The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-27


WE publish this morning the pro-
ceedings of a meeting held at Triadel-
phia last Friday, gotten up ostensibly
10 sustain the President. A noticeable
feature OF this small meeting, as of the
larger one held at our Court House a
few evenings since, isthat 1t was origin
ated and carried out mainly by those
who, during the whole period of the
war, would have been the last persons
in the community to issue call for a
meeting to "suslain the Government"
The Government having been triumph
nntly sustained withonJthe aid of these
persons, it is piece of very cheap
stage trickery, transparent as glass, TO
assume at this late day, in the interest
OF patriotism, 10 rally TO the support of
the President against that innnmerable
bodyiof true and tried men that in the
days OF darkness and doubt elected him,
and who as long as he stands true to
the great principles OF the Union organ
izatIon viii stand by him. 1t is mat
ter for small concern how far the per-
sons alluded to now choose TO sustain the
government. The burden and heat ofthe
day have been borne-the contest is
over-the country has been saved
slavery has been aoverthrown-States
rights democracy has persisted, and tits
now not possible to turn the revolution
backward. If IL were, we should fear
the Greeks with their gifts-we should
regard as ominous indeed these
meeting OF the democracy" to sustain
IA President who, a few months ago,
was the target of their EXTREMIST abuse.
Let them sustain him. II ID all they
can do and it is the best they can do.
Let them get on the Union platform at
the very last ere yet the President Off
einlly proclaims tho rebellion at an
end, as he soon will. Let them be in
tat the death and so save, il possible,
a line or two romthe verdict of history.
President Johnson, rs we fondly
trust, will not be deceiyedby mere pro-
fessions of friendship. when those pro-
fessiOns are illogical and inconsistent.
Hc will not, we are persuaded, volun-
tarily leave the companionship of that
great company who havo been and still
are the country's main reliance while n
vestIge of danger remains, to seek
adoption among those who now make
aYirtue oftheir necessities and who fora
barren prospect of spoils go back on
their record, and, like the Swiss merce-
naries, enlist only for the victory and
not for the cause"
We are satisfied TO see the men who
stood aloof during the war, when we
needed them, issuing calls and coming
forward to "sustain the government"
1t is evidence that they have realized
their utter defeat hitherto on different
platform. For time at least they de-
sire to draw so near to the President
that the country may, If possible,
be att loss to know whether
the President stands ON their
plank or they on his. This is their pol.
icy, and the people will understand 1t
in duo time. No one need be alarmed
that there is TO be an unnatural mix
ture OF oil and water. Either the men
who are now seeking to be foremost in
praise OF the President have got to
abandon their principles and experi-
ence a radical change in their purposes,
or else Andrew Johnson has to discover
himselfto have been all the while their
secret friend, or, what is still more Inn
probable, their very latest convert.
We do not choose TO believe that after
Victory there has been deSertion. 1t is
not NATURAL. We do not choose to
believe that the President fellowships
any other sentiments than those
which he so heroically and powerfully
stood up forthroughoutthelon contest,
until we have the indubitable proof
That proof Is not found in the fact that
he differs with such men as Stevens
and Sumner. Mr.. Lincoln was almost
perpetually at variance with them.
They hold ,impracticably to Their
theories OF dead States. and confiscatiou
and suffrage, and the President has
made and now makes an issue with
them. In this issue he is seconded by
the sober second thought of the Senate
rs he no doubt will be by that OF tho
House. Itmay be his Immediate mis-.
fortune, and the misfortune of TIT
Union party, that the whilom enemie:
of tho government are now by the very
desperation oftheir clamorous approba
ton seeking to mislead the country n.
to the exact status of political matters
But TINT clalnor will presently subside
and with it all false impressions rs Z
the origin and extent of the ditliculties
between the President and Congress.
the LeGislatnre and ITS Tratlncers.
It Is a well worn maxim that desper
ate diseases require desperate remedies
1t is also true that u bad cause is apt tc
enlist bad men, and that reckless and
desperate men, to support such cause