The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-19
sword would destroy it. In the re-

cltement OF war. There was ample
evidence that this would be the effect
now, for the decision to shed blood at
once drove the loyal border States
over to the opposite ranks. But ad-
mitting the theory of loyal party
a large portion of the Southern peo-
pie sound at heart but under restraint
1T was then imperative that the war
should be conducted as an act of calm
Judicial necessity, and so as to pro-
duce the smallest possible amount of
exasperation or abiding hate. It has
been conC.icted in Il manner exactly
the reverse of this. No war of modern
times has been urged in spirit so
bitter, SO unsparing, SO ungenerous.
The sinking of stone fleets to destroy
harbors; the bombarding of dwelling
houses with Greek fire; the cutting of
levees to inundate great districts and
drown the inhabitants; the shooting
OF prisoners, on more than one occa-
sion, in cold blood; the official in
sultlng of women and of clcrgymen;
the avowed attempts to destroy by
famine; the burning of mills, farm
houses, barns; the plumber of private
these, apart from those in
cldents of individual outrage which
ever accompany invading armies,
have made memorable the names Of
Butler, Turchin: Pope, Sheridan,
Blenker, Hunter, Milroy, Mcneil, as
a band of generals, of all human
beings the least fitted to restore a
fraternal Union. 1t is plain that Mr..
Lincoln was not personally response
ble for these things; it is probable
that in his own breast he deplored
them. But they are part of the his
tory of his rule, nor did he disavow
and forbid them. Some of the gene
rails named were discarded on failure
In the field; but we know of no case.
even one SO revolving as the murders
OF Palmyra, where punishment was
v,slted on the crime. We pass from
this irksome criticism. Such reflec-
tions are little needed in the hour of
triumph; but the exaggerated and
fulsome tone of much that has been
written invites some expression of
independent thought. There are those
whose recent admiration of Southern
valor is now exchanged for admiration
Of Northern success. All have not the
power to mould their views of right
and wrong, so as to sympathize now
With those who are expected to win,
and now with those who prove to be
the winners.
The death of Mr.. Lincoln was in
itself a sufficient calamity to the
world, occurring at time when the
kindly qualities of the man, and the
experience of affairs he had acquired,
would have been of inestimable value.
That calamity is greatly increased by
calling to his place one even less fitted
for it by education or knowledge, and
without the redeeming personal quail
ties OF his ispredecessor That Mr.. John
son is man of considerable natural
ability we cannot doubt, for without
1T no man could have worked his way
from the condition of journeyman
tailor to the position he held at the
outbreak of the war. But there are
many kinds of ability; and there is
one kind which has usually been re-
garded in the North as by no means
beneficial to the country-that of the
professional politician, the man who
adopts politics as trade to live by
and thrive by. Such was the occupa-
ton Of Mr. johnson, and it was sue
cessful under these circumstances. In
the South, although universal suffrage
prevails, the lead in political affairs is
usually taken by men of education
and leisure, who, as in this country,
are IN the habit of thus employing
their time, not as money-making
trade, but as an elevated pursuit.
Hence, rs rule, the leading men of
the country are to be found in the
political ranks. But there are excep-
tlonal districts. Tennessee, one of
the younger States, contains a very
mixed population, and a great proper
ton of small farmers, who are usually
men OF extreme prejudice and narrow