The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-04-27
PRESIDENT JOHNSON.

Since the President became possessed with
the notion that he could build up new party.
with his policy of reconstruction as central
idea, he has fatally misjudSed his own sagacity
and his own personal popularity. lie counted
upon the allegiance Of two distinct classes OF
men, one OF which had no confidence in his an.
tecedents, and the other no sympathy with his
purposes. The first class chiefly consisted OF
those who represent southern opinions, "south-
ern aristocrats" as Mr.. johnson called them
before he began to court them. They arc OK
tremey deferental now but they hate him
with perfect hatred and Mr.. Seward knows
they hate him. Mr.. Johnson's whole poiti.
cal career has been ut war with them. Ho ap-
pealed to elements which they always despised.
lie was successful. and exulted in his victory
over them in u manner most offensive to their
pride. II they aatter him 1t is because he is
in position to be serviccable to them, and not
because thoy have forgiven him. They mean
to use him for the sake Of .the power he com
mands, and to discard him when they are done
with him. The second class was mainly com
posed Of those who represent what nre called
conservative opinions" at the north, men act
ing generally with the republican party, car
ing little for political reforms rs such, but do.
voted to the Union, and desiring to do the hest
thing for its preservation. It's unquestiOnablc
that the President expected to detach oil Of
this class from the dominant party Of tho coun-
try, and to unite them with his new southern
friends in new political movement, with his
administration ut the head. Mr.. Seward, no
matter from what motive, encouraged tho delu
sion. Thurlow Weed put his mouth to the
Presidents ear, aud whispered, "That's right
kill tho radicals" The Blairs, with the ma
lignity OF two generations coursing through
their veins, arranged the details Of this congo
nial schemc Of political stock jobbery. And
until the triumphant passage OF the Civil Rights
Bill over the veto, tho President confidently be-
licved that the scheme was sure to succeed.
OF course, the President, In tho course he
has pursued, was wrong from the start. But
hs wis even lest successful in it than he might
have been, by being too rapid in his movements
and too exacting in his demands. Having de.
termined to change his own views radically. he
had no patience to wait for those who might
have been tempted to follow his example to do
30 with safety or decency. lie miscalculatcd
in thinking that when he reversed his course
without cOmpunction, Others would not bo
punctiious on points of self respect or Of faith
to their constituents. The result OF 1t all is
that, with two or threo exceptions, tho party
that carried the country through the war, and
is responsible for the raising OF Its fallen monu.
ments on the foundations Of"public liberty,
shorn indeed OF some of its power in the gov
ernmcnt by tho Presidents apostacy, is still
united, uncorrupted ,incorruptiblo organization,
its purposes unchanged, its prospects of perlna.
nent and benefcent power in the country nev.
or fairer than ut this moment Worcester
Mass, Spy.