Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-09


The P~resadenRs Policy.
cd Two very important conversational pre-
nnneiamentos Of President JohnsSn'S are
simultaneously furnished US by the tele-
graph. The first il a report Of his inter
view With . delegation Of Northern color
Cd men, headed by George T.. Downing
g and Frederick Douglass, in which he dis
susssa the subject Of eolored suffrage
the second il his address to a delegation
o from Montana, In which he declares him
self rot q candidate for denomination.
These expressions Of Presidential opinion
are rendered Of especial Importance by
q the fact that II Is the habit of Mr.. John
O. son to communicate his views to the pub
lie through suck direct though unofficial
q chsnAels a. these. We may regard these
reports, therefore, as expressing his de-
hbsrRte purpose, and as f~orsshadowing
his hxed policy.
The views Of Mr.. johnson onths subject
of sslorsa suffrage ia the South are sub
stantially identical with those which he
expressed in his interview last summer
6 with q South Carolina delegation. Those
who looked for progress in Mr.. johnson,
who sxpested to see him keep step with,
even If he did not lead, the nation in its
advance toward justice and liberty; who
hoped that the influence of the leaders in
Congress might have weight in changing
Is his eourse, will And nothing in this de-
slaraiion to ssnfrm them In their hopes,
h The Prasidents chief objection to grant
ling the freedmen the ballot is based on
the theory that the masters would be able
to control the votes of the slaves, and
r, would use them to keep the poor whites
In the same subsection in which they have
. always been held. This lie only a ~re-state-
o Asnt of the position taken by him last
summer, and 1t Is the only tangible argu-
nsnt ever urged against equal suffrage
In ths South But against the theory We
4dduee the testimony of svery person
Who has had an opportunity Of observing
the demeaRor Of the negroes as freedmen.
The President has net seen the conduct Of
the blaaksin thsir new condition and rela-
y tions. BE does not and cannot realize the
vast change which has been wrought by
emancipation. His views, therefore are
based upon observations taken during the
znold order Of things. Those who have OBJ
hseFEsd the changed condition Of the
10 South bear unanimous testimony 70 the
b.faot thst the negroes distrust their old
semasters and are much more readily in
g fusnsed by Northern men. This fact
= aSOhld be sustained, if necessary, BY over
erwhelning svidSnse. But It is too patent
= 70 need demonstration. Nobody, whether
opposed TO or In favor Of negro suffrage,
with The single exception of President
johnson, really believes that the old
aristocrAey of the South could for any
3. length Of tine control the votes Of the
freedmen. a ei- @ d
90 The President seems to lay stress upon
shs fact that . majority Of the whites in
sths South are opposed to negrs suffrage.
This ts q strange position to be taken by
q Union President. The only loyal and
faithful men IN the South are to be dis
franchiisd, because, forsooth, the traitors !
aad rebels. who but Just now ceased from {
their vain attempt to destroy the Union,
srs opposed ts their snfranchisement, q
God forbid that we leave the fate Of the {
true loyallsts Of the South white or black, !
in fhs hands and ct the mercy Of red :
handed and nnrepentsnt rebels i
The Presidents address to the ~citizens Q
Of Montana, who waited upon him on s
e Wednesday, contains the important
declaration that he does not intend 10 be :
3 candidate for reelection. The an +
nouncemsnt is made in noble and elo- c
quent language; G
Of al am not e candidate for any position, a
and hence / repeat that I can sford to do
right, and being in that position I will do e
right base reached the Etmest n
TeHRd Ny race is run, 30 far as that's con-
sernsd. Ny object is to perform my duty, j.
and that win enaeavor to do" :
Let President johnson keep that prom. =
Use, In act Is we'll as in word, and. he will
earn the present and eternal gratitude of $
the people Of the United States. Let him
write these words as q mstto upon his
banner; let him keep his eye fixed un- ID
w~averingly upon them; let him make D
duty and not sslfintsrest his guide and he al
WIN tsks q place in history by the side of
Washington and Lincoln. We know the Ia
temptatiOns to which he is exposed; we p
know that there are busy plotters about =
him who are working for the formation of ii
9 Gnew party ia q johnson party; we ii
know that these men are deep in the con- v
Hdence of the President. We hope, there '.
fore, that Mr.. johnson will fulfil the t.
pledge which these words imply, IL
and viii turn q deaf ear to these s
ceunsellors. Let him not keep u
the word Of promise to the ear, and break ~
It to the hope Let him not follow Sc
Caesars example refusing on the Luper- ca
cal and before an admitting crowd, the th
open prefer Of $ kingly crown, while plot Re
ting in secret to obtain the kinglY peHer. 70
Let him, above all, bstrue to LIBERTI and fr
70 EoUAr JUSTICE. By thus doing, A. m
'Jehnsen can, If he viii, attain to the ee
proadest place in history, and the most =,
eherishsd in ths memory Of mankind, m
ever held BY an American President. ne
'l xhs PIain Dealer sold. te,
The following startling announcement ",
-. = A. d., n.nIn- &c m,..J- NJ