The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-06
The Results of the BETRAYAL.

or the principles upon Wnlcn ne was
elected. That it is a base betrayal of
the sacred interests intrusted to him,
the Republican party is now fully sat
isfed. Sometimes leader, having
decided upon his own treachery, is
able to make such disafection In the
ranks of his adherents as to totally
destroy it's organization and efficiency.
There was danger of this some time
ago in the treachery of ANDREW.
JOHNSON, but that danger has passed.
He has overshot the mark. He has
so completely allied himself with the
men, who have been the recognized
enemies of the Government all
through the war, that the Union par
ty have very plainly seen whittier he
was tending, and have deterninedly
refused to follow his lead And to-day
the Union party stands united and
unanimous in its opposition to the poll
cy of the President. Even the great
mass of the Office holders, whose po-
litical life is dependent upon his favor,
are the firm supporters of Congress.
And if we except a very few
of this class, the President
must look to the rebels and the Cop
perheads of the North, the constant
and consistent opponents of the war,
for his adherents. So that as one of
the evil results of his betrayal, we are
not compelled to record distracted
and disorganized party, but one more
determined and united as a conse-
quence of it. The loyal masses in
their sense of outrage at his conduct,
are resolved that it shall not result in
handing over the Government to the
control of those who have heretofore
been its bitterest enemies. And they
will record at the ballot-box in Octo-
Der such verdict in his case, in tones
so distinct and unmistakable, that
even ANDREW JOHNSON will regard it.
But there is a result Of the Presi-
dents policy, which is now having a
disastrous effect upon the country,
When the war closed, the rebels
were subdued, complaisant, and will
ing to yield to any conditions that
should be exacted of Them The way
of CANCELLATION, reconstruction and
lasting peace was easy. Our brave
armies had at last triumphed, and the
enemywere ready to econeede to them
the terms of return to the Union.
Those terms were plainly mark
ed out by Mr.. LINCOLN, and it was
supposed were clearly understood by
Mr.. JOHNSON. They were to seal the
results of the victory of our arms by
lasting legislation; to recognize the
fact of universal freedom, the indis-
soluble integrity of the Union, and to
stamp with eternal infamy the crime
of treason. 1t was pardon to the
masses and punishrnentto the leaders
Mr.. JOHNSON commenced his official
duties by severe words of strict
justice, but how changed the scene?
None know better than the rebels
that the President of 1866 is not the
President of 1866. The man who was
determined to make 8 treason odious"
.
was not the same man in principle
with him who urges the secessionists
ofthe South and the Copperheads of
the North to come together ataPhila-
delphia and sustain himin his course
of Oppositiento the Union party. And
the. rebels of the South understand
that there is change at the White
House. From ready submission and
willingness to accept their defeat, they
have changed into defiance and un-
blushing demand for their rights, The
extracts which we make this morning
in another part of our paper from the
speeches of the politicians, and the
papers, will show how the men, who
but a little :. while ago stood up
in armed hostility to the Gov
ernment, are now claiming to be its
best defenders. All this change in
the spirit and conduct of the South
ern people has been brought about by
the base and unnatural course of the
President. No one for moment can
believe that the Memphis riot would
have occurred, or the late bloody
scenes at New Orleans, had Mr.. LIN
COLIN still been in the Presidential
Chair, or had Mr.. JOHNSON been true
to his principles and conduct through
the war The ,ahals ,olainlu nndnr