Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-14
tFrom the Washington Chronicle
THE PRESIDENTS CLEVELAND
r.

a
American, of whatever political party, has
read the extraordinary speech of Andrew
Johnson, delivered at Cleveland last Tues
day night, without feeling his check burn
WIN shame and his blood tingle with indig-
natlon at the Unprecedented disgrace put
upon the chief office in the gift of the nation
Dy the unworthy incumbent who now occu-
PIES IT, 1t were well if the Presidents
statement that he appeared ''simply as an
american citizen, and not as the Chief Ma
gistrate, could have divested him of the
responsibility of maintaining the dignity of
MS once, though the speech would have
Deen disgraceful enough even in a citizen;
nut, though MIR johnson may lay aside the
ulgnlty appropriate to his position, and be
wiling TO waive the respect due to his high
ONCE, he cannot thus make the world forget
that the poor petulant, ineoherent, vulgar,
ABUSIVE delnagogue who plays the clown
before Cleveland audience is really the
only PRESIDENT this unfortunate nation now
can boast Already had he often enough
brought the blush to the cheeks of his coin-
irymen by his former speeches and acts; but
In this and others of his later campaign
speeches he has heaped upon us insult and
lndlgnlty TO degree that touches the limit
oi national forbearance. Disgraceful as was
his conduct on the day of his Inauguration,
we cannot but feel that on this occasion il
would be a mitigation of his shame if his
distracted rawlings could be traced to SINH
lar cause. Vanity, i'll temper, coarseness
ana intolerance are SO mingled with the
attributes OF the buffoon that were he not
PRESIDENT our Indignation would give way to
plty ana derlsion; but being what he is, and
welding the power lie does we cannot re-
gard the matter IN any but its gravest as
pect. Does he mean anything or nothing by
his illusions TO Congress as body trying to
oreak up the Government, and his threats to
night traitors in the North" which he re.
peated here in most excited and offensive
mannery Has he reflected that the men he
calls traitors embrace large maiority of the
entire people of the loyal States? And can
he be blind to the fact that what he threat
ems IS nothing less than another fearful civil
warY Andwhat does he mean when he says
that "he who is opposed to the restoration of
this government, and TO the reunion of these
States"-that is, TO his own policy of resto-
ration-''is as great traitor as JEFF. Davis
or Wendell Phillips' Such words in the
mouth of reckless man, as devoid of judg-
ment as MIR. johnson has shown himself,
yet welding the power he does are ominous,
ana deserve serious consideration. What
are we coming to when the Chief Magistrate
himself thus labors to confuse the ideas of
guilt and innocence by associating the name
OF an orator. who has merely exercised the
freedom of speech guaranteed to all the citi-
zens of Republic, with that of the chief of
gigantic rebellion, which cost the nation
hundreds of thousands OF lives and billions
of money! Can it be possible that the Presi-
dent has so completely closed his eyes to the
enormity of the late attempt to destroy the
Government as TO believe now that every
member of the great Union party which
elected him Vice President is really as guilty
as the arch h-traitorg Such an insult has never
been flung in the face of nation, and we
wonder how any man can so far presume
upon the good nature of the American peo-
pie as to make an ostentatious tour through
the midst CT the country for tho purpose of
casting in their faces such vile and infa-
nous accusation. What does he mean again
in the following passage:
"li were disposed to play the orator and
deal in defamation tonight, would initiate
one OF the ancient tragedians, and would
take William II. Seward and bring him be-
fore you and point to the hacks and scars
upon his person. A voice-"God bless
him inl 1 would exhibit the bloody gar
menls, saturated with gore from his gushing
wounds. Then l would ask you why not
hang Thad Stevens and Wendell Phillips?''
Ii cannot be possible that, in the madness
of his hate of these men, he intended TO throw
! Oul lllN lHDlHuttloH lllub Illt1 pTOGuTGu luN
attempt at Mr.. Stewards assassination yet
on any other supposition the passage is
wholly unintelligible, and its abrupt and in
consequent termination can only be regard
ed as an involuntary outburst of malice
When in the history of civilized nations has
a ruler ever been known thus to cry for thC
blood of private citizens, against whom ne
crime could be found before the lawsg AL
though we did not set out to criticize th(
Presidents language or erudition, we may
be pardOned for enquiring, in this connec
ton, who was that zone OF the ancient trh
gediaRs" to whom he refers above? Perhaps
the most thoroughly contemplate thing in
the entire speech is the fling at the character
of his predecessor, conveyed in the intima
tion that had he been now living he woul(
be pursuing Mr. Johnson's course, and re
ceiving ''the vials OF wrath" which now fal
upon the head of the latter. Surely h,
might have been content to let the martyr res
secure Gas he ever will be) in the affection
and admiration Of his countrymen, withou
attempting TO connect his honored name witt
thing so odious to those who loved am
trusted him as is 'the Presidents policy.
The passage wherein he charges his op
ponents with having "remained cowardly a
home" while others fought their battle
against treason is absolutely beneath con
tempt. Can Mr.. johnson be ignorant of tn
fact that the soldiers-and especially tn
rank and file, who desire no military promo
ton at his hands-are banded against hi
policy in phalanx as solid and invincibl
: us that wherewith Alexander carried his col
quests throughout the world ? 1t is to sue
men that he addresses the following insul
ing language.
"Now. when these brave men have i,
7 turned home, many of whom have left a
I arm OF leg or Their blood upon many
l battlefield, they find you at some specul
ton, and you committing frauds upon u
I Government.
Q His boasting, buster, and unblushing sci
! praise need not be illustrated by particul
J examples, for they pervade the entire speec
i and whoever has encountered them in rea
!, ing that will not need repetition of Il
u nauseous dose to revive his disgust Of i
y total disregard for dignity and propriety, Il
3 bandying epithets with the crowd, his wea
n ness, and his petulance, the following a
|, dressed to some one in the crowd, his wea
J. ness, and his petulance, the following a
s. dressed to some one who cried TRAITOR wi
J serve as an example
l. 81 wish ! could see that man. wou
IL bet you now that if the light fell on yo
y face, cowardice and treachery would be SCI
.. in it. Show yourself; come out here whe
~ / can see youn
=. This brilliant sally was oil course succee
IL cd by shouts of laughter. The President
e. the United States the laughing stock OF
IT street crowd-think Of it The speech
as Detroit was in some respects even worse til
IL that at Cleveland Yet this is the man W
le claims TO be invested with sole power ol
le the entire question of reconstruction--a gu
OF ton infinitely surprising in Importance a
ne other that has arisen since the foundation
&c the Government. Oh that Mr. Johns
~ had less presumption or more of those stat
le mAnlike qualities so Indispensable to I
On correct solution of the gigantic problem
&c 90 bOldlv undertakes to solve