The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-06-18
LINCOLN e. JOHNSON.


Of Mr.. Lincoln at Baltimore, and no
one is disappointed at the result. One
thing. however. We deeply regret. and
that is. that Office holders and under
strappers of the Administration run
the convention. Mr.. Lincoln did not
need the aid CT such stipendiaries; lie
was popular, and had he thrown him
self unreservedly into the hands of the
people. he would have been as nnani-
mously and more enthusiastically nomi-
mated; and the greatly to be deplored
precedent Of convention controlled by
employees of the government would
have been avoided. The very fact that
persons holding Federal positions run
the convention. will be the strongest
weapon adyersaries can use ageirs. the
President during the campaign.
1t is true Mr.. Lincoln is not specially
to blame for this. The Office holders
we're desirous to show their forward
ness. and in their over-officious zeal
doubtless to gain favor with the ad-
ministration) have done the cause a
real injury. and somewhat weakened
the strength of the Union party
Hence. in reality. they are the worst
enemies Mr.. Lincoln has, and instead
OF favors deserve censure at his hands.
1t is useless to attempt to evade these
facts or parry their force. The whole
scheme 10 transparent. Baltimore was
selected as the place t9 hold the con-
veniion, because of It's near access to
Washington. go that if there should be
a contest implying any doubt as to the
result. the whole outside pressure Of
the hangers-on at the Capital could be
brought to bear in determining the re-
suit.
We do not believe the Presiden, was
spariy TO these measures, or that he
knew the designs of the understrap
psrs; nevertheless be must suffer the
odium which invariably attaches to
such proceedings. Well might he pray
TO be delivered from his Trends
those friends whose goodwill is but
skin-deep. and dependent entirely upon
continuance of favors. We doub. not
but the very men who are guilty of
planning all that was bad and unfortu
nate about the Baltimore convention.
and who are SO boisterous In their SUM-
port of the President, would turn rapnd
and curse him if lie should cease TO
show them fayors or remove them from
Office. Their zeal is measured by the
pay they get Or expect. They are the
worst enemies Of the President, and
can hardly be called friends of their
country.
We speak thus plainly of these
things. because the enemies of Mr..
Lincoln are already using them to make
capital against him. whereas the. crime
lays no: at his door, but at the doors Of
the miserable politicians who hope for
fayors on account of their iIl-adyised
measures. on the ground that they have
worked for the President, whereas. the
more they work the worse it will be for
the ticket. The American people are
'ntelllsent-more so than majority of
the ofice-holders. and they are not to
be blinded BY shams or deceived by
Pretenses; and they have a repugnance
to ofice-holders becoming too officious,
tor the simple reason that the nation has
always suffered in consequence OF such
action. Kansans. especially. remember
how the government appointees out
ragged deeency and trampled upon eve
~ principle of honor and justice. and
they have well-grounded cause for
looking with distrust and suspicion up
on the whole brood. And so. to a
greater or less extent. it is everywhere;
the people don't like for ofice-holders
10 usurp ihs rights that belong TO them
selves; and We trust they will always
retain this feeling Of aversion, as il is
the safeguard Of liberty.
Our readers know that we have al. |
ways expressed our preference for Mr.. |
Lincoln as the candidate of the Union |
party; but We wanted the people to
nominate him, not the ofice-holders. I
Andrew Johnson, the nominee for
Vice President, is man for the times.
and his selection was one fit TO be made.
He has been tried as by fire and found
to be the pure gold. We give him our
most hearty and cheerful support. and
,ops that in the question pending 10 /,
'eference to rebels voting 10 Tennessee.
's will stand By his own proclamation.
nd prevent every one of the bloody !