The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-07 00:00:00

Vl,' ,vroegigi.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Advertisements intended for " The Express," London Evening
, mint be at the Office, 10, Bouverie-street, by Two
VIKk on the day of publication.

DIN RY LANE,
TEE; EVENING, THE LADY OF LYONS. Mr. Walter Mont,
ry and Alba Helen Fanelt..—And KATHEEINE AND PE-
CrICHIO. Mr. T. Swinbourne, Mr. J. Robins, and Mia Isabel
Adams.

ILAYMARA.ET.
THES SWiliod, A GAME Or SPECULATION. Meuse. C.
Mathews, Chippendale, Rogers, drc. ; Mesdames Intwilllani, Laws,
ae. —ANON I, AND CLEOPATRA. Mews. C. Mathews, Comp-
ton, &c. ; T
Mesdames Mathews & ESL —SHOCKLIIG EVENTS.

FEJISCIUSSIi.
TEm liinnto. HAMLET BUDGE. Mesas. S. Calbsen.
F. Villiers, J. O. shore, &c. litrs. John Wood. Misses Augusta
Thomson and Katherine Rodgers, lira. H. Vining, and Ars. C.
Iforinuin.—preceded by THE MISTRESS OF THE MILL

lAIXII/L
Tin BZUTUB AND COAL /Air Henrade.—And
Tin LONG STRULL Wawa Lowry, Wkidloomb, Lanai, Fits-
gatrick. itainoicla, and Moreland; Diu Hears& —Cuncludlng
with TWEIMILISTON'S TAIL COAT.—Commence at 7.

STRAND.
Tne rnorria, NEIGHBOURS. Mess► Parselle, Belford,
sad Rural Radiuses Svanborongh, Johnstone. and Hushes.
—PE YRIGSCHUTZ; 01, A GOOD CAST FOR A MOE.
--And BOOTS AT THE SWAN.

HOLBORN.
THIS Smolt°, at 7, FAMILY JARS. Mr. Sefton Parry and
Miss C. saanders.—And FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville, Del-
more, Blake, Yoßaire, de. ; Mesdames F. Josephs, C. Saunders,
Benda Foote, klddes, Lennox, Raymond, Ac.

BRITANNIA.
nos Ervgnio, LAURETTE'S BRIDAL: OR, MORE THAN
YEATS THE 'WIC. Mrs. Lana—Mr. "Dancing Mad" Bryan ;
Garstone Mr. Laburnum.—MGTHEß BRoW RIO° ;
THE FOUNDLING APPLIINTICE. Mrs. E. Yarnuid.

--
HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TKO DAT —Morning, tb. 4m Afternoon, 2h. 22m.
To-Monnow—Morning. 2h. 40m Afternoon, m.

LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7.

WE shall look for the PESSIDENT'S Mess
with interest, not much diminished by the short
summary of it we have already received. But the
interest will be rather personal than politicaL
We know that so far as the great question of re-
construction is concerned Mr. JOHNSON has only
reiterated his old advice, that he has no new sug-
gestion to communicate, no compromise to offer,
and not even a reluctant sacrifice of his own plans
to make, nothing to say that can contribute in
the least degree to the eventual settlement. But
Mr. JOHNSON'S whole past history shows that he is
not the mere cipher which such a course would
point him out to be. He is a man of
originality and ability, and we shall be
curious to see how he faces the diffi-
culty in which his obstinacy has placed him.
He writes so much better than he speaks, and has
usually taken, in his communications with Con-
gress, so statesmanlike a tone, that it is difficult to
imagine in what language he may have repeated
his rejected proposals, or with what excuses he
may have urged again his exploded policy. There
was, indeed, une short message to Congress last
year, in which vanity and temper got the better
of his judgment, and that menage had imme-
diately to do with the policy which Congress had
adopted in opposition to his own. Taken in con-
junction with his present attitude, this circum-
stance throws much light on Mr. Jormsos's
character. He has the strength and vigour of
successful men, combined with the weakness which
they so frequently exhibit. Accustomed in his
personal conduct to be guided by his own opinion,
and to take advice of no one, his success has led
to an exaggerated confidence in himself. Like
many such men, he is powerful in the narrow
sphere of his own personal business, and very
successful when his own imperious will can
sweep away all the obstacles that thwart it.
But when he comes to act for and with
others his strength turns to weakness and
his success to failure. He knows nothing of
conciliation, and will not hear of compromise.
Accustomed to carry everything before him his
feelings accompany his will, and at the very
first obstacle that does not yield they break
into foam and fury. Such a man's judgment
may be excellent in all matters in which
there is no question of himself ; but directly
his will is brought into the question, even a great
matter of statesmanship is reduced to the level of
a personal dispute. It is no longer a question be-
tween two courses, for each of which something
may be said—it is one between himself and his
enemies. The debate becomes a quarrel. Be
adheres to his own opinion, not as au act of judg-
ment, but as an act of passion—not because it is
proved to be the best, but because it is identified
with himself. This we take to be the explana-
tion of Mr. JOHNSON'S course. The very condi-
tions which have made his past career a great one
will give it a little ending. His pertina:ity was
rewarded by the Vice-Presidency ; his accidental
and unexpected elevation to the Presidency has
caused it to develop into obstinacy. He
has been successful as a man and a political
leader, but he is wanting in the qualities which are
needed for successful statesmanship, and now that
he occupies a statesman's place he has finally and
disastrously failed.
Whatever reasons Mr. JOHNSON may have given
for persistent adherence to his rejected plans, they
can have no effect on the ultimate settlement.
His reiteration of those plans is practically the
renunciation of all influence on the work of re-
construction. It may have a disastrous influence
on the South, and it at least throws away another
opportunity for it and for himself. A word from
Mr. JOHNSON might have had an admirable effect
upon the attitude and temper of the Southern
people, and he has refused to utter it. A states-
manlike recommendation from him to accept the
conditions of the political problem, and to solve
It in obedience to them, would have. met with a
loud response in the trained political instinct of
the Southern leaders. A hearty acceptance of
the popular verdict by him would have done much
to ensure its acceptance by them. But Mr.
JOHNSON has failed to do this service to his
country. He has had a splendid opportunity of
sacrificing himself to his country, and has pre-
ferred to make the sacrifice to his own personal
pride. Urged by his friends on all hands to heal
the political division by extending a reconciling
band to his triumphant opponents, ho has chosen
to stand upon his dignity, and to leave the afflicted
Union to heal itself. It cannot even be claimed
for him that he has, in doing this, served
the South. His reiteration of rejected pro-