Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-25
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE
RADICALS.

When "war waged its wide dcsolaton'' and
threatened the destruction of our Nationality
it then behooved every citizen to sustain, lift
up and strengthen the. Administrative arm of
the Government. All issues other than the
preservation of the Government sank into in
significance, and to publicly condemn and in
dulge in partizan criticism, in such times, was
very properly considered as unwlse, if not I'M
patriotic. But President johnson does not
stand in the same attitude-does not hold the
same relation TO the people of the United States
that President Lincoln did. Thc.war is over.
The authority Of the Federal Government is
recognized by every occupant of our soil, and
criticism of the acts of President Johnson is
now not only justifable, but demanded by every
instinct and attribute patriotism
We sustain President johnson in his policy
of reconstruction as forcsadowcd by his ac-
ton and speech to the Southern delegation,
but acknowledge the right of others to express
sions of opposition, if such opposition is forti-
fed by argument
As in the past, in the present and future,
Radicals have occupied, occupying and
will occupy places in the political world.
They are necessary evils, cxcrescences
upon tlrc body politic-not cancerous or
scirrhous premonnisEing fatality but rather
a sort of eruption or ef1lorcsceuce, indi
eating the character of the disease, which,
though to some extent contagious, rarely ex
cites the apprehension Of those not affected
nor materially intereres With social intercourse,
people associating with them very nearly as
freely as though not spotted as the leoplrd
with the evidences of their disease.
Before the rebellion there were parties in
the South who threatened if the area of
slavery were not extended, and the ''domestic
institution" acknowledged the rule, and free
dom the exception. There were, also. those
III the North who courted war, dissolution of
the Union, any other direful calamity in or
der that slavery should be crushed out. The
champions of slavery insulted our Flag, fired
into the checks of our vessels, took possession
of property belonging to the Nation, and bid
defiance to the general Government. But the
friends of freedom and free government rallied
and swept back the black wave which threat
ened to surge on, sweep over, and engulf our
nationality. Slavery pershed in the homes
and at tue hands of its friends. One would
naturally suppose that radicalism then became
defunct Not so, however. Radicalism still
lives-one element besmearing President j Ohm l.
son with praise and fawning at his feet in an
ticipation Of receiving share of the loaves
and fishes-the other wing openly anathematis-
ing him because he does not carry out their sell
fish, nafarious, one.idea and country destroying
views. But we believe that the mass of the
people, the bone, sinew. capital and intelli-
gence of the country, endorse President John
sons policy of reconstruction and Ie- organiza-
tion.
There are those who style themselves Re-
publicans, but whether within or without the
pale of that organization were constitutional
grumblers and mischief makers, who condemn
the President because he will not issue proc.
lamation making negro suffrage sine qua non
to the rebellious States coming into the Union
as also system of wholesale cOnscation. The
first is question in which President Johnson
has no TlSLG u Is q WtC
ilege not right, and one which the people OF
the individual States have full control over.
The latter, though it might be constitutional
would be arbitrary, and in many cases unj ust.
Where rebels come forward now and volunta.
rily express their repentance and take the pre-
scrihed oath, the foot Of oppression or arbitrary
nower should not he placed upon their necks.
They have suffered, pecuniarily and mentally,
and we believe the mass OF them could neither
he bribed nor forced to encourage another war.
If such States elect unsafe, unreliable, ,mre-
pentant, avowed rebels to Congress, that body
need not receive them, as it is constituted the
Judge of the qualifications of its members and
the Repubcarism of the Constitution under
which they elected.
But we would remind pseudo Administrsl-
tionists of the Chicago Times and Cairo Dem
Ocrut school, that in swallowing Andy John.
son they swallow the cdict of the President
relative TO the Virginia and Tennessee cleo
tions-the hanging OF Mrs. Snrratt & Co.
and prOspectively of Wirl and jeff Davis. We
doubt not however they will soon vomit hin
up.