The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-21
President Johnson,s Policy.

President JohnsOn's Policy.
From the London Times, March s.
1t was said by the PTeat Athenian orator that
Providence always deberated better tor the repuohc
than the republic dehDeIated for itself The sams
thing may be said with the greatest truth of the
United States OF America. In the heat and excite.
ment OF civil war, IN indignation Tor the past, and
apprehension for the future they assembled TO elect
their chief magistrate AS usual such occasions
the popular choice fell on two different men--the
one TO represent the more moderate, the other the
more extreme section Of the Republican party. Tne
hTst was Abraham Lincoln, man of many amia ole
ana some noble qualities, who had, during four
years OF the utmost difficulty, lived down
much oboquy and conciliated much opposi-
tons The second was man who had
been apgIenticed IN cary hte to mechanical trade
who mad learned to read after he had ceased to be a
boy, and who was regarded as the lmpersonatlon
OF the most vioent and revolutionary aspirations of
his party. The hand OF an assassin cut short the
career Oh Abraham Lincoln, and everybody looked
with anxiety TO his successor. The war was nOm.
nally over but task of infinitely greater difficulty
than the conduct of any war lay before the new
President In America it is found necessary to couu.
terac he weakness OF the executive power by giving
!. fixed duration, and the people saw with dismaY
that the highest Office in the republic was vested
for four years in man whom nobody had in
tendod Tor the place ana whose qualidca-
tiOns, be they what they might, scarcely
likely TO be equal to the difficulties which
surrounded him. The best man in America was not
too strong Tor the nerculean task which devoved on
Mr., Johnson. The man who closes a revolution
performs even mgnter task than the man who
what should be done between n 0rth and oOutn, and
how the Union, which such torrents of blood had
U, l.
still harder TO deal with the black race, newly eman-
cIpated from lis fetters ana TO prevent those who
had hitherto been slaves from becoming either pau
peTs DTlgands. The FOREIGN OF tae sta to
in the utmost confusion; the FesIans were
seeking to draw her INTO a war with England, and
the military leaders into war with France.
1t was under such conditions that just year
MIR. johnson scceded TO the Presidency. For one
long year Q has been content to balance one party
against another, and 10 cherish hopes alternately on
the TART of men rendered 1nsoent and tYranu cal by
success, and sullen and intractaoe by defeat. He
n. 10.
Ihonist party hau tTlumphed, ana were bent
pushing their victory 70 the limits of all that the
conqueror could iefict OF the conquered could sut-
fer. Forgetting that the war was mainly waged
the preservation OF the Union, they insisted on
their former masters they refused to adnit the
South INTO the Union which had been recon-
Iower at the expense even of the unity and the
lber ty OF the republic. At last Mr.. johnson seems
to think that the time has arrived for abandoning
all COMPROMISE meeting at Washington had
adopted resolutions approving his 20 lev and hs
took the opportunity Ci addressing to them such a
speech as mas not often Deen heard IN America-a
speech entirely free from tawdry ornament am
bilious metaphor. but conveying the frmest deter
mlnatiSn and the most enlightened principles IN
the planest and simplest language. The Union he
was resolved should be preserved. He stood where
he did at the commencement OF the Rebellion, TO
Vndicate the Union and the Constitution against
dsuniOnists from the North or the South He tOund
eight million people condemned under the law;
but while he would pHnsh the leaders, he would
extend to the masses leniency and confidence. One
rebellion had succeeded another. War was made to
prevent separation. Now, there was an attempt at a
consolidation power in the hands OF ie equally
dangerous with separation ITSELF Military power ana
pubic judgment had uecded that no State shall
leave the UniOn and now peeple assume that they
are outside it, and shall not come in Treason in the
South is over, and now those who seek to prevent
the restoration OF the Union much laborng to
destroy the fundamental principles of the Govern
ment as those who fought against it. lie mentioned
by name Nessrs Stevens Summer, and Philips, and
acc ared that he wou d neither be overRwed By
Fl enos nor builed by enea'cs. dc was called
aUsurper; but his only usuIpatlon was standing be-
tween The people and the encToachnents OF power.
He was threatened with being teheaded and lncte-
M d even 10 assassi ma ION were employed were
they noJ satisfied with tho blood already shedP Lot
his blood be shed If it must be soj the blood Of mar.
tyrs was the seed OF the church.
such language acqu res a peculiar signihcance
when Is used by one President, who declares HIM
self threatened by violent death, standing the
dead boGy another, No one can, of course, esti-
mate T. degree OF perm TO which Mr. johnson con-
the violence of the passions aud the ercenesS Of the
anmosities which the civil has called lorth that
we should find the President even alludiRg to the
probability of his violent death in the same city
where his predecessor perished only year BEFORE
We cannot withhold our admiration from the posi-
with which he maintains it. lie does not appear to
be gifted with much felicity or fuencY of Ian,
gunge; but ais thoughts swell beyond his words,
ana EIVe them weight and dignity scarcely
their own. lie surely, il any man ever did, occu-
The desr Hss Of millions of the human race depend
upon hlm, and he rises fully TO the height OF the
occasion. Allen whose nerves are shaken by the
holiday politics of such country ours will stand
nRhast at the audacity with which President John.
Oonfronis his adVersares. They possess large
majoIuessin both Houses of Congress-. They WELD
at their pleasure the committees to which are dele
gated in America 80 many of the functions here dis
charged by ihe Executive Government. They
supported by many States, by host of preachers,
and by leRons of INSCRIPTIONS fanatics. 10 all
this the President has nothing to oppose bat his
veto, his patronage, the power OF conducting tho
Executive Government, and his own firm spirit and
indomitabe resolution Yet the duel is not so unes
qual might Oe suPpOied. Theissue which has been
so long maturing Is al last ready for trlal. The
people OF America nHst decide waether Zthe
great civil war they have waged was wsrth Waging
nj ALL They fought tor the UhIon, and that
they have obtained II large party seems disposed 70
reject the very object OF the contest They appear to
have no choice between bringing back the South
into the institutions Of the country and holding 1t
down by main force. They incur the danger, on the
enc hand, Of being once more governed by their
Yanqui he'd enemies, or, on the other, OF having to
keep them in subJection. We'd not doubt that the
President has decided on the wiser course, and we
wish him ali success in hIs mission Of mercy and
Justice. No man has ever struggled in a nobler
eauie and It better 10 fal in such an enterprise
than TO succeed in policy Of tyranny conhscation,
and prescription