New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-09-15
I.INCOlN-JOHNsON.

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| Abraham Lincoln and Andrew johnson are
both natives Of Slave States. They were born in
! the class of Poor Whites which Slavery creates
and preserves for its own convenience. Their
early education was such a. it accords to the
children Of this class. Hence. Lincoln obtained
most of his scanty schooling not only long after
his removal into Free State, but after he had
reached the full stature Of manhood, and was
enabled to earn and plan for himself; while
Johnson never had any schooling at all, and
learned to read from his wife after his removal
from his native North Carolina into almost free
East Tennessee.
Neither OF them could ever have been chosen
even 70 the Legislature in an essentially slave
holding community, no matter how thorough
their subseryency to "the institution" The
brand Of Poverty and Labor on their brows
would have fixed them forever in the humble
station of their progenitors. They surmounted
the influence on ciuv"'y ny taking position out
side of It's more papable domain.
TO maintain that such mon lack ability or
forco of character is to hold that republics are
ruled by idiots. Abraham Lincoln entered Ili-
nois n portionless, illiterate boy, earning the
livelihood of his widowed mothers family by
The rudest and hardest manual labor, and, with
In twenty years thereafter, lad become one Of
her foremost lawyers and the Acknowledged
leader Of The more intellectual OF her two grca,
political pariies--consticuous in her Logi,a-
ture, her only Wing Member of Congress, Wing
candidate Cor Senatorial Elector, L. S. Senator,
Vicc-president, and ultimately tor President
All these positions were accorded Ia him without
contest OF hesitation. When the great political
struggles OF 1910 and 1874 were made. mono 9TH
erthan be was suggested 10 lead N the canvass.
When for the first time, his political friends had
a majority in the Illinois Legislature, no other
was thought of by the mass Of them foT L. $.
Senator, though il was finally found necessary,
in order 10 secure the requisite anti-Nebhska
Democratic votes, 10 withdraw HIM and substi-
tute another At Philadelphia, in l5JG, his
name, and only his, was presented for Vice
President by the delegation from Illinois; and
when a candidate was to be pitted against
Douglas for the Senatorial canvass Of lo5- no
other name was even suggested than thai Oh
Abraham Lincoln. So in 1S60, there was
abundant competition as to which State should
furnish the Republican nominee for President;
but no one ever suggested that among the
eminent and honosed Republicans Of Illinois,
there was another possible candidate than
Lincoln.
Andrew johnson entered Tennessee an litter
ate tailor youth, poor Us Lazarus in all but hope
ana ambition, without q relative or friend who
could help him 20 corporalship in the smallest
company Of hoodwood' militia. few years
later, he was Member Of Assembly; next we
hear from him in Congress; then Governor of
lbs closely balanced State after q spirited can
vass; for Tennessee was then preponderently a
Whig State, and her Wings always ran for Gov
ernor one Of their ablost and clevorest debaters.
johnson had always been "a very ardent and
active Democrat, and had made himself widely
obnoxious 10 his political adyers.gies. His
birth and breeding were matters Of common
notoricty, and the cultivated aristocracy Of
Nashville and the surrounding region were not
at al incliaed to be ruled by the ox-iourneyman
tailor Of Jonesborough. They could not help
Themselves, however; and Johnson, aitcr serv-
ing his term as Governor, was chosen TO the
United States Senate, where he made good his
position against tho ablest and proudost in the
land. Probably no other Senator had enjoyed
so scaut opportunities for intellectual culture:
but the debates, in which he freely mingled.
give no sign Of this. III the absence of that
education Of the schools, which no would gladly
have enjoyed and improved, he had his full
share Of the rugged discipline Of poverty and
priyation, and was thoroughly trained in the
keen encounters Of an active arduous public
career Doubtless, he feels and regrets the
deficiencies Of his early culture; but who will
say that he has not molly supplied them'
Mr.. johnson, as a leading Southern Democrat,
and supporter Of Breckenridge for the Prcsi-
dency, saw the Shareholders Rebellion take
form and body under his immediate observation.
He knows it, egg and bird '-its impulses
ideas and aspirations. Nearly every other prom.
incnt Democrat Of his State and section was
drawn or driven into its tolls; he never counte-
nanced 1t for moment nor regarded 1t with the
least allowance. lie knew it 10 DO as hostile to
the class from which be sprung in .he South a.