The Portland daily press., 1866-02-26
The Presidents Speech.

When Mr. Seward rose last night in Cooper
Institute to defend the President, he did not
know how greatly the President had just Of
Tended. In the singular and in some respects
unfortunate speech which Mr.. johnson made
yesterday afternoon in the White House
grounds, he struck right and left, and in his
zeal to parry attacks which have unnecessari-
ly irritated him, hit friends and foes indiScrim-
inately, and even gave himself one or two
knocks which will cause him, if we are not
mistaken, more suffering than the worst blows
of those whom he chooses to think his enc
mics.
1t is a matter for regret that MI. johnson
should so far allow his resentment to get the
better of his judgment, as to forget, what MIR.
Seward very truly observed last night and
what all judicious men in Congress and in the
country constantly bear in mind, that the
difference between the President and certain
leading Republicans is question OF methods
for obtaining the same end, and not one ofdit-
terent ends. 1t is no excuse for the President,
that those whom he singled out by name, for
personal vituperation, had already offended
against him in a similar manner. When Mr..
Sumner, recently, spoke in the Senate of the
Presidents policy as " whitewashing," he on
ly shocked the country's sense of propriety
thereby, and felt himself obliged, as quickly as
possible, to explain and apologize for his rude
ness; when Mr.. Stevens in the House used
that foolish phrase about a British king losing
his head, which appears to have so greatly and
needlessly irritated Mr.. johnson, the whole
country exclaimed against it as an indecency,
and even Mr.. SteveLs must have felt that he
had greatly injured his own cause by such
words. .. ...
But the same sentiment of propriety and
respect which was shockedby the intemperate
words of Messrs. Sumner and Stevens. is still
more outraged by the uncalled for and often
sive retort of Mr.. johnson. We are not of
those who hold it improper for the President
TO speak to the people; we were not offended
at Mr.. Lincoln's speeches, and shall not find
fanlt with Mr.. johnson if he is moved to an
nounce or defend his policy in speech. But
the President of the United States ought not
to descend into the pit and instead OF calling
names and INDUCING in personalities, he
would have done well to initiate the noble pa
tience with which Abraham Lincoln bore far
bitterer gibes, far ruder attacks, from the same
men.
HFor the shocking and unseemly imputation
Mr.. johnson chose to bring against Messrs.
Stevens, Summer and others opposed to his
policy, That their intention was to incite as
sassination," we trust that he will make haste
to apologize, not merely to them. but to the
country, which he has most grievously in
suited. Such words as he uttered on that
head would not be tolerated in the bastiest
stump speech They are too ill judged and
impuisive for us to think or write patiently
about them; and we count it no sill ht mis-
fortune for the nation that its Chief Magis
trate should have spoken in this style.
We do not think the President would him.
self care to have the political sentiments Of
his Yesterdays speech discussed. 1t viii form
no part of his record, for he must already wish
that it had never been spoken. He said moth
ing new, nothing which he has not before de-
clared. Not one-not even Mr.. Stevens-has
doubted his desire to do right, as he saw the
right. And we prefer, in discussing his poll
cy, to take for its opponents his previous