American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-26
THE TWO PRESIDENTS.

|
THE TWO PRESIDENTS.
Hon. John w. Forney delivered the
Grafton before the Literary Societies of
Dickinson College on the 2Sth ult. His
subject was "The Two Presidents" Lin
coin and johnson. Like all Mr.. Forney's
productions it is eloquent in diction and
his tribute TO the Presidents ID as eloquent
as it is just, while his vindication of Pres
ident Johnson's policy is replete with wis
dom and patriotism. We give the con
cluding portion of the address:
1t would seem as if 1T was intended
that these two men should be brought
closely together, in the last few weeks
which made the one a glorious martyr
and the other the chief of great people.
When the day of the SECOND Inaugural
ton of Mr. Lincoln approached, Governor
johnson was at Nashville, engaged in his
efforts to reorganize Tennessee and bring
her back into the Union. He ta !egraph-
ed me, asking if his presence was abso-
lutely necessary, adding that his heart
was in his work, and that he would rath-
er aid in sending his adopted Common
wea. .th back to the hearth stone of the
old Union than to be Vice President Of
the United States. =On consulting with
mutual friends, and especially with MIR.
Lincoln, it was decided to insist upon his
presence. How warmly the departed
sage regarded candy johnson hund-
red instances might be cited to illustrate.
His knowledge of the citizen, the Sena-
tor, and the military governor was sufll-
cient to inspire confidence; and the terri
ble suGerings Of the hunted and outlawed
refugee made Andrew johnson the object
of his keenest sympathy. They were at
Richmond almost on the same occasion,
and reached Washington few hours
apart from each other-in time to hear
the great intelligence that closed the re
bellion. | am not of those who think
that when two men, whom God seemed
70 have made almost copies or counter
parts-whose lives wers so alike, and
whose patriotism so equal and so genial
arc suddenly severed by the bolt of
death, it is a dispensation to be received
if not with something like satisfaction, at
least with very ready resignation. |
accept the decree. 1t would be most i'm
pious to quarrel with the inscrutable fate
that permitted it, and / thank Heaven
that we have, in Andrew johnson, pa
triot so tried and so true, and 50 ready for
the fierce emergecies of the future. But
the loss of Abraham Lincoln cannot be
replaced. 1t was as if some great orb
had falen.from eternal space into ever
lasting chaos, jarring the whole earth,
and making the very pillars of the skies
to tremble. Our country is not destroy
ed, but he who saved it died in the effort
of saving it, and can omore be replaced
than the mother who gives her own life
for that of her offspring. And how be-
yend all price is the eZapple of Abraham
Lincoln. 1t has almost revolutionized
parties. Not one strong word that Mr.,
| Il l., l,a of am
maintained when he was most violently
assailed, has ever been modified and ex-
planned but rather liberated and strength
ened yet is it true that long before the
assassin stole away his life, he had almost
conquered antagonism and dumbfounded
enyious faction itself / may be answer
ed, Success wins sometimes more than
virtue :" and this is true of vulgar aaiads
But Lincoln's victory was in this he
never let 90 the helm. Dark, thick, and
tempestuos were many of the heavy hours
of the past four years; but the star Of
t hope shone steadily on the altar of his
heart. The darkest month of the yeal
1861 was the month Of April the dark
| est part of the year 1865 was the middle
of April. The rebellion broke upon ui
in the first and ended in the last The
| earliest martyrs to the cause of liberty
gave up their lives in April, four years
| ago; and the most ilustrious martyr gave
up his life in April of 1865. We were
unprepared Cor war in April of 1861 We
were prepared for peace in April of 1865
and when the faithful recorder shall come
to compile the materials, for the illustra
ton of the close of this mighty struggle
he will be overawed to note that montl
r which commenced with such fair pros
peets should have SO gloomily ended
) Early in the month, the first fruits o