Excerpt from McClellan From Ball's Bluff to Antietam

In matters of adoration, the zealot relies blindly on the theme; he disdains to argue except with those ardent 1n his own persuasion, and sternly represses all inclination to investigate, as an unpardonable imputation on his faith So far from reasoning, therefore, he will not even read, and locking up what intellect he has, he, with a stubborn loyalty, regards as enemies all who would question his opinions. It is the old phenomenon repeated, of doc gged ignorance struggling against revelation; and thus the world wears along, progressing only inch by inch, ove1° the obstacles of its own passions, and placing itself, through its ready partialities and prejudices, completely at the mercy of every schemer who understands the keys.

We fancy that one of these singular infatuations is prevailing now. Our society, struck from its balance, disturbed in its ideas, bewildered by its dan ger, and almost discouraged by the absence'of all genius from its counsels, has followed the instincts which belong to ignorance, and, in an unlucky moment, anchored its hopes upon an unknown leader, on the bare warrant of his own pretensions. The careless observer, while studying the man, might permit himself, through a love of country, to rejoice at 'the weaknesses of character which seem guarantees against a dangerous ambition; but in these defects, and in that want of promptitude and courage which result 111 imbecility, lie the concentration of all danger. The crafty and unprincipled may easily pos sess a weak man; and once he has lent himself to oblique counsels, the very best qualities that he possesses those qualities that express faithfulness to friendship and loyalty to personal alliances, are made the auxiliaries of the darkest schemes.

The field for the analysis 13 clear. There were no special obstructions in mcclellan' s path to glory. Everybody contributed their aid' to make him a' great man. The President lifted him to the most dazzling authority in the nation; the universal vo1ce accorded him the qualities of Caesar; a lavish country placed incomparable and astounding legions in his hands, and the whole world looked on to see this child of genius, launch his quintupled thunders upon his meagre and cowering game.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.