The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-13


limited inquiry. Sugar was very steady. Coffee wa
rather more active for prime qualities but improve
ment was noticeable in the market for grades
Dry goods were firm, with moderate inquiry.
President JOhnson's Policy and HI,
Position with Regard to Political
Parties.
No President of the United States was ever
placed in such difficult and trying position as
Mr.. johnson is at the present time. Made Vice
President by the powerful party which prose
cuted the war to preserve the Union to q sue
cessful issue, and which now has an over.
whelming majority in Congress, together with
the control of nearly all the State govern.
ments, he finds himself as President bitterly
opposed by this same party which elected him
BY the term "party" we do not mean the mas;
of the people who voted the republican ticket
under different state Of things and before
the existing issues of the day were made, but
| party organization and the leaders who control
that This is 80 compact and well regulated
that a few determined men, as Thaddeus Ste.
vens, Sumner, Ben Wade, Bingham and others,
have been able to govern the whole or nearly
the whole. Dread of losing the benefits OF
party organization and of breaking up the
great republican party has prevented many
| conservative men from following the dictates
OF their convictions and sustaining the Presi-
dent in the war between him and the radical
been the whippers-in of the rest The oppo-
sition to the policy of the President, then, is
that of few bold radical leaders, who have
been able to control and carry with them
their party organization. II is generally
so in troublous or revolutionary times.
We are passing through the same history
as other nations Every one will remem-
Der how the Marats, Dantons, Couthons and
Robespierres governed and even terrified the
French legislative bodies and government as
well as the people. Men like these, in such a
position, claim to act in accordance with pub
lie sentiment at the same time they are acting
in direct opposition to 1t. Like the extreme
republicans in Congress, these French revolu-
tionists held their position by deceiving the
people; but in time the climax was reached,
and the reaction drove them from power The
same must take place here, if the country be
not bercft OF common sense.
But what is the ground of this extraordinary
opposition to the President? He is only car.
rying out the policy laid down by Mr.. Lincoln.
The principle and general plan of reconstruc-
ton followed by Mr. johnson were nauguratcd
by his lamented predecessor. This is well
known to the prominent public men of the
| country, and the evidence of it may be found
| in the State Department Mr.. Lincoln's original
| plan was even more broadly liberal than that
OF his successor. Had Mr.. Lincoln lived. there
Is no doubt the majority of the republican
party and of Congress would have gone with
him in carrying out policy of restoration
fully as liberal or more liberal than that of Mr.
johnson. Whys He was the recognized chief
Of that party, and few factionists or hot
headed extremists could not have alienated the
majority from him. After his death the rival
Presidential aspirants and factions began to
plot for the succession. AS soon az the cleo
lions last year were secured upon the
administration platform, and there was
no chance Of success upon any other.
the politicians commenced to head off
President johnson, who was becoming too
popular to suit them. In spite of his declara-
tons to the contrary, they were afraid he
would become. candidate in 1868 Not hav-
ing been a republican anterior to the war. and
being Southern man, they pretended to doubt
his persistent fidelity TO them. They feared
that If the Southern States should be restored
before the next Presidential election, the vote
of that section would be thrown against them.
unless, indeed, they could give the negroes
the suffrage. This is the secret and these are
the motives for opposing the President and
the restoration of the South, and for keeping
the country in revolutionary condition.
They will see the constitution destroyed. the
spirit Of our institutions perish, the country
kept in anarchy and in danger Of despotsm,
negro equality with the whites, and even ANAL |
carnations; all this, and much more. TO CRAFTY |
their ambition and for mere party purposes.
Yet the President has dsavowed any per- |
sonal ambition or wish To separate from the |
party that elected him. And he Is an honest |
man; his word can be believed. His actions
In the dispensation Of government patronage
and in every way show that he wished to adj
here to the republican party and preserve its
organization. Month after month he has
oeep giving the Offices to those who OBJ
posed him and withholding them from
those who supported him, with the hope
that the former would become more rea-
sonable, would cease to follow the few
radical destructives that have been. leading
them, and would continue TO make the repub-
leans the party Of the administration. With
Ill his efforts and forbeapnce, he has been dis
appointed. IL Is now evident that the majority
q Congress will still follow The radical lsadsr,. !