The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-16

his intention to sspunish treason that many real
ly good people aud true patriots thought they dis
cerned the finger of God IN the taking off OF Abra
ham Lincoln, Thought that Andrew Johnson had
been brought 10 his high Office for the divine Pur
pose of carrying forward Mr.. Lincoln's work with
greater severity and hrmness than the latter was
capable ofexercising in the difeulttask OF recon-
struction. In the light of the present day none,
we apprehend, will hsrbor IN their thoughts so
great an impIety."
En- pdssant, it may be said that, in a theo-
logical respect, it Is gratifying to know that
abolitionism no longer believes that God muir
dered Lincoln in order to put in his place
somebody who would be willing To inaugur-
ate n wholesale massacre in the south. Alb
olitioBism attempts to compliment Deity IN
thus assuring him, through It's Chicago news
paper organ, that 1t neither believes him To
be assassin. nor that he assassIuated Mr..
Lincoln in order to put AN assassin in his
place.
But aside from the moral aspects of this
matter, it is gratifying to know that repubh
caDism thus recognizes the fact that 1t can
not make an instrument of the president in
its schemes of wholesale murder aud contis-
cation, its attempted disintegration of the
country by treating the southern states as
out Of the Union, and its effort to make parti-
san capital, and degrade southern men by it's
doctrines of negro equality. Ii finds evil
dence of this fact in almost every act of the
president from the time that he kicked out
Phillips and his watering pot down to his adj
dress to the southern delegations.
But it is in that address that we find the
strongest evidence of the breach between
President johnson and the radicals. Every
line OF It Is in direct hostility with the cardn
al principles OF abolitionism lie does not
say that the work of reconstruction must be
committed to New England, or to the repub.
lican party of the northern states or to the
north ITSELF but to the people of both north
and south. lie did not saw Il will recon
struct," or the government" will recon
struct. or any faction or political party will
be intrusted with the task but he said to
the southern men, Let Us 90 this work.
This is nationality 1t Is true unionism it i,
the voice OF the constitution speaking through
the oracles of democracy.
Not only Toes this address show it's
autagonlsm to rsdicsism in it's nationality
but in its magnanimity. A bOlitionism
thought God had removed Lincoln tn make
room for a hangman it believes that the
| true hey OF the government - not to win
the south back, but to drive il back Mr..
johnson says that the war has been "fami
ly feud,' and now We should be governed
by generous spirit OF Cancellation" that we
should be mutually forbearing and forgiv-
ing, and return to oar old habits of frater
nal kindness and be better friends than ev
err"
This address is not only in direct hostility
to the tenets Of abalitionism. but it is an
equally direct Endorsement OF democracy. -
L. may be regarded both a Reputation 81
the ferocity and sectiOnalism of republican
ism, snd a. n distinct and final adhesion TO
the nationality, the libera!ity and constitu.
tIOnaiIiy Of the democratic marty
From the standpoint Ia ken by President
Johnson last Mon lay, the nation can discover
land not far ahead The tenpes,uous vov
age nf the hip Ut state is about ended A
strong hand is at the helm, aud the harbor is
Just before u. Let conservatism stand firm
in the support Of it, helmsman, Johnson. and
in little while the vessel. with lie rich
freight OF human interests Will be "a fe for all
time. - Chicago Times.