ity of private
life. Proffered to a public, pliant, because anxious that its
representatives in the field should have a worthy Commander, by an
Administration eager to repair the disaster of Bull Run,--puffed into
favor by almost the entire press of the country, the day had been when
the loyalty of the citizen was measured by his admiration of General
McClellan.

Never did a military leader assume command so auspiciously. The
resources of a mighty nation were lavishly contributed to the materiel
of his army. Its best blood stood in his ranks. Indulged to an almost
criminal extent by an Administration that in accordance with the wishes
of the masses it represented, bowed at his beck and was overly
solicitous to do his bidding, no wonder that this ordinary mind became
unduly inflated. He could model his army upon the precedents set by the
great Napoleon; he could surround himself by an immense Staff--the
talent of which, however, but poorly represented the vigor of his
army,--for nepotism and favoritism interfered to prevent that, as they
will with common men; drill and discipline could make his army
efficient,--for his subordinates were thorough and competent, and his
men were apt pupils; but he himself could not add to all these the
crowning glories of the field. Every thing was there but genius, that
God-given gift; and that he did not prove to be a Napoleon resulted
alone from a lack of brains.

Now that the glare of the rocket has passed from our sky, and its stick
has fallen quietly enough among the pines of New Jersey, citizens have
opportunity for calm reflection. We are not justified, perhaps, in
attributing to McClellan all the evils and errors that disfigure his
tenure of office. Intellect equal to the position he could not create
for himself, and ninety-nine out of one hundred men of average ability
would not have descended from his balloon-like elevation with any better
grace. It is in the last degree unjust to brand with disloyalty, conduct
that seems to be a result natural enough to incompetency. That upon
certain occasions he may have been used for disloyal purposes by
designing men, may be the consequence of lack of discrimination rather
than of patriotism.

Whatever might have induced his conduct of the war, the nation has
learned a lesson for all time. Generals who had grown grey in honorable
service were rudely set aside for a Commander whose principal merit
consisted in his having published modera