The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-21
President JOhns0n's POsitiOn-FIis DAN
ger and HIS Opportunity.

President Johnson's Position-His Dam
ger and HIS Opportunity.
1t is said Of that inrorIuTIste old man, yaMes
Buchanan, that when, on the approach of that
dismal democratic gathering, the Charleston
Convention, on being asked If, as last resort,
he would cons mt to accept q nomination
for another term, he earnestly replied, "No,
my dear sir, no! For mercy's sake spare me-.
have had enough of this. Let me 60 home"
He had gained the object of his ambition,
which he had zealously sought for thirty years,
only to find it, like the tabled Dead Sea fruit,
turn to ashes upon his lips. Thrown by the
flashing waves of a gigantic and bloody revolu-
ton into the White House, Andrew johnson,
moved by loftier purposes than Buchanan, is
only DESTROYS to leave behind him the record
of a faithful and benefcent administration in
the solid re-estaJlshment of the Union.
He has declared his policy he has defined
his position, and, satisfied that he is right, he
relies upon the support Of the people. But the
leaders and managers Of the party which
brought him into power hold Congress, neu-
tralize his Cabinet and control his pa rOnaye.
He is 30 environed that he must break through
standing still. Promises and predictions of
wonderful things in endorsing the radicals are
as plentiful as blackberries, but we have had
enough of these. In this service the industry
and ingenuity of his newspaper allies at Wash
ington have been so severely tried that we are
dIonnaad IN Oiv ham rauk Tn tptrkt
we are getting tired Of ringing the changes
upon what President johnson is going to do,
and how the radicals are losing ground, and
losing faith, and losing their rank and file, and
all such idle nonsense. We turn to this ques-
ton, what are the facts before US!
"Facts," as Gradgrind has it, ''facts is what
we want" And what are tho facts? They are
as We have stated them. The radicals have
the President upon the defensive, and they arc
pushing him closer and closer to tho wall every
day. They are in minority in Congress up
on their extreme measures, yet they carry them
by two-thirds vote. His legislative support
ers are desperate political games.ers, or faith
less mercenaries while his pponcnts--Psalm-
singers and canting Puritsns, il you please
present the compact front of Cromwell's Round
heads. Pcrnicious as his counsels may be,
there is something that challenges admiration
in the fearless audacity Of Stevens, while the
vacillating representative of Mr.. Seward in
the House is subject of radical derision and
contempt The removal OF petty postmaster
here or petty receiver Of taxes there signi-
fees nothing while the numerous radical
leaders and their active cliques of the revenue
establishment remain untouched. Guerillas
are useful in their way but when we wish to
bring q campaign to practical result We
strike at the main army of the enemy. Car,-
ton is q good thing, but an excess OF caution
is often the most disastrous of blunders. Was
IL not so in the squatting of General Mcclellan
in the swamps Of the Chckshominy and in his
painful waiting there for reinforcementss
President Johnson must advance like Grant,
or he will be compelled, like Mcclellan, to
retreat He must do something bold and de-
cisive, or be will be borne down. The public
mind, in contemplating his present position,
has nothing to rest upon and inevitably turns
back to John Tyler. Mastery inactivity will
not here apply. The bold and effective step Of
a complete reorganiz ,tion Of the Cabinet is i'm
perativcly deman led to draw tho line between
the supporters Of Johnson and the league OF
Stevens But, II is urged, Mr.. Seward, Mr. Stan
ton and their colleagues support the President.
Their support, however, we suspect Is only
that which the copperhcads now give him and
which the democrats Of 1912 accorded to Tyler,
AZ explained by Senator Benton:-" We must
support him because he supports us. When II
comes to the succession we will look out for
ourselves" The people, we are inclined to
believe. understand this adhesion Of Messrs.
Seward and Stanton to The President al con-
vcnient concession for the advantage Of the
radical faction. Admitting their sincerity, the
crisis demands change. A new Cabinet Is
needed for q new dbpensation. The con-
tinuance Of the present Cabinet means second
edition Of Tyler; It's removal viii inaugurate
another administration Of Jackson Which \
II to be!