The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-02
The Noblest Roman of them all.
PARALLEL AND A SUGGESTION.

pressiye article, headed President Johnson
side nv side with Washington" in which the
corduct Of the President in vetoing beneti-
cent and necessary measure which infringed
the rights of no one, is compared to that OF
tbe father of his country who, after having
o;dad n nation to freedom, declined to accept
its crown. Hear what the writer says:
True, Andrew johnson has not rejected re-
gal bonors by name, but his discriminating
sasacity and patriotic instincts have led him
to boldly decline imperial powers with which,
if accepted, he could perpetuate his position
as ruler so long as he chose. The Frcedmen's
Bureau bill which he has just vetoed clothed
him with powers which, coRlbined with the
ordinary force OF extraordinary official pat
ronage, would have enabled President of
common ambition to re-elect himself, and
thus lengthen out his term OF Office to an in
definite period. ..
Ii we were endowed with the hundred eyes
supposed to belong to our neighbor, the argus,
we might be able to discern some sort OF par
allel between the two cases; but having only
asingle ordinary pair OF optics, as Sam Weiief
saws, "our visions limited" We can't see it.
If, however, the object of all these hne words
is merely to affirm that Mr. johnson has IT.
reparably destroyed all possibility of his own
reelection by any party, we are not disposed
to dispute that statement. ..f.
But the funniest portion of the article in
question remains to be noticed. /" Observer
finds the present situation critical, and thinks
that something should be done. He is evil
IDENTIFY haunted by a secret fear lest the sup
posed detection of the President from the Re
publican ranks should not prove to that party
so deadly blow as it was at first announced
to be, and he proposes to save the country on
this wise. The italics are ours: Do D" -
Let us not be misunderstood Democrats,
as such, ask no official favors from the Execu-
tive. But the country must be saved from
further strife and peril. The condition Of our
finances our industrial Interests, ouI relations
to other powers all demand reunited North
and South, and those who in any position
stand in the way of it must, from the necessi-
ty of the case give place to men of achdteoer
prior party relations whose influence shall be
directed to this great common end. Now,
how Is it here in Maine? How in Portland?
The Collector of this port, who by means of
the largely increased patronage lately confer
red can exert controlling influence over this
congressional district, Is radical partizan OF
VIC i.nn,.S Lo ~, om % 1as' -,
in the same direction, and has welded his pen,
even while on the bench, to prove that the
South must be governed as conquered terrific
ries. s
-, ~ - 1870 ta
can be entertained of the triumph of Presi-
dent Johnson's policy, so long as such men
are a,;umeu t ~ heep sneir piacess noluing
their commissions At once, In Enoland the
retention of office under like circumstances,
would be regarded as dishonorsble. Not that
no1,ntru tbnra ;s los. Sni;oao, III ~ i;s
mind on this subject than even in ENGLAND
But the point is this-The Presidents policy
naast nsIeisy Jan ana me country continue TO
~ ot,o,,o ~ ;S,'o. 1n,,; ~ %
.fov aosth decreasing force from these oyeat no.
lttscat centres What is true here is applica-
ue ~ 4 ~ t1;, oa,,nt me Iiesiaent tnen
mics and tilI their places with men whose nose
views are in harmony with his own. ~"
Observe the modesty of the above. Demo
Gratis care nothing about office--oh, no,-but
they are willing to accept its painful respon-
sibilities for the good of the country. Then,
= too, the hint about the obligations of honor
ana oelcacy IS aoouO as run as. anything we
nave seen lateiy. Does ANYBODY reeoliect
"me wnen l. was customary 'or Democfat'c
oncials 70 resign because inc party OF the OPP
posiIion desired uen 10 40 soFil II consider
aI'ons Of Inns klno snouid compel an oncial
10 vacate MS once tne moment ne hnds him.
sell opposed py any portion OF the people,
tnen Inc position Oh Ffesident Johnson which
ciaiiiieo " NC oi'he'ric'1iiy opposea' hot Oh
~ 70 tne great majority OF Inc loyal people,
but to the whole party which placed him in
power. is one of peculiar awxwardness. We
would s,,o,o.+ 70 eOhsoruo.n t,,ot - o,,',s
"ou'' I'esrs' " N''e.,e 'A'.'. NC Snoulo
favor the Executive with his Ideas on this
nice point. .. ell. Ia .y-.i LID. ar
We are 10th to ouench the buddino homes of
.,,oso ,u,,oso b,,,oa,. c,,. oo ...e,e
'nOso w ns iof once reveais itseii 10
such pleasant projects as the above; but truth