The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-15
TIE NEW YORK PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING
JOURNALS UPON CURRENT TOPICS.
COMPILED nvmY DAY FOR EVENING TELEGRAPH

President johnson, and the True Policy
Tor His Administration. :,
From the Herald.
President johnson, with commendable mag
nanlmity, and the best intentions, has been very
unfortunate in his policy of Southern restora-
non. His generous concessions TO the late
revolted States and their people concerned in
the Rebellion have evidently been accepted by
implacable Rebels as covering license for SAN
culinary ouraees against the poor emancpated
negroes and abolition Yankees" while in the
North those fearful scenes of Southern disorder
and blood5hed though fomented by Northern
agitators, and perpetrated by Southern despe-
radoes OF the school of the Kansas ''border
rut1ans," have operated and are operating to
The prejudice OF the great body of the Southern
people, and the Administration aud its sup
pOIters.
We are dealing with facts, and, as Gradgrind
has II, ''iacts is what we wHnt.n Unjust as it is
10 the masses of the Southern people, it is still
TACT that such outbreaks of Southern violence
as the Memphis riots aud the New Orleans mas
sacre are effectively used by Northern radicals
tor electloneering purposes, as illustrations of
the prevailing tone aud temper of the South,
and as the legitimate fruits of the Presidents
forglving and coniding policy of Southern
restoration. Thus, while we perceive from the
Presidents receptions from point TO point along
his present journey that his personal complaints
against Congress are met with scandalous retail
iatiOne of mockery and insult, we see from the
returns of the Maine election that, from the
causes indie ated, a new and powerful impulse
has been given TO the Southern reconstruction
plan of Congress against the immediate restora-
ton policy of the Executive.
We hold that the popular groundswell which
has thus carried the Maine election by ma
jOrity which dwaris the maiorities of Abraham
Lincoln, is popular movement which, from all
the signs of the times, will sweep across the
continent and carry the Constitutional amend
ment of the present Congress ard decide the
complexion OF the next Congress, against the
Presidents policy. The superscrviceable New
York organ OF Mr.. Seward, in threatening the
alternative of civil war against Congress, is only
adding combustibles to roaring fire, and the
sooner the President is rescued from such reck-
less partisans and treacherous friends the better
it will be for him and his official reputation.
This broad hint of violent dissolution of the
Government emanates, we believe, from the
Secretary OF State; for, if we mistake not, the
same hint was first thro Rn out by mis- special
home organ at Auburn some months ago. 1t is
at par, however, with the proposition of his
New York organ, put forth at the beginning of
the late war, for the forcble deposition of Presi-
dent Lincoln and the setting up of George Law,
Live Oak George" as sort Of provisional dc
tator in his place.
But if the Presidents plan of Southern resto-
ration against the Constitutional amendment of
Congress may be pronounced a failure, what
line of policy is left for his administration? We
answer that the broad and com prehensive
policy, foreign and domestic, suggested through
the columns of this journal months ago, is still
Open and still invites him to the path of popu-
larity and success. We hold that the Mephis-
topheles of his administration has been and is
the Secretary of State; and that Mr.. Seward,
with his good man Friday and his lantern car
rer, have like will o'-the-wisp, been stealthily
leading the President on the way to the Dismal
Swamp. That which should have been the first
act of reconstruction on the part OF President
Johnson-a reconstruction of his Cabinet, be-
ginning with the Secretary OF State-is still the
6rst essential to success.
With new Cabinet, leaving to the people and
the test of the Constitutional amendment Of
Congress on the question OF restoration. Mr..
Johnson's new policy we think, should be
mainly directed to a vigorous settlement OF our
unsettled foreign affairs and financial policy
directed against the pet national bank system,
as it now stands, OF the late Secretary OF the
Treasury, now Chief Justice Chase. Mr.. Seward
in his temporizing and dawdllng with Louis
Mexico, and in his humiliating diplomacy with
England in reference to the depredahons OF
such Anglo-Rebel cruisers as the Alabama and
Shenandoah, and in regard to the deceived and
disgusted Fenians, has been and remains dead
weight upon President johnson. new man
in his place, who would make short work with
England and France, would at once lit the Ad'
ministration high in the respect and confidence
of the American people ofall parties; and new
Secretary of the Treasury, who would boldly
strike out for thorough and wholesome recon
struction OF; Mr.. Chases pet bank system, turn
ing the sOps of TWENTY-FIVE or thirty millions
wear which those banks receive from the Gov
ernment into the public treasury, would revive
in favor of Andrew johnson the old enthusiasm
of the country which supported Andrew Jack
son IN his war against Biddle's Bank of tn
United States.
The prevailing sentiment OF the North is il
favor of General Grant for the next Presidency
but the financial managers and radical leader
identified with the political interests of MI
Chase look to these national banks for the pres
sure which, when the time comes, they calcr
late will secure his nomination as the Republ
can candidate. Here, then, is held-the fel
of financial reform, in which President Johnso
NAV win imperishable laurels In truth, with
new, vigorous, and dashing foreign policy, an
a bold and comprehensive policy OF tinancii
reform. Strengthening the national securities
the national faith, and the national currency, b
NAV still be able TO control Congress and til
great question of the Presidential succession.