The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-16

dreadful news from Washington and conversation
corning the double assassination engrossed the undivided
attention Of the business Merchants Of all kinds OF
politics united amentng tho sad fate of the President
and pledged themselves TO strengthen the hands Of Mr.
Lincoin's There Change and bust
transacted
Prcsidcnt-The Spirit and Purpose OFF
tho Nation.
The appalling tragedy at Washington, like a /
sudden and profound eclipse, darkens all the (
land Its hideous details seem more the in /
ventions Of a morbid Imagination than the I
stern realities which they are In the midst of
our rejoicings and congratulations over the /
downfall of the rebellion, and the cheering
prospects of glorious peace, under the gener-
Gus and forgiving policy of restoration fore
! Swallowed by President Lincoln, the dreadful
tidings of his death by the hands of an assassin
! carry their heavy weight Of anguish through
4 the length and breadth of the land. This start
q ling intelligence has created keener sorrow,
4 10 deeper, broader and more universal sense of
q the public loss, than, we dare say, has
y been experienced in any age, in any
q country, or by any people, over the
81 death of one man. The simple, genial,
Z generous hearted, Honest Old Abe had taken
Ia closer hold upon the affections of the
]! masses of the American people than any one of
q their chosen favortes since the times y. ash
Il ington. Prematurely and violently cut of,
y however, as President Lincoln has been, he
4 lived long enough to realize the browning sue
= cess Of his great mission, and has died in the
J fulness Of his glory. Second only to Wash
4 ington In the hearts of his countrymcn, the
y name OF Abraham Lincoln will go down to
7! future ages. Steadily following the drift of
y events and the developments Of public opinion
3 through all the progressive changes of this
& gigantic war of ideas, President Lincoln, wei
4 can all now comprehend, pursued the paths of
. safety, wisdom and success. In this mastery
Hpolicy that plain, unpretending man exhibited
Ia breadth of sagacity which, though perplexing
d to politicians of one idea, has given us the
& practical results of the highest craftsmanship
a in reference to both our domestic and foreign
q affairs.
q In the death of President Lincoln we feel
1 the pressure of heavy national calamity; but
4 the great and irrevocable decree of the loyal
q States that "the Union must and shall be pre-
served" will lose nothing of its force, but will
Z be immensely If not terribly strengthened by
Z this calamity and its wrath-provoking revcla-
] lions. In striking at Abraham Lincoln and his
ever kindly disposed Secretary Of State the
assassins struck at the best friends in the gov
! ernment to the PROSTATE rebels Of the South.
I The policy OF these men was forgiveness and
cancellation to the fullest admissible extent Il
and the public mind everywhere was strongly
! inclined in the same direction. But the dark
and shocking evenss Of single night have
1 wrought in few hours fearful reaction.
There is an ominous nuttering in the streets !;
general feeling is abroad that the lives of the
j wrciched asssjd n or assassins in this horrid
!; business will not meet the requirements Of jus
y lice, and that justice should now take it, course
i against treason and traitors wherever found.
Andrew johnson, under this condition Of the
public mind of the loyal States, succeeds to the
Z Office Of Abraham Lincoln. What will be the
1 policy Of President. johnson? We predict that
I II will be more strongly tinctured with the
inhexible justice of Andrew Jackson than with
4 the prevailing tenderness of Abraham Lincoln.
have been largely developed and fixed from
"A his twenty years of warfare as "a poor white''
I1@gainst the opposing slaveholding sristocracy
80 Tennessee and the South. How he has sur
q vived this long struggle and safely passed the
manifold dangers OF this war is very remark
D. able. Against his mpediments no man, unless
possessed Of great natural qualities, sslfreli-
a ance high moral courage and resolute will,
4 could possibly have succeeded as he has done.
Learning 10 read after he became o married
mainland from bis wife as his teacher and for
ten years before this war standing among the
most powerful democratic leaders of Tennessee
there Is something more In this "Andy John
son" than the common "plebcian."