The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-05
A Living Illustration.

A Living illustration.
The Richmond Times mentions the
Roman soldier whose remains were
discovered and dug up among the
ruins of Pompeii, and who had died
at his post, while all others had es-
eaped. The Times then says:
We have often thought that the
moral grandeur Of this spectacle was
unequaled by anything we had ever
met with in history or romance, aud
never, until Andrew johnson stood
last winter sentinel, solitary and
alone, at the gates Of the temple OF
constitutional liberty, was there in
politics so true a counterpart of the
courage, fidelity and devotion of that
Roman soldier. And when the his
tory of these times shall, hundreds of
years hence, be perused by the stu
dent or statesman, the attitude of the
President, from the time he took his
post until the Philadelphia Conven-
ton came to his assistance, will ever
be regarded as a browning instance Of
heroism and endurance seldom pre-
seuted in the annals of the human
race. The ashes and lava of radical
ism have fallen around and rolled
past him. but faithful, resolute and
unmoved, like the Roman sentinel at
the gates of Pompeii, he cannot be
driven. from his charge, but if need
be, with sword, shield and helmet, is
ready to perish sooner than flee.
Unlike the Roman soldier, he will mol
perish in the midst of universal death
and ruin. Through the dread and
fiery ordeal how'll pass unscathed, to
illustrate what the fortitude and fear
lessness of one mans unaided will
and virtue can achieve. To future
ages will be transmitted in terms of
glorious praise the instructive lesson
OF his patriotic greatness.
Events contemplated through the
atmosphere of the present are like
physical objects received through the
reversed lenses Of the telescope; their
fnu size and proportions are not re-
allied But let posterity gaze at
them through that correctly adjusted
telescope, furnished by long vista
Of departed years, and what, to us,
seem little twinkling stars, will, to
coming generations of men, assume
the gigantic outlines of colossal
worlds. just so we are liable to fail
in approaching the grandeur and
magnitude Of those acts and that un-
hlnching courage, by means of which
the President has called new and
powerful party into existence, and
has dealt to radiealism death blows
that will make it, like a loathso1ne,
wounded snake, crawl in agony to its
hole, there to wither in venom and
die in pain. The form of the patriot
President will tower like a mountain
in the landscape of American history,
and the measure Of his fame will in
crease with each revolving year.
That popular enthusiasm which now
greets him is but faint echo of
those plaudits with which unborn
millions of his fvIlow-citizens will
hereafter hail his name and perpetu-
ate his memory when his efforts shall
have restored the Union of our ia
theirs.
The irrepressible and spontaneous
enthusiasm of the masses along the
entire route of Andrew Johnson's
journey, reveals the confidence OF the
people in the patriotism and purity
s2f his motives. This country has
never witnessed such an ovation as
that which has greeted the President
along his triumphal march through
the strongholds of his most malig-
nant enemies. In the august pre-
sence Of the people, the malignant
revoIutionists and disunionists, who
conspired to insult the President,
have concealed their impotent rage,
and have dared utter no word of
mean, vile hatred and reproach.
A statement is beng prepared at
the Treasury Department., which is