most Infamous crime ever laid to the charge
OF human being-nothing less than sacrificing
thousands of men on the peninsula in 1862
because of his bitter personal hatred to McClel-
Ian. But the writer of that indictment fails to
otter any testimony to establish the fact of such
enmity, or to supply any motive for its exist
ence. we are asked to credit the story that a
man OF Stanton's caliber and attained promf-
nence was devoting his entire time to thwart-
ing the purposes of young officer who never
by any possibility could be his rival Stanton s
career was completed before McClellans began.
He was lawyer of national reputation. He
had served in Mr.. Buchanans cabinet. He had
argue here"
"Wel then, how about Lincoln?'
"Ihe SANDER by inuendo is that Lincoln was
mere putty in Stanton's hands. That is the
sheerest nonsense. 1t Is reflection on the
men about Lincoln to say that he was easily first
shall devote myself CALAMITY to this young
Napoleon and shall accept battle in the posi-
ton be has himself assumed. He is very care
less about his dates. Observe how he mikes up
things on page 139. Stanton was not made
Secretary until more than six months after
Mcclellan came to Washington on July 20,
1861. Yet the impression Il conveyed that
they arrived at the same time.
"W hat do you think of the opening sentence
In the second paragraph in the article?" was
asked.
What does Rosecraus Think" retorted
Judge Kelley. HE must have been savage
when he read that. Everybody knows that he
not Mcclellan, planned the West Virginia cam
paign, and carried it to success. That is Gen.
He can settle that with old 'Rosey,' and the
latter Is no s!ouch in scrape of that kind"