The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-13
PRESIDENT JOHNSON TO THE Me-
CRUES.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON TO THE Me-
CROES.
Within the comparatively short period thai
Mr.. johnson has occupied the presidential
chair, he has been called upon, says the CHI
cago Times, by the representatives OF almost
avarv nossible interest in the United States,
and of almost every other country, from
Great Britain to the semi-civilized communl-
tiss of Africa. Some have been mere visits
of ceremony, others of curiosity, but in the
main those from the United States have been
made with view of getting MIR. Johnson's
"position" on the affairs of the country.
1t is noticeable fact that when this tide OF
visitation commenced setting towards the
White House, its elements were mainly OF a
radical character. Sumner, Phillips, Horace
Greeley, and all OF New England, no sooner
found Mr.. johnson installed in the succession
than they gravitated at once in the direction
of Washington. The results of their journey
may be inferred from the fact that latterly
they seek the White House with about the
same enthusiasm that the devil is supposed
to exhibit with reference to fonts OF holy
water The political stream which now sets
in that direction is no longer exclusively from
the direction of New England, but from all
parts of the country. 1t is no longer section
al, but national. 1t is one whose tributaries
have their origin in every state of the Union,
and the fact is thus symbOlized that Mr..
johnson represents the whole country, and
Csla
The nationality thus evinced by the presi-
dent is of the broadcast and most catholic
kind 1t is one which ignores neither sec
tons nor classes. 1t is of a character which
best exhibits its Wilderness by its complete
ness of details. 1t charges itself with the
interests as we'll OF the south as of the north;
it listens attentivsly both to New England
and the northwest; it is prepared to accord
like respectful consideration to the sugges-
tions of South Carolina and Massachusetts, /;
and it does not overlook the fact that all clss-
ses of people, without regard to color, have q
claim upon its care and attention.
We observe Mr.. Johnson imbued with this
nationality in his reception of and his re-
marks to the negroes who visited him on
Tuesday. in Washington. That he received
them at all, shows that he is not disposed to
overlook any class of people and that he
talked to them as he did, evinoes that he is
not inclined upon any occasion, however fav-
orable, to sacrifice his nationality for the
more vivid but less enduring triumphs of a
partisan demagogue. His speech to them is
a recognition of the existence of an important
African element in this country and it is
equally recognition of the fact that this is a
subordinate rather than an equal element in
the composition of the nation. He does not
inform these negroes that it was they who
saved the country nor does he tell them
that they are the equals of the white race,
and entitled to share with this race the privi-
leges of political and social equality. He
had done the government, and assured them
that their position in this country is one not
dependent upon the representations of radi.
Gals, but upon their own efforts and behay-
ior.
1t must be greatly notifying to philan-
thropists of the Greeley, Garrison and Phil.
fps school that Mr.. johnson did not assure
these negroes of their perfect equality with
the whites, instead of assuring them that
their status must depend upon their own ac-
ton. He not only does not admit this equal.
ity, but he tells them that even their right to
a residence among the white people of this
country is problem" and one whose solu-
tion must depend upon themselves. In place
of having earned right to vote, they have
yet before them the task of showing that they
can with safety be permitted to reside among
us: If they act in manner to demonstrate
that their residence here will not be inconsis-
tent with the interests of the nation, they
will be incorporated into this people and
their political equality willdepend upon their
subsequent progress in merit from that point.
This is national and democratic view of
the negro problem. 1t recognizes in the Af-
rican, as he now is, creature who has
claim upon our protection; and it leaves his
future status matter dependant upon him
self. If the negroes, as a class, develope ca
Paoity tor any privileges, now the exclusive
POSSESSION of the whites. those privileges will
N smsabe. extended to them.