The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-26
NEWS FROM THB SOUTH.
The uau,oval OF Johnston and the Ap'
pOfmtmene OF Hood.

me Removal Of Johnston and the AP-
pofntmene OF HOOD.
Nvcs, fhc Richmond seaifscl, yuiy n.
The very few instances in which the Pres oent oeIt
haH exercised tho power Of refnolI, an w
known notorious incompetency oi 'lo ~, s y.
-sft,f eyev one thaf nothing bat the most urgent
State necessity has compellea nun 10 ~ l'neve a'
General Johnston Of biz commahu. nc ieW-
ness Of removals eonSeegbS sbows W. tbat ths PTe %l
dent h q good Judge of militray merit and abb
Nv makes good appointments, and has seldom
reason 10 repent his selection.
we believe that where he has acted solely on
tbe dictates of his own judgment he has made no
Tni.takes but much Difference Is due to the Opin-
ions and wishes OF large bodies of the people, not
because they are the best judges Of military
worth and efficiency, but because It is sometimes
better 70 do wrong, and satisfy the people, than
20 do right and disoblige them. The President
has bad ample opportunity to test the military
worth Of Johnston; those who condemn the re-
moyal have had comparatively nonej and no
matter what had been their opportunities, they
know nothing about military affairs or the quali-
cations of military men.
We all voted Or the President as our ruler be-
cause we thought him best fitted TO command,
and we TO obey We who selected him 10 drive
the car of State should not now perpleN and en-
bsuass him by sezing hold OF the rens our
selvee. Nothing Is more dangerous than for
nervous, scary rider TO seize hold Of the reins
when the horse threatens 70 kick or run off,
Republican Government s monslr0us and
absurd failure If the people have no faith In the
men they select for office, and find il necessary 70
dictate 70 and rule their rulers. All the attempts
to dictate measures and make appointments
DOR the President proceed from an ignorant,
reckless, and corrupt spirit OF demagogueism.
In the beginning Of the war il was exhibited
in perfect tornado Of anger with Che President
because he preferred making appointments of
men as officers who had military knowledge and
qualifications, rather than OF those who knew
nothing about military affairs-and who were too
old 50 learn anything about tbem-ior the favor.
ties with the ignorant demagOgues who abused
West Point and the President, were stump ora
tors over hfty. Time has since amply proved
that West Pointers-men who have learned the
science OF war at school, and its practice in
camp--are best fitted 10 command large armies.
Old stump orators may stumble into victories
bus they Will generally fail aud II is almost rea-
sonabe 10 place them in command when their
failures may do serions harm.
The people have seen enough OF Johnston's
retreats 70 satisfy them that, If let alone by the
Government, he had no idea Of making stand
this side the Calf Of Mexico. If he could not
hold the strong position OF Kenesaw Mountain,
much less would he have held the weak one
about Atlansa. The people do not generally
know that all the while that Johnston has been
retrcating before Sherman, he has had an army
approaching nearer in numbers to that OF his ad-
Versary than Lee ever had when he has won his
great victories. Indeed, at Dalton, and ever
since he left there, his army has been large
enough to justify and render Il his duty to deliver
batsie
of It's complaint is not the removal OF Johnston,
but the preference which, it sapp0ses, was given
90 Hood over Hardee. Does the wing know
whether Hardee would have accepted the ap-
pointment? In fact, Hardee had been rendered
and refused the command OF. the Army OF the
Tennessee.
be this as it may, the President, after anxious
consultation with the best military authorities,
concluded to appoint Hood. No man in the Con-
federacy was so much Interested in retaining
Johnston in command, If he were likely TO win 4
victory, IS the President. No man had so good
an opportunity 10 form correct opinion of his
merits. He came, under these circumstances TO
the deliberate conclusion that Johnston was unfit
to command, and removed him. II there be any
error in the case, il is that the removal was not
made long ago. Lincoln delights in taking OFF
heads as much as the King OF DahOmey or the
Emperor of Hayti President Davis has nice
sense of honor, sets high value on reputatiOn
and removes none but the VIGOROUSLY incompe-
tent.
Ii is because he is so reluctant TO remove Off
GERS that he is so cautions and fastidous in
selecting and appointing them. We believe the
appointment Of General Hood good one, not
oniy from what we know of his past history, bat
because he has been selected by the President,
who seems 10 be an admirable Judge of the rela-
ave merits OF men, and finds no occasion to repent
to-day for the appointments made yesterday.