The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-01
The Presidents Responsibility.

The Presidents Responsibility. %
From Me times.
Our Charleston correspondent, reporting the
unanmity Of the Southern people in opposition
to the Constitutional amendment, attributes
the circumstancein a large degree to.a determi-
nation TO sustain the President in his policy A
majority our informant writes, "would combat
the Congressional scheme to the bitter end.
even if the President should desist from bis hos
tility to it; but while Mr. johnson stands arm
In his present attitude, there win certainly be
not the slightest wavering among the friends of
his policy here.n The explanation is apparent.
The policy OF the President commends ltselfto
the Southern people by its near approach to
tnelr wishes, and the President has established
his title TO their support by the struggle he has
made In their behalf Gratitude to him, there
fore Is joined to the repugnance otherwise felt
to the conditions of the amendments and the
TWO influences, united, shut out all hope of its
ratlhcation by the South.
The circumstance, as thus presented, is more
creditabe TO the fidelity than to the sagacity
OF the people of the excluded States. 1t may
be, as they appear to think, Just and proper
to cling to a "lost cause;p but cui bono?
What possible good can result from frmness
winch may be easily mistaken for obstinaey,
or from an opposition which is not likely to
De enective2 Gratitude to one who has proved
himself a friend is virtue not to be derided;
but does thankfulness for benefits attempted
necesslSate contest for benefits that are un-
The appeal which the fact suggests may, how
ever with more proprIety be addressed to the
PRESIDENT 1t is for him to say whether the
people whom he would belrend shall be called
upon to endure the probable penalties of con-
Unued and hereafter voluntary exclusion from
Congress- simply that his policy may have sup
porters Consistency is q good thing in lis way
and pertinacity is at times useful quality In
party leaders; but the pertnacity that refuses to
recognize obvious facts, and the consistency
which entails the inhiction of suffering upon
others, can hardly be classed among the qualih-
cations of statesmauship. - -UT0T-
to its leaders may be pleasant relief to other
wise fallen fortunes And the President COM
PEELED to stand aside while the North ARRAYS
itself In support of Congress, may not unnatil-
rally derive satisfaction from the goodwill of
the south. The responsibility borne by the
southern leaders because of their unWillineuess
TO sacrifice their own pretensions must be
the lesson OF the elections, and continuing his
antagonism to the Congressional plan of resto-
ration, he stimulates the Southern people to
reject ii. Any change of his course might not
induce corresponding change in the Southern
mind. The probability is, however, that were
ne to accept the verdict of the North as decisive
against his policy, and to surrender his own pre-
terences to the demands of the people who made
MIN what he IS, the Southsalso would yield to the
extent OF ratlfy1ng his amendment, AS his
course now keeps alive hopes of relief on more
favorable terms, SO concession on his part
would unquestionably tend very decidedly to
induce corresponding action on the part of the
seem to be, dictated by regard for their in
terests, not less than by the duty which requires
obedience to the expressed will of those who
now control the Government.