Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-15

There is a political dodge playing of in
the life and times of Andrew johnson, so
cunning that it is likely to deceive, and
so mischievUus that it ought to be exposed.
II lies in pretending TO extraordinary
fairness and caRdor. Its aim is TO take
the part Of the President in his quarrel
against Congress without for the present
being suspected of it. To come out nov
boldly for Mr.. johnson would not do. His
measures are abhofed in this region. 1t
therefore has recourse to strategy. 1t
does not exactly in all things and in every
particular, agree with Mr.. johnson it
takes care to say that. But it takes care
toe, never to mention any of his most
glazing o~fenses, never TO set forth any Of
the real vices of his system.
a meanwhile it frets AZ the slow
ness of Congress ;Iand pecks at every little
fault in the legislative proceedings of the
majority. But it avoids all strong ex-
preston. Every word must be exceed
ingly cool and gentle, touching either the
unsPeakable perils of p mighty govern
ment or the headstrong passions by which
it Is e~ngendered. Does an honest, clear
headed, Iaborious old representative blame
with some severity the crookedness and
selfwill ef the executive? It is quick 10
seize upon it rs evidence that Congress
provokes a quarrel with the President.
1t lectures Congress on the duty of rev.
erence for the executive office. Does an
old puritan who took as yea and amen
our government promises of justice TO a
long abused race, show Impotence when
he sees our executive fabricatiDg an apol-
Ogy for recommitting them TO the power
Of their cid masters z II does not see the
propriety of the hasty remarks, nor iusti-
fy the suspicious OF executive integrity.
Now all this care to say no one thing
which can be taken as evidence of sup
porting the President against Congress,
while the general tone of hints and
speeches and actions goes 10 uphold the
President and degrade Congress, cannot
have wholly escaped observation. Nor is
it a mere natural and casual leakage OF
n current feeling. 1t aims at an end. II
Judge Spslding had laid before the Pres
ident the exact state OF public opinion in
Northern Ohio, and then asked him what
course he had better take, the President,
shrewd politician, would have seen at
once that to denounce Congress and sup
port the President openly was not the
way. He would have pointed out 10
Judge Spalding precisely the course which
Judge Spalding has taken. And the
Cleveland Herald and the Beacon, and all
that family, are now taking Just the
course which Andrew johnson would
have them take. When Judge Spalding,
from m of the most radical districts of
Ohio, introduces and carries through r
bill to pay the Presidents private secre-
tary and the other petty placemen in his
household and TO pay a photographer
into the bargain to report his speeehes,
which he could not carry through; when
this representative is lecturing Congress
for its discourtesies to the President and
flashes with indignant fire that MI. Ste
vens should rebuke a Cabinet officer for
an insolent speech, do the President and
his retsinerS draw no support from all
this do the advocates of the people never
feel depressed by this evidence of repre-
sentative backsliding?
But the friends OF Mr.. S~palding begin
Of late to cOntrive an excuse for these de-
f%ections. And what is it? The same old
t~hreadbare argument, that the slavehold-
ers must be conciliated. "O,' they say,
mr.. Spalding understands the President
just as you do. He sees that he is self
willed, and his measures deadly to the in
terests of the country. But he is in power,
and Judge Epalding would conciliate him
to get the best terms he can
How very plausible For fifty years
the same argument was reiterated. ave
must not provoke the Shareholders. They
are in power. They must be coneilisted.
Don't Gus the lion" Even now, the
same stupid, sheepish argument is made
against the rights of the only loyal people
OF the South. "Don't think of giving the
freedmen equal rights. You irritate the
South beyond their power to endure"
What bosh As if q fawning s%ycophancy
ever changed the purpose Of an arrogant
but crafty and time-serving barbarian.
Does not Judge Spalding see that he has
TO deal with a man quite as cunning as
himself That he is attempting to get
terms Of a man whose whole life has been
one Of craft That this man has long
since laid his scheme, and will not be
turned from it,-unless BY such an exhi-
bition of opposing power as appeals to his
prudence and not TO his good nature?
this is a nice time 10 ewvam a
practice of which it took four wears of
blood to avert the consequences.