The Washington herald., 1914-09-08

Fifty years ago today Gen. George 3.
Mcclellan was formally notified of his
nomination for the Presidency. by the
Democratic convention at Chicago. on
August 81. He accepted the nomination
in a letter repudiating the platform on
which he had been nominated. that de-
Clared the war a failure.
Gen Mcclellan was going before the
country on his record as A soldier. and
as a martyr to political intrigue and ad-
ministrative ineffiiciency. who. had he
not suffered from the 'damnable inter
ference" OF Lincoln-in the words Of
one OF his ardent supporters-might be-
fore that time have ended the war
Gen. Mcclellan believed he could end
the war II made President. To become
President he must have the soldier vote.
and poor appeal to the soldier who had
bled for the Union was a declaration
that the war was a failure. Gen Nc
ClelIan had sagaCiously weighed the ele-
ments in the political situation before
him. and had decided that as between
the soldier and the Peace Democrats
who had dictated the Chicago platform.
he could with the greatest safety, and
with the easier conscience, throw over
board the latter.
In this Gen. Mcclellan showed political
acumen. in a situation which at best was
not promising. Since his nomination
news had been received that the Federals
had completed their grasp upon Mobile
by the capture of Fort Morgan. at the
entrance of the bay-which FaTragut had
passed with his fleet August sand by the
capture OF Atlanta by Sherman. These
were concrete evidence that the tide had
turned in the war. and the end was
measurably near; indeed, 1t might come
before the election, should Petersburg
fall
Under these circumstances a campaign
waged on the declaration that the war
was a failure could not lead to success.
II could not look in the face of my
gallant comrades of the army and the
navy" wrote Gen. Mcclellan, who have
survived so many bloody battles. and tell
them that their labors and the sacri-
flee of so many of our slain and wounded
brethren had been in vain"
This was a strong appeal to the SOL
der The remainder of the letter pre-
sented with Clearness Gen. Mcclellan as
a strong Union man. but one who saw
no hope of saving the Union through the
administration of President Lincoln.
To Rnn on His Record
Gen. Mcclellan. although repudIatinG
the plvoted plank in his party's platform,
thus appealed to the soldiers who wsre
fighting or had fought for the Union.
and also IN q way " lle CdIt LStlhO-
Gratis. As a political document his letter
of acceptance could scarcely have been
bettered in the premises.
His letter was addressed to the mem
bers of the National Committee who
notified him, at his residence in Thirty
fifth street, New York, OF his nomina-
ton.
1T is unnecessary for me to say 10
YOU that this nomination comes to me
unsousht." he began, continuing:
II am happy to know that when the
nomination was made the record Of my
life was kept in view.
The effect of long and varied service
in the army during war and peace has
been to strengthen and make indelible
in my mind and heart the love and rev.
erence for the Union, Constitution, laws
and nag Of our country, impressed upon
me in early youth.
These feelings have thus far guided